Proven Web Site Traffic Builders Even an Internet Novice Can Implement

As an Internet consultant, strategist and developer for over 20 years, one of the greatest concerns I hear from my small business customers is that building traffic to their Web site is too great a task, particularly as more Web sites compete for online consumers and strategies have become more and more technical over the years.

If you have the same concerns, my recommendation is to begin where you feel at ease, and branch out from there. There are a number of activities you can start with to increase your Web site traffic that dont require any Internet knowledge at all. Here are 3 ideas:

1. Word-of-Mouth. Tell everyone you know about your Web site. Surprisingly, many people forget or ignore this very simple yet effective tool. Maybe they are embarrassed that their Web site isn't as fancy or flashy as those they've been seeing lately. Others just forget that it's a valuable resource for someone wanting to learn about what you have to offer. Take pride in your Web site and tell everyone why they should go visit it.

T-Shirts. Get a dark shirt and decorate it with your Web site address in a nice bright shade. Before putting this tactic into action, I would wear a suit to my speaking engagements or educational seminars. Now, instead, I wear a very nice long sleeve shirt with my HereNextYear logo embroidered on the front. Also, along the back, www.HereNextYear.com is embroidered. Whenever I attend a workshop, I make sure to sit in the front five rows toward the center. At the break, someone always comes up to ask me about my business.

This is not an area to try to save money. It can be some of the most impressive focused PR you can spend money on. Buy a high quality shirt and have it professionally embroidered with your logo. It is one of the best expenditures you will ever make to spread the word about your Web site and build traffic.

3. Freebies. Give pencils, magnets, bumper stickers or other freebie gifts to anyone you see. The goal is to give something related to your Web site. Hairdressers might give away combs, and dentists, toothbrushes. Keep in mind that what you want to do is to give away something that will constantly remind your future clients about your business. Therefore, dont forget to include your Web site address on every one of those freebies.

4. Business Card. Sure, you have probably been using business cards long before your Web site existed. But the purpose of these business cards is to do nothing else but to get your prospective customers to visit you on the Web. Consider offering a free report with information of value to your customers when they visit your site. Advertise the free report on your business card with the Web site address they should visit. Give a card to everyone you meet and post one on every bulletin board you see.

True, there are many options for building traffic to your Web site, and many of them require some real time and skill. But its important to remember that some of the best methods to build traffic to your Web site are the same strategies people have been using since before the Internet even existed. Word of mouth can still be the best traffic builder, and it is easy to begin this strategy right away.

Marty Dickinson is the owner of HereNextYear.com which has assisted small business owners on the Internet since 1996. He is also the author of Web Marketing All In One Reference For Dummies. To learn even more Web site traffic builders that you can start using today, get your free report: 101 Ways to Get More Web Site Traffic by visiting 101TrafficMethods.com