Generating traffic
 

Hi,

Has anyone actually used any of these companies that advertise your site and generate traffic for you - and do they work? - i.e. using banners, pop ups/unders (yuk - would prefer not to use these) - not spam

I've been playing with google adwords - but because of what I'm doing, there's lots of other people out there that do it - so to get fairly high up the ratings, you need quite a high Cost-Per-Click, and if it gets much higher, I'll have to start raising my price, which then stops it being quite so attractive....

I'm quite happy to invest a bit of money, I just need something that gives me a better chance? - anyone got any recommendations?

Re: Generating traffic
 

... I'm sure Richard will be along shortly ...

Re: Generating traffic
 

:D

Don't use any company which claims to be able to submit your site to thousands of search engines and get you a top 10 ranking because:
a) There aren't thousands of search engines, only 3 or 4 of them matter anyway
b) To get you a higher ranking they will put your link on "link farm" pages, it works in the short term but you will most likely find your site banned from Google within two months.

The best way to get a good ranking is by using standards complaint HTML markup and by getting descriptive links back to your site from others.
For example, a link like this:
link is not as good as:
cable tv information site

See here for more:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=332100
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=318683

Re: Generating traffic
 

Yeah, i had heard some of the practices weren't that good.

All well and good, but unless you get established, how are people to know you are there? - unless you start spamming peoples sites, which obviously isn't a great idea, how are you supposed to get people to link to you?

Re: Generating traffic
 

Just email a few sites which you think would be relevant to yours and ask for a link swap.
Word of mouth is also good, which one of the main reasons why we at CF have a good ranking today.
Just concentrate on what you do on the site and the visitors will turn up eventually, also if it's a business site then sign your emails, business cards and all other stationary with your url.

Re: Generating traffic
 

Also use your meta tages wisely and stick in a load of key words in the HTML tags so they get better search results.

Re: Generating traffic
 

Um, I think content is the key. If you have what people are looking for then they will come. It takes a while for sites to start showing up in google.

What is your site? Is it the one in your sig?

Re: Generating traffic
 

Yeah, the domains one. It's the start of some stuff I'm looking to do - but the whole domain selling business is really saturated - I think my prices are pretty good - they're cheaper than a lot of other places - but to get the exposure, it's looking like I'll have to up the prices just so people will come.... (tell your friends, tell your family! - free sloppy kiss with every domain bought! :) )

Re: Generating traffic
 

I had a gander at your site and did think the prices were good. The .com ones especially. Im looking to buy a .com soon so may be in touch :)

Re: Generating traffic
 

I shall look forward to it :)