5 Simple-Yet-Effective Ways to Get More Traffic

Today I’d like to share 5 of my favourite tips for getting blog traffic and believe it or not, once it’s done correctly, you can get tons of traffic almost immediately. Okay, let’s start with the first one:

1. Launch Something

Many bloggers take launch to mean something product related, but I’m a big believer that your blog IS your product, and should be launched at least once. If your blog is new, launch it with a bit of a build-up. If it’s not new, maybe you launch a new series of content, a new design, or yes – a product.

The trick is just to build hype that something new is about to happen. People love to get excited about new things, even if it’s as simple as a new header or logo. Be creative!

2. Give Something Away

Yes, contests are passé, which is why I say skip the annoying parts of the contest and just give stuff away. It doesn’t matter what it is – it could be a book you no longer want, a consulting session, or a product of your own. Don’t ask for RT’s and Facebook Likes – just list a basic requirement and ask people to sign up.

Many bloggers use blog comments to take entries, which is a smart idea, but it’s also a pain in the butt to go through them all and try to pick a winner. I prefer the idea of asking people to sign up for my email list, and then pick a random person to give the prize away to…it’s simple, and it builds my list.

3. Email Signature

Many people forget the basics, like placing a call to action and URL in your email signature. Sure, your real estate agent might not care about your blog, but you never know who’s looking for what you’re offering.

Your email signature is like a business card, but gets around much more often. Take advantage of it!

4. Communities

Designers use sites like Forrst.com and Dribbble.com to get traffic to their projects. Dog bloggers use forums to do the same.

Any place that allows for discussion is a place that you can use to build traffic. Blog comments, communities, Facebook groups, etc – they all work to build reputation and refer traffic.

5. Guest Posts

This one is a big one. Writing guest posts for other bloggers will leave a permanent link back to your blog, which will continue to get traffic for years to come. Of course, you’ll want to take time to craft a nice looking bio/signature line, but that’s easy.
Try to write at least one guest post per month and see how it works for you. If you notice that one site does better than another, then keep writing for them!

Remember, getting blog traffic is not a one-time deal; you need consistent effort to build traffic, gain trust, and earn a reputation. Spend a bit of time every day using techniques like these, and I guarantee you’ll notice a difference.