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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 586 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #12 in Tech & Geek, #454 overall

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Rated G. (Control what you see)

 

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.

BenHoskinZ2R says:

I also have to agree with gospa 13 about building relationship through social networks. My sponsor made that same comment about going to forums, getting involved in conversations and meeting people without trying to sale anything just provide advice or good info.

BenHoskinZ2R says:

Is this really a true statement about having connections online to get ahead? I think so up to a certain point especially if you're a newbie.

scwalther says:

Pretty simple - traffic is key, and content alone wont generate it.

The_Glide says:

Yes. I work for one of the most successful internet marketers in the world and he uses every connection in every possible way to succeed online. He's living proof and I'm lucky enough to sit outside his door and soak up information.

ResilientHeart says:

Absolutely! It's all about the peeps. :-)

No! Great content and hard work are the secret.

JessicaOffSetMedia says:

It is about the people you know, but its more about the great content you have! No matter how many people you know, if you don't have anything interesting, people will move on quickly!

FlorenceArt says:

Every time I get more active on the web (forums, commenting on blogs...), visits to my website go up. So if by connections you mean, connecting with people, I would say yes :-) But from the choice of answers given, I'll select no. Who cares who you know. The important thing is who knows you :-P

jmendez says:

Nope! Definitely not. Hard work is all it takes. Plus! you gain knowledge as you go.

Robyn_Abbatiello says:

Personal connections can only get you so far. You have to make connections with like minded people online as well. You can both help each other grow. Which come from hard work and great content.

allisyn_andria_li says:

With Google, No way!

 
1 of 86 pages
 

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.

luckystriker

Wow, Really usefull tips! Im going to try right away. Hopefuly it will improve my traffic of my lens salehoo review

Posted October 07, 2008

Adam_Chandler

Great content! I have been able to get some traffic from facebook when I linked my lens. if you have a provocative lens title and target people already interested you are basically guaranteed some good traffic.

Thanks,
Adam

Posted October 07, 2008

cee1431

Great Tips now it's time to implement them. 20 lenses ans counting. Latest but not greatest

http://www.squidoo.com/chefsalaries

Take Care,
Carl C

Posted October 06, 2008

shortofaload

Great ideas here. Thanks for the tips buddy. I see it it's better to do something everyday than to do nothing at all. Please feel free to visit my site here.

Posted October 06, 2008

scwalther

Thanks for the info!
http://www.squidoo.com/clickbank-product-reviews

Posted October 06, 2008

CoolFoto

Thanks for the tips. I do notify Twitter now that you added the popup every time a lens is published.

Posted October 06, 2008

WendyKrick

Great topic. Tip #10 for me would be twitter! I love Twitter. ~Wendy

Posted October 06, 2008

shynab56

nice! I like it! In net surfing..I believe that exposure count much! We must be patience to discover more!

Posted October 06, 2008

DebMartin

Play in the sandbox YOU love.
Thanks Seth.

Posted October 05, 2008

CarlosAlston

I'm suprised no one mentioned video!

Great lens though!

Carlos
glimpse skin care

Posted October 05, 2008

UniversalSpiderWeb

Very informative lens. Thanks for the tips and ideas. My brain is always hungry for more intel!

Posted October 03, 2008

9tailfox

Here's my tip..Learn Interent Marketing...Great Info Thanks.

Posted October 02, 2008

SKalua

Great Lens with lots of helpful ideas. I'll be back to learn more.

Posted October 02, 2008

JBoxer

Thank you for the great tips.

Posted October 01, 2008

Pietschoice

I get great ideas and feedback by joing forums related to my lenses. These new ideas help me edit each lens by adding keywords or useful links.

Posted October 01, 2008

rskassisieh

I will jump on this right away! It is great to have pros to look up too! Keep it coming, lots of "Thanks"! Randa K.

Posted October 01, 2008

monk3ybidzness

i still have no clue on i'm doing

Posted October 01, 2008

daddysgirl220

I sooooo hope that practice makes perfect. I'm workin my tooshie off to get my lens SEEN!

http://blog.grikel.com

Posted October 01, 2008

mscoolwood

Grrreat lens,
I've been around for a few weeks now, and just started looking around. I wish I had started look earlier.

Luck to all....

Posted September 30, 2008

hermitqueen

Thanks for the tips- will be implementing ASAP! Yay!

Posted September 30, 2008

Duvc2579

Thanks For Giving The NewGuys A Leg Up In Figuring Out How To Squidoo We All Need Help Sometime!

Posted September 29, 2008

coopd

Great tips. You can write an article related to your lens and submit it to free article directories. People can post your article on their websites, giving you credit (include your link with author's bio).

diana
Diana's Photography

Posted September 29, 2008

Waynesubs

Tanks for the tips!
Will put it to use ASAP!

Posted September 29, 2008

mllnsgrl

Excellent Lens and Info :) I'm really glad I came upon this lens. I will be implementing a lot of these today.

mllnsgrl

Posted September 28, 2008

mojack

BRAND YOU

INDIVIDUAL YOU ARE THE GLOBAL CORPORATION

The goal is always to explain the "individuals" who are around the world to understand the terminology "you" are the global corporation (Brand You).

In a nutshell we want to explain how the "individuals" (You & Me) are becoming global corporation.

Columbus Era:-

500 years before Columbus sailed over the earth and opened the Global Market. Countries (mostly from Europe) using their muscle power, horse power, wind power/steam power conquered different countries around the world and knitting the world together as a one globe. Countries were competing with one another for the control of global economy.

Multinational Companies Era - I

Multinational Companies went for global markets. Again the Multinational Companies were from Europe (English/Dutch/French). The global integration was powered by many inventions like Steam Engine, Rai

Posted September 28, 2008

bkelly1951

These are excellent tips. So glad I stopped by to read this lens. Haven't tried but one so far, but you bet I'm getting ready to try more.

Posted September 27, 2008

dreed54

2 days after submitting my lens, www.squidoo.com/beachbodycoach to Digg, I was rated in the top 10 on Google. It was a surprise. I think I tried to do too much with my first lens, I am planning on breaking it up into probably 4 more lenses.

Posted September 26, 2008

cindyschulson

I love it. You've shared some great ideas. Another thought is to link your blog to your squidoo, or your squidoo to your hubpage, etc. Of course, linking to another valuable source beyond yourself is very helpful as well. Thanks for the great lens.

Posted September 26, 2008

RichesWithVitamins

I want to help people feel better and get healthy. I have seen result personally and want to share what has worked for me and others.

Posted September 25, 2008

TrueFX

:) nice. thank you.

Posted September 24, 2008

LA_Looks

All good tips, each one connects the dot's and i'll be taking note.

Posted September 23, 2008

Jewelsofawe

I tried your tips. Great stuff! I also like to use Zimbio

Posted September 23, 2008

Michey

Seth my favorite #10 is
Ping your lens using http://squidutils.com/ping-lens.php and
Ping your blogs using the one and only http://pingomatic.com
regards
Michey
Michey

Posted September 22, 2008

blauweogen

Great advice
Cassy's
Tarot

Posted September 22, 2008

DrMaria

Great advice. Thanks!

Posted September 22, 2008

 
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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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Free eBooks and posts worth reading 

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

How to Attract Links and Increase Web Traffic - The Ultimate Guide | Copyblogger
This is the master list of ebooks and other sources
101 Ways to Build Link Popularity in 2006 : SEO Book.com
Andy Hagans and Aaron Wall team up to write about 101 ways to build link popularity in 2006. We like #35 the best.
Unleashing The IdeaVirus
The entire book for free. Sorry about the dated formatting.
Seth's Blog: Flipping the Funnel--new ebook
Free ebook on social media and traffic
Link Bait
Quick, easy list of how to think about link bait
FREE TRAFFIC: the ebay ebook
This just in from Megan, Editor in Chief of Squidoo. For anyone selling anything online, from CafePress to Etsy to Lulu to eBay, this ebook will help you get more traffic and meet new customers.
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Seth Godin is the bestselling author of ten books. He writes about marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect.

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