How Do Links And Traffic Find You After You've Added Good Content? Options

[RisaBB]

Hello,

I feel like this is a silly question, but anyway...

If I add the following to a website to get more traffic: a blog, articles, tools, videos, how does traffic find you? I understand how keyword-rich content might get you higher rankings in the SE's, but the rest is SEM. How do other bloggers, or other websites or digg or delicious or stumbleupon or those other kinds of sites find you?

If I have an unknown website, and I write some great article, what's the next step?

Thanks.

Risa

[A.N.Onym]

Then you promote the site among the targeted audience. Comment on blogs, talk on forums, but the most effective way could be guest blogging on others blogs and publishing articles in respected magazines/journals of the industry.

[EGOL]

A very carefully written link request sent to the highest traffic, most powerful website that might link to you on a very high traffic and obvious location on their site. Follow this with one hour of prayer.

[rmccarley]

Risa when I saw the question I thought "well that's a bit silly" and then I thought "actually, that is a really, really good question!"

Here is my approach promote an article with a website...

You need to make waves and some waves are bigger than others. And some will suprise you with how effective they are and others will disappoint you because they don't cause as much noise as you'd hope.

Now the best way to get an article noticed is by bringing attention to it through articles that already get attention (HA- nice catch-22 if you have a new site!). But if you keep plugging away eventually some kind person will see the value in your writing and link to it. And it only takes one good link to really get things to move.

The first great link I got at 14thC was from stuntdubl. I don't even know how he found my site! But that really drove some momentum (and I still get visits from it almost 2 years later).

Ok, great, but what do you do in the mean time before someone great comes along and gives you a break?

Promote. Depending on the project I use the following:

Sig Links in Forums. Don't just link to your site, link to a specific page and include a "headline" that grabs attention. The more forums you participate in the better exposure you get. Of course you should soak up the culture (and rules) of the forum so you don't tick off the membership... that's bad. But if you have something to contribute, great! Join in and know the fun and learning you are doing is also helping your promotion efforts. For exposure of an article it doesn't even matter if the sig link is nofollowed because your goal is to drive direct traffic. Forum sig links don't do much for SEO anymore anyway.

So I post a lot at some other forums. Cre8 is where I am quietest by far. But when I go through and change the sig file at these other forums I am changing it accross literally thousands of posts. So each time the SEs drive a visitor to the forum they see the link to the article. Anyone that looks at my profile also sees it. Plus all the new posts I make gives it "fresh" exposure.

Banner Ads You can exchange or purchase banner ads on the cheap. Just because the format is "banner ad" doesn't mean you have to treat it that way! I even have one at cre8 here that directs traffic to a promotion on one of my blogs. This works best if you are offering something of value to the viewer but I bet you can tweak it to work for a specific article as well. Just remember to emphasize the value in the "ad".

Cross Promote I often use 14thC to give client sites a little boost. This is semi-effective as the markets are usually different but I also use this with other website owners. It does not have to be an A -> B exchange. I own several sites so if I want a link from a florist, maybe they would prefer a link from the construction site instead of the web design site. But don't stop there! You can also set up an A -> B -> C where each website is owned by a different person. Be flexable and think beyond just yourself to make this kind of thing happen.

Personal Networking Ask your friends for a little help, especially if they have websites related to yours. Even if you don't know anyone directly just by mentioning your new article to your friends they can mention it to someone else who may be able to help you. Just be excited about whatever you are working on right now! Excitement translates.

Article Submision Sites If you write something comprehensive you can develope mini articles or related articles referencing the "main" one.

Social Bookmarking Even if your article doesn't make the home page you can get a lot of visits from Digg, Reddit and Stubleupon.

Directories Some directories allow deep linking. This is a long-term strategy as these sites rarely deliver any direct traffic but they can help your SEO efforts.

Link to Related Authorities Authorities are authorities because they track everything. LinkersUnion hit PR5 after being up just 3 months. I still consider it in "soft launch" bacause I haven't finished it or really promoted it but a couple of the first posts were to some strong sites. The site owners not only linked back but some also use SB sites for tracking their links which delivered even more exposure!

Press Releases There are many free PR distribution sites you can leverage. With luck (and optimization) you can hit some news aggregators.

That's all I can think of for now. I built 14thC with a few well-crafted strongly promoted articles and it went from there. Promoting an article online isn't that different from promoting an entire website it's just the focus is tighter. Who you know makes a big difference. After that it is who you can reach.

Some articles just seem to sleep for a while and then come back around on you so don't get too discouraged if you don't see the results you want right away. Some SB site may pick it up or an algo shift may put you on top or the right person will link to it.

Of course, all of this is based on the idea that the article itself is quality but that's a different discussion.

[RisaBB]

Wow, Rand, Thanks! I know it takes time to write these long responses. It seems like writing, writing, and more writing (and the other things you listed) are critical to promote a website. I wish I liked to write more.

Risa

[SEOigloo]

This is my first official me too post on Cre8asite...
but I just wanted to say
WooHoo! I like this thread!

Miriam

[rmccarley]

Glad you ladies liked it!

Still, I'd love to hear what other people do, or if they have better ways to do the stuff I mentioned above.

[eKstreme]

One addition is joining blog conversations. Use trackbacks and link to other bloggers when they're talking about topics relevant to you. Link to the original post, say why you agree or disagree, and expand on that. Add you own angle.

Is the coversation already buzzing? Link to everyone "Well Risa started it, and then Rand said this, now Pierre is saying that. Actually, they're all wrong because..." .

The other technique I found to be very effective is having "related links" at the bottom of content. Link internally to your other pages and if your writing is convincing enough, the visitors will click through. It's easier to make a reader stick around longer than acquiring a new reader. Treat them well, give them multiple paths around your site. Got a tool related to what you're talking about? Link to it. Got a post from last year? Again, link. Drawing an analogy from a different market? Talking about a little aspect of a huge niche you talk about on your site? Link link link!

There are more things than just related links. A good converter at the bottom of a blog post is "hey, how 'bout subscribing?" Actively invite people to comment on your blog too. Sign off with a question or a call to interact with you. Examples: "What do you think?" "Am I being too picky?" "What was your experience?". Follow this up by "Comment below or email me."

Finally, just a tip from my personal taste: on corporate blogs, I like to see the name of the author. Obviously a single person didn't write every blog post, and it's nice when the real authors are acknowledged. Also, when the authors write they use the plural for the company, "At Google, we strive to rid the world of all evil...", and using the singular from themselves, something like, "I work on the email spam team to do x". End result is that your blog will gain an identity. It's people talking to me, not the company. I like that!

Pierre

[RisaBB]

Thanks.

To use an example from Andy Hagans' Ultimate Guide to Linkbaiting and SEM, how do you do all of the above for an industrial water pump site? He says, "Stop. Complaining. Start. Thinking. Anything can be link baited."

Well, I'm complaining. Even with all of his examples, I'm still stumped about writing and participating a ton about this one.

Risa

[Ruud]

[...] how do you do all of the above for an industrial water pump site?

Find the itch (or itches) and deliver a method to help scratch it.

I've seen a pump engineering calculator (example) but what if I just want to buy one instead of engineer one? How do I decide what I need? Could somebody maybe have a calculator tool which helps me figure out what it is I'm looking for?

Could there be a multi-question wizard that helps guide me to the answer for "what type of pump am I looking for?" (it has got to be possible to be more simple than this)

Would it be possible to have such a tool work in reverse? I enter the information/specs I found for a pump I consider buying, enter what I need it for and the tool suggests whether this is the perfect buy or a little bit over the top?

In an industry apparently littered with technical information, could there be a human voice explaining me when I need an industrial water pump why?

What's the difference between any old water pump and an industrial one?

Can I install these things myself? If so, how? If not, why not? If not, what do you recommend I do? If you recommend, suggest or instruct anything, could you provide additional resources, articles and online tools to help me with that?

From a professional's point of view, what is sexy about an industrial pump? Is there anything that would make a decision maker go "ooh, wow, yeah, I want that one!!"?

My industrial water pump broke. Can you help me fix it? Find parts?

With all this I start to have value. The tool to figure out if you need an industrial pump, and if so which one or which type, can be posted/suggested/linked almost anywhere. Even on Digg

Start digging. Who is where? DIY forums? Who might need these things and this information? Prefab steel builders? Who might benefit from this type of information? Companies installing industrial water pumps? Manufacturers? Resellers? Parts and service sellers?

Talk with the client. What are her main sources? Browse it. Spot the names. Google the names. Get their attention.

Meanwhile, write everything you do down. When all is done, write an extensive post/article on SEO/SEM/linkbait and industrial water pumps.

Remember -- writing about how and why it is impossible it is to linkbait topic XYZ ... is linkbait

[bwelford]

As it happens there is a current relevant topic+comments item on Aaron Pratt's blog. Aaron is complaining that the SEO-elites only promote each other. He doesn't feel he's in that crowd. However even Matt Cutts who is in transit has thrown in a word.

[bragadocchio]

Hi Risa,

Here are some news headlines that I found doing different searches in Google News. It's possible that writing about these, and using similar headlines might make them worth being talked about at a social networking site. Of course, you might want to focus on stories that make water pumps look good.

In a Google News Search for water pump and industrial water pump.

Controlling the Movement of Water Through Nanotube Membranes
Water for the Poor -- Establishing 1000 New Wells in Ethiopia, Africa
How the thirst for strawberries is draining Spain's precious water
Water your plants and change TV channels by mobile phone
Freezing conditions caused chaos at a paper mill in Hemel ...
Bottled Water or Tap Water?

A search for Desalination:

Desalination threat to Sydney's sea life
Scientist suggests building desalination plants on barges
Govt denies desalination plant ads 'deceptive'

A search for just "water"

The windmill that produces water out of air
Turkish proposed dam to jeopardize Iraq's water resources
Thirsty China sets ambitious water-saving goal
Water district will attack dangerous mussels

A search for sea water desalination

Nuclear projects to make sea water fit for drinking
Global warming could bring land, water problems
On the horizon, solar-powered tankers to slake Sydney's thirst

A search for irrigation

UC study says irrigation masks effects of global warming
HM the King allows Tanzania to use rain-making technology
How a village self-reliance project stemmed migration

Some of these might make interesting stories to write articles or blog posts about. They may also point to issues involving water, desalination, irrigation, global warming, pollution, drought, and other issues about, and uses of water pumps that people find a great deal of interest in.

[RisaBB]

Thanks Bill and Everybody,

It seems like the most valuable and important asset of a website owner is being a good writer that likes to write and filling your site with lots of content. So I guess is follows that if you can't/don't like to write, you'd better find/hire someone who does. Right?

Risa

[A.N.Onym]

Right. And that person should rather know the topic from the inside (as good as you do), for a better effect.

[SEOigloo]

Barry,
That was a really interesting post you linked to. The comments being made on it were also of importance. Several of the people there actually went out on a limb to tell Aaron that he may be being perceived as hostile in the community. I don't know this fellow at all..I'm sure he's extremely smart, but I do recognize his name because he's got that avatar on SEOmoz of himself looking kind of scowling/confrontational and nearly all of the posts I've ever read by him at SEOmoz have come off sounding hostile. I wondered if this was really his personality, or an attention-getting act? In my mind, I realize I have labeled him as 'the angry guy' and I know I would feel intimidated trying to build a linking relationship with him for fear he might growl at me. It's obvious from the comments on this that he may be rubbing folks the wrong way with how he presents himself. I hope these comments haven't hurt his feelings. He may simply be unaware that others are perceiving him in this way.

Being frank is an admirable quality. But being aggressive is another matter. It's odd how in this on-line world one gets a vague picture or each blogger/poster from reading what they say. I don't know any of these people, actually...I only know how they present themselves. It may be a need to stereotype and categorize people in order to help us keep track of all the voices coming from all the directions. Adjectives come to mind with any name I can think of of just about any blogger whose writing I follow as I become familiar with their style. I find it funny that one can so almost anything to a guy like Michael Martinez and he's almost guaranteed to dismiss whatever is being discussed as nonsense. After reading his writing for a few weeks, this became a label I stuck on him - 'the dismissive guy'. It is probably really unfair to label people this way, but I think it may be a habit many of us have formed through our constant use of the Internet.

So, is Aaron right about being locked out of the world of the SEO elite? I don't know. Everybody forms blog-reading habits that may take up so much of their time, they aren't looking at other blogs that could be linkworthy and inspiring. But I think all of this ties into Risa's question as a lesson about the importance of presenting yourself and your business in a way that is inclusive, not exclusive. I know that I have often been quite shocked by the use of profanity and certain types of humor on business blogs. What kind of message is this sending to potential clients? Don't the bloggers realize they are in public - not just hanging out with the good ol' boys?

There has been so much debate going on recently about whether SEO is balogna or not. The truth of the matter is, the worklife of many SEOs is relaxed and unpretentious in a way that white collar office workers can scarcely imagine. But a lack of professionalism in how some SEOs present what they do does not seem to me to be good for the prestige of the industry, in general. And, this can be applied to any industry. As developing that personal, public face becomes ever more important on the web, presenting yourself, your content and your services in a winning manner should become all the more needful.

Miriam

[A.N.Onym]

Miriam, Aaron is out of the elite, because he doesn't want to be among them. Which brings us to a point that you need to link to other people to get in the circle. As I said (and someone else did, perhaps) "You are who you link to".

[GeoffreyF67]

One addition is joining blog conversations. Use trackbacks and link to other bloggers when they're talking about topics relevant to you. Link to the original post, say why you agree or disagree, and expand on that. Add you own angle.

What eKstreme is saying here is SOOOO important it bears mentioning again. By doing a trackback you're getting eyeballs on your site from sites that are already popular. Comments (good ones) are very effective too. You'd be amazed at the number of readers you can garner through them.

G-Man

[AbleReach]

What about the other half of humanity that doesn't live, breathe and die online? I say half, but you know it's got to be more than that! Most people do email, but most do not frequent forums or know that it's possible to comment on a blog.

If we're talking about promoting a site with an audience that will do blogs and read forum links, that's one thing.

If not, those blog and forum links are mainly for spiders, aren't they? And there need to be other localities for enticements that will lead eyeballs to the first links that become available via SE results - low hanging fruit first, yes? And maybe leaving this for later is part of why SEO has a reputation for being based on tricks instead of value: we forget we may behave a little differently, and those who don't live and breathe by link love know "SEO" by guess and gossip.

This post has been edited by AbleReach: Feb 15 2007, 02:16 AM

[rmccarley]

Good point. Advertising "free reports" works well and can be placed just about anywhere at any cost from classifieds to billboards to radio and TV.

[SEOigloo]

and those who don't live and breathe by link love know "SEO" by guess and gossip.

Elizabeth,
That's such a smart statement. You will be glad to know, however, that my mother finally now understands what an SEO is

Rand,
What you are saying ties in with a lot of what I have been reading about local search...about the off-line side of getting involved with people in a community setting. But then, this is also where things can get tough for SEOs...because the lines between on-line marketing and off-line marketing haven't blurred completely and this may be the kind of thing the client would need to become enthusiastic about (joining their local chamber of commerce, participating in events, sponsoring things). You can't really do this for them, in their stead, as their web guy or gal. Hmm..
Miriam