The 9 Free Things Every Site (or Lens!) Should Do

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 1063 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #64 in Tech & Geek, #989 overall

Rule #1: If you have a site or Squidoo lens, you want more traffic.

Rule #2: You don't have enough money to buy as much traffic as you need.

Rule #3: You've already made your site/lens as compelling as you know how to.

So, what now? Read on for the (free) details. 

1. Register with technorati 

It helps track blog posts and site changes

It's free and it only takes a few minutes. Technorati and Google both track all the changes you make in your Squidoo lenses and your website, but it helps if you sign up.
Technorati
You might need your tech person to hold your hand on this one.

The secret shortcut of online promotion

...is that there is no secret shortcut. Step by step, bit by bit, link by link, you build something important and powerful.

Hurry, but don't rush.

2. Become a Digger 

Digg is a site that lets the mob find the good stuff

Not only is contributing to the community a good idea, but it pays off in traffic back to your best stuff. (Watch out! If your stuff isn't good, it will get buried).
Digg
Once something you do gets "Dugg", be sure to link to that on your site, so that others can Digg it as well.

Bonus #2a: Start an argument 

It turns out that arguments and debates and comments are a great way to get people coming back.

Do you need connections to succeed online?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Yes! It matters who you know.

Marci-Leigh says:

The best content will never been seen without connections.

adezalfa says:

yes ,it's impossible success without connection with other people

LimitlessGuy says:

Since i typed something here... Then it works!

jyotitis says:

yes

ps4all says:

yeah :D

No! Great content and hard work are the secret.

worktogetby says:

Starting an argument on a page where you are trying to promote a product just distracts from the product....

taris says:

for me, it depends on your content
if you have a unique content that can attract readers you'll succeed even without connections.

Auris says:

Connections may help but not a necessity - good, original & compelling content will provide a solid platform from which to launch a successful online venture

live-long-and-prosper says:

It doesn't really matter who you know. Just as long as there are many

Juan_A says:

Connections are important, but you cannot really sustain them unless you have good contents. Both are necessary, but in the end it is all about the content.

 
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3. Build ANOTHER Squidoo lens 

Every blog, every organization needs one

A lens (you're reading one) is an organized directory that makes it easy for people to find your good stuff. It's free and you should have one... it will bring you credibility and traffic.

Already have a lens? Make another, and link 'em together. Up your discoverability factor.
Get started
Or you can click the button on the top right that says "build a lens".

4. Get your team, or customers, or friends to spread the word 

It's not a top down world any more, folks

It only takes a dozen or two people to post something to Reddit, or StumbleUpon, or Delicious, or other social news and bookmarking sites to get a lot of attention to your work. Stop worrying about getting listed in the New York Times and start talking to your friends instead.
StumbleUpon
A great way to get discovered, just by being remarkable.
Del.icio.us
Tag your favorite links and lenses.
Reddit
It's like Digg, but different. Great stuff rises to the surface, so make something great.

5. Issue a press release 

But only if you have something to say

Press releases aren't just for reporters. News readers (like Google News) read the press releases for the good stuff. So if you've got stuff, issue it as press release.
PRLeap
There are plenty of other services... some that are even worth paying for.

6. Get a sister site for testing 

When the IT folks complain too much

Most big organizations have a 'frozen' site. No testing, no little experiments, no landing pages. You don't have to fight them. Just get some low-cost or free hosting and experiment with some pages that come BEFORE your firewall.
GoDaddy
Not free, but close. So, you could build a page here with a different domain, run some Google ads to put traffic to that page and see if you can convert some of that traffic into clicks to your site. You won't know if you don't try, and this is cheap enough that you can try.

7. Google Analytics 

You won't know what's working unless you measure

If you've got a lens, don't worry about this part. Squidoo handles it for you! Just check your stats page for daily info.
Google analytics
Useful and addictive and free.

8. Don't be boring 

If it's so obvious, why are you ignoring it

Every single one of the hundreds of millions of web surfers has billions of choices. And they're not choosing you. Why? Well it could be that they don't know about you. But it's way more likely that they don't care.
Purple Cow
You have no right to traffic. If you're lucky, and GOOD, you earn some.

You'll earn it when you do something daring, interesting, useful, provocative, free, compelling, emotional or urgent.

Hurry.

9. Facebook, Flickr, MySpace, LinkedIn, YouTube 

It's kind of unfair to put all these together, because they each deserve their own writeup.

What hot community are you already part of? Are you on Facebook, Twittering with your friends, getting Adds on MySpace, or swapping pics on Flickr? Link back to your favorite sites and lenses from those profiles. Link hither and yon and back again, and you'll generate your own little traffic economy. Nice.
Flickr
What if you used pictures to help tell your story?
Twitter
The social conversation site of the moment. What if you twittered your latest lenses for your friends?
Facebook
The perfect place for flaunting links and lenses.

What's tip #10? 

Add your own idea here.

adezalfa wrote...

Thanks this is useful for my squidoo

ReplyPosted July 04, 2009

KokoTravel wrote...

Great Lens! Thanks for the information

ReplyPosted July 04, 2009

Smarida wrote...

Very useful tips! Will be following for new ideas!

ReplyPosted July 04, 2009

taris wrote...

great, i already did some of your ideas and i'm seeing a traffic improvements on my lens/blogsite.

5 stars for this stuff ;)

ReplyPosted July 03, 2009

kguru1979 wrote...

Nice lens.. I like it .. I need it...!!

ReplyPosted July 02, 2009

cconiam wrote...

Great ideas, I learn a few new things everyday!

ReplyPosted July 02, 2009

needatitleokc wrote...

Thanks for all the free tips I will sure be glad when I get all this knowledge in me and I can understand all of it but you have helped me get some more understanding Thanks
www.squidoo.com/anotaryinokc

ReplyPosted June 27, 2009

Kazooli wrote...

Just or even more important is who is you. You have something to offer to this online community. What is it? Bring it out in the open and let the world know of it. Connections come naturally and even the search engines imitate this in a very similar way. So bring yourself out and participate in an online community of your interest.

Due to a good content and the beauty of using squidoo (connections that come naturally as you explore the online world...) my only lens ranks first page in google under the term copynprofit scam.

Your contribution in helping others get what they need can boost the presence of your online business, ideas, ethos e.t.c

Kind Regards
Kazooli

ReplyPosted June 27, 2009

Damone wrote...

This is an awesome lens. I am new to squidoo and I want to be a great lensmaster as yourself. The traffic generating advise is spectacular and I plan on following the advice word for word. Thanks a bunch!!!!!

ReplyPosted June 27, 2009

aoife wrote...

Awesome advice, I definately need all the help I can get!

Thanks!

ReplyPosted June 27, 2009

Alfiesgirl wrote...

Succes is in the Lists Visit this site for all the traffic you need
http://www.gis-publishing.com/affiliate/sites/list-train/4a44fafa2fe6c/

ReplyPosted June 26, 2009

bassfishinglady wrote...

Great lens. Thanks! 5 Stars!

ReplyPosted June 26, 2009

steviepweightloss wrote...

Great Lens, lots of advice, I'll be back!!!

ReplyPosted June 24, 2009

ChristianJames wrote...

Thank you, These tips really made my traffic increase. The Key is to just keep going, never stop, Try it all, Keyword research for your niche is imperative. I love squidoo, This place is Awesome!!!!!

ReplyPosted June 23, 2009

Lensmaster

great lens with lots of useful information, very well done 5*s

ReplyPosted June 22, 2009

ManifestCreations wrote...

stop being selfish, be more resourceful, stay open minded, and believe in yourself (how hard can those me?)

ReplyPosted June 21, 2009

NathanLee wrote...

I meditate really really hard mornings and night, and repeat these word over and over for about 20 minutes....coooommmeeettttooomysite......coooommmmmeeetooomysite. Somehow it drives tons of traffic to my site. It's like magic...It's AMAZING. Everybody should try it. :)

ReplyPosted June 21, 2009

reynanteocta wrote...

This is great and very informative. I learned a lot from this. Thank you for the tips.

ReplyPosted June 21, 2009

Hope4U2 wrote...

This is great information. I just posted my first tweet. Should publize more, give me more!

ReplyPosted June 20, 2009

italianheart92 wrote...

Use the forums (SquidU) to promote your lenses!!

ReplyPosted June 20, 2009

AntionetteTate wrote...

This lens was very helpful. I really like the way that you got the reader involved. Having an interactive page is an addition that I am adding to my site. I have subscribed to your newsletter and I am following your tweets. Well deserved 5*
Peace and Blessings

ReplyPosted June 20, 2009

almawad wrote...

in reply to Photahsiamirabel That is very good and honest reply ! This is the way- you have to plan on the long run .

ReplyPosted June 19, 2009

5starbaby-com wrote...

Wow, I need to do this all right now!!! Thanks, I luv it! I luv U !!!!!!

ReplyPosted June 19, 2009

galcock wrote...

thank for the tips I need all I can get

ReplyPosted June 19, 2009

spunkymunky999 wrote...

These are the ideas im starting to use to get my traffic.Its not easy but its slowly working.

ReplyPosted June 18, 2009

Tavarunks wrote...

i think my content is great check it out and rate it http://www.squidoo.com/number1affiliatetraining

ReplyPosted June 18, 2009

Tavarunks wrote...

i think my content is great check it out and rate it http://www.squidoo.com/number1affiliatetraining

ReplyPosted June 18, 2009

jbs0425 wrote...

the same thing happened to me
[in reply to fryman]

ReplyPosted June 17, 2009

goooodbag wrote...

i have tried some of these, it did work, yet not too much which is just to me. Maybe this website is selling superb AAA replica handbags, if u r interested: http://www.goooodbag.com/ . Anyway, since this is free, why not have a try and this is gonna wokr for you.

ReplyPosted June 17, 2009

fryman wrote...

Doesnt' work. I tried to claim my page at Technorati (http://www.squidoo.com/pinkchristmasgifts) and got this:

The URL you provided is invalid. Please check the URL and try again.

ReplyPosted June 16, 2009

cheersiya wrote...

All the tips I can get...FREE and hopefully a lot will notice...

ReplyPosted June 16, 2009

skiesgreen wrote...

Yes, the tips are good and I am gong flat out implementing them. Hope it works in the long run.

ReplyPosted June 16, 2009

salonhair wrote...

Great information, thanks!

ReplyPosted June 15, 2009

GiftingAngel wrote...

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ReplyPosted June 14, 2009

JziE wrote...

nice one

ReplyPosted June 12, 2009

 
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What's the unsung tip? 

Tell readers of this lens which technique is the one they shouldn't skip

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If you're not doing this stuff, you're not really serious.

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