Traffic Building

There is an old saying in the direct response marketing field which basically says, paraphrased here, " the fortune is in the list". Simply stated, and extrapolated out for an online marketplace..you don't only need TRAFFIC, you need subscribers - either RSS or better yet, good old fashioned email opt in's, permission marketing at it's finest in both form and function.

The good news is this: Today, with Social Networking sites running amok...getting an avalanche of eyeballs in front of your offer is drop dead simple. It really is. This is NOT hype. Anyone ( and I do mean ANYONE) with the smallest fraction of ambition, can get tons and tons of people to their site, EVEN if it's brand new.

Sites like Stumbleupon, Mashable, Reddit and the rest act like a huge magnet to send server crushing, ego boosting, boisterous backsides to your product, offer or service...often simply on the merits of a good headline! (sometimes all that the "visitor to be" sees before taking the leap to your site)

The real question though, for us...as direct marketers is this: How to ensure that this gold rush of traffic is something MORE than a little chest thumping, fun escapade in testing how robust your shared hosting plan REALLY is. As someone who knows a thing or two about the proverbial power of the PR pen...I can tell you that working with clients, often times this traffic is pointless. And life is short. So who cares how many 18 year old kids from Denmark checked out your funny picture, or video...or whatever it was that got them there in the first place? If you do...well, lets just say while you are worrying about more random numbers for your analytics bragging rights...I'm going to be making more money. which is why we are ALL supposed to be doing this in the first place, is it not?

Good! So here is what I want you to do on your next free traffic building exercise to ensure it wasn't just a jolly waste of your time ( or worse..your CLIENT'S time).

1) Always make sure your Feedburner or RSS subscription forms are ready, placed prominently and are being TRACKED! ( by you )

2) If you are using Feedburner for RSS tracking (you should be!) make sure to configure their FREE email subscription option as well.

3) Have something to offer as a download, a pdf, audio, anything that you can embed with a few affiliate links for more recurring visits ( and some stray affiliate commissions)

4) Have your opt in box configured as well...you won't get TONS of opt ins ( more RSS subscriptions) but you will get SOME...and a whole lot more than if you don't have it on the page!

( It always amazes me how many direct marketers who are blogging...and who collect names...do NOT put their opt form on their blog in a prominent place - simply silly)

And of course there is more...but this is a good start! Good luck and don't forget to ask any questions should you have them..:-)