Anybody have any ideas about how to increase traffic to a website with limited funds? Can't afford to advertise, and since the service is free, I don't plan on making any money to pay for advertising.

The site is just for Sheffield, so Sheffield orientated answers....

Thanks

submit your site to search engines, google is the best one as a few search sites use the google engine stuffy.

It seems you're already on Google, so you're off to a good start:thumbsup:

Yeah i managed to get on there, (i have been told its not usually that easy)

But surely I can't expect all trafic to come from google? Are there other ways of making yourself known? (again with a very limited budget)

I think you can add your site to MSN search here, (http://search.msn.co.uk/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=WSDD2) and here (http://uk.search.yahoo.com/free/request) for Yahoo search.

Unfortunately, as I didn't have a url to submit, I couldn't look into them further, but it may be worth taking a look.

I suppose u already have ur URL as part of the signature on ur emails? - and possibly those of some of ur friends?

find industry related forums, worldwide. Join them, and keep a list somewhere, so you can check them out once a week or so.

Make sure your website is linked from your signature.

Then read them without posting for a bit.

Then, if you see discussions that relate to items mentioned on your website you may draw peoples' attention to it - and be honest, don't spam, acknowledge you are the keeper of the website.

You can build good word of mouth PR this way, especially if your site is not too generalist.

And as been mentioned - put the URL everywhere you can. email, bumper sticker, other related websites (request link exchange), google ad-words may be an option.

Don't spam (as if you would) as this will damage your chances as much as it enhances them.

Thanks for the advice,

Gary

Being able to get onto google, and also a heafty meta tag will give you good visibility.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
find industry related forums, worldwide. Join them, and keep a list somewhere, so you can check them out once a week or so.

Make sure your website is linked from your signature.

Then read them without posting for a bit.

Then, if you see discussions that relate to items mentioned on your website you may draw peoples' attention to it - and be honest, don't spam, acknowledge you are the keeper of the website.

You can build good word of mouth PR this way, especially if your site is not too generalist.

And as been mentioned - put the URL everywhere you can. email, bumper sticker, other related websites (request link exchange), google ad-words may be an option.

Don't spam (as if you would) as this will damage your chances as much as it enhances them.
Phan knows what he's talking about...

Think about how you know a garage is a good one to go to when it comes to fixing a car, or which builder you'd ask in.

Advertising or someone you've come to trust, found useful, helpful, etc... ?

It's a no brainer... You go for the knowledgable, trusted, word-of-mouth person every time unless they're asking 15 times your budget ;)

It takes a LOT more time and effort, but if you keep at it, and build up your reputation AND make your website relevant, informative, interesting, etc... then you'll find it takes on a momentum all of its own.