[MsCrimson]

My small non-professional websites aren't business/profit oriented and I don't want to display ads. I'm not interested in mega-traffic or 1000's of users, just enough to get a small regular flow and thus over time, hopefully, active members. I've tried a couple paid hits campaigns as well as the big search engines, but like many I discovered that makes no dent at all these days (10 years ago that wasn't the case so much...). I'm a complete newb when it comes to aquiring even small/moderate traffic on today's internet, so...here I am.

Burning question: Can one gain consistent light/moderate traffic with no on-site ads? Is x-linking and/or link submissions the best method?

Anyway, I came here via Google and after reading some threads, this looks like a nice place to come for info/ask questions. Cheers.

[Barnz1986]

Originally Posted by MsCrimson

My small non-professional websites aren't business/profit oriented and I don't want to display ads. I'm not interested in mega-traffic or 1000's of users, just enough to get a small regular flow and thus over time, hopefully, active members. I've tried a couple paid hits campaigns as well as the big search engines, but like many I discovered that makes no dent at all these days (10 years ago that wasn't the case so much...). I'm a complete newb when it comes to aquiring even small/moderate traffic on today's internet, so...here I am.

Burning question: Can one gain consistent light/moderate traffic with no on-site ads? Is x-linking and/or link submissions the best method?

Anyway, I came here via Google and after reading some threads, this looks like a nice place to come for info/ask questions. Cheers.

I would love to know how to get dedicated traffic to my website.

I havent paid for any ad campaigns etc, but I have promoted my website in many links directories, took part in other websites forums and included a link in my signature, whenever i email people my signature also has the link in it etc.

If there is one thing I have noticed its this: -

All the websites that seem to get a lot of people to their website have been on the internet for quite some time, I think its just a matter of time, the longer you have been on the internet the more traffic you get.

[MsCrimson]

I agree that time is a lage factor...that and, of course, having a site that people would want to come back to for some reason. I find forums the hardest thing to promote, especially if it's not for a specific subject. There was a link given in a thread on this forum, which eventually led me to some service site that claimed it would send employees to register and post for a few days, for a fee. Thus giving you the 'active' look to attract "real forum members". Kind of made me laugh, but sometimes trying to get a forum off the ground feels like you need something like that, lol.

I guess I need to be much more agressive about getting my links 'out there,' even for smaller sites.

[augie]

well, your reference to forums got me signed up, MsCrimson...hi all, i'm augie.

i'm in the early stages of being in charge of a forums board for an internet radio station...a well established listener base with a lot of website traffic. the messageboards, however, were dead in the water.

it's my hope to build a community of listeners from the website traffic, and you would think a single-purposed board would be easier to bump, but so far i haven't had much luck. now i'm thinking about all the twinkley games and smilies and styles, i have a stripped down phpbb right now, don't know how far i can go with it, tho.

any board gurus wanna point a noob in the right direction?

anyway, i'm just getting a feel for things, think i may be able to learn something here...i'll be checking in.

[MsCrimson]

I'm not a 'board guru' but I don't think smilies will help traffic at all.

I've seen plenty of large websites that seem popular content-wise but the forums are largely empty...people usually need a reason to initially sign up to a forum...like getting help for a game, or asking a question about how to promote forums. lol

Does the rest of your site allow comments to articles/content? If so, that might deter people from forums themselves. If not, I've seen some websites put a link at the bottom of an article that says something like "Discuss (this topic) in our Forums." Maybe that would help get the ball rolling sometimes, or at least make it more likely people would click over to the forums instead of just ignoring a generic "Forums" menu link? I think I need to start doing that on my own site.

Another thing I've noticed is that by and large, users tend to be fiercely loyal to any forums that they already reguarly frequent...not much incentive for them to move to another if they're happy where they are...thus, putting links to your own forum in another forum typically gets you curioisty hits, but not much registration/activity. And of course, an empty forum is not attractive even if people see 'potential' - makes that forum-member pay-service almost sensible, haha.