Getting more traffic tips

Is there life beyond search engines?

[silverbytes]

Most of my traffic comes from search engines. I wonder what other sources of traffic, and concrete actions can you take in order to get more traffic.

In my case other websites doesn't bring me visitors really.

What other things can you do to get more traffic?
What does bring you traffic actually?

[grandpa]

When I was growing up (pre-PC) the Yellow Pages provided traffic for a business. And even better than that, word of mouth from satisfied customers.

Today is a little different.. maybe. Some ways to develop traffic.

The Yellow Pages. Includes your business name, telephone AND web site address.

Trade publications. It's no irony that many of them can be located on the web.

Your own print catalog. Did you know that at least one search engine has a catalog section? And, if you send them a copy of your catalog, they will reproduce it in whole. We get a fair bit of traffic from our catalog listing. Don't forget to put your catalog on your own site. You've added new content, more pages, and generally improved your reach into the web.

<print media soapbox>Don't discount publications, especially if you haven't tried them yet. And don't give up if one doesn't work. There are many publications, not one. We tried 3 before we found a winner. I took a call this morning, it went like this..

him: I was wondering if you had a catalog you could send me?
me: Umm, Sure.
.. pertinent data followed..
me: I'm curious, how did you locate us?
him: I was at a show last weekend, and the guy next to me had a copy of <fill-in-the-blank> magazine, and I saw your ad in there.
me: Thank you, your catalog will be in the mail today.

The man wants to start a business, and he wants our widget in the store because no one else has anything like it in that town. Next weekend he might be looking for your service or product. I've taken dozens of calls like that this year. Those publications and our catalogs generate sales.

To extend the topic of trade publications just a little further...Is there life beyond search engines?
I know of one business in our niche that has limited SE visibility, but runs a full page ad in several publications. Those, along with word of mouth from (don't ask me why) satisfied customers seem to work very well.
</>

So yes, apparently there is life beyond search engines. I'll be quiet now.

[tedster]

Here's a classic post on the topic from Brett:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[grandpa]

I noticed that Brett isn't as passionate about trade publications as I was ;)

I would be interesting to see what works for you, and why.

[txbakers]

My philosophy is that search engines are only the gravy for my business. I do real marketing - attend trade shows, print a brochure, mailings, advertising.

I can't be bothered worrying about the whims of this month's Google spiders when I have a business to build.