Embarking on an Internet marketing campaign does not have to be difficult, tricky, or complicated. Here are twenty simple ways that can easily be implemented to get tons of traffic to your site right now!

1. Write articles

Believe it or not this is an incredible tool for driving traffic. Well-written, relevant articles can net quite a bit of activity to your web site. Don't forget to add your URL in your byline. Articles should be 500 to 2,000 words in length.

2. Lend a helping hand

You can be an answer person at various Q&A sites. You don't have to spend hours on this, but maybe a few minutes a week. Make sure and include a link back to your site following your answers.

3. Review

If you can review hot new products or books within your market, head on over to Amazon and start positioning yourself as an expert. In order to do this effectively you'll want to create an Amazon profile and make sure and sign each review with a reference to your URL (your web site). You can also go to other popular sites to review products as well.

4. Social bookmark everything

Social bookmark each page of your site and each blog entry you post. While this might seem tedious, it's worth it. You'll see a strong increase in traffic if you social bookmark each page on your site and each of your blog entries.

5. Get yourself listed at dmoz.org

It's not easy to get listed there, but definitely worth the effort.

6. Offer a freebie on Craigslist

You'll be amazed at how much traffic you get from a single Craigslist ad. The key here is to send people to a page on your site and make sure they have to sign up for something (like your email newsletter) before they can grab their freebie. That way you're not just getting traffic, you're also building your list.

7. Create a "recommended by" list on your social bookmarking pages

Tag articles, blogs and other content you think is important to your readership. Offer your list page as a resource site. You can add a link to this page in your email signature line or on your website.

8. List yourself in the best directories

You may have to pay for this but since most people don't do this, you could really enhance your traffic (and page rank) by getting a paid listing.

9. Ensure you have an email signature line

If you don't have one, create one. Believe it or not, people do follow these links. You'll be amazed how many folks read email signature lines. Change it up a few times a year depending on what you're doing or promoting.

10. Set up a social networking site using Facebook, LinkedIn, or Squidoo

It's free and easy to do, just don't forget the all-important link back to your site!

11. Start a blog

Once you start, comment on other people's blogs. This in turn will link them from your site or add them to your blogroll.

12. Inbound links

Spend your time going after high traffic, high quality sites. Good sites should have a PR (page ranking) of 3-6 depending on the market. Check a site's page rank here.

13. Make sure your blog has an RSS feed

Have an RSS feed so if you capture a reader you don't lose them if they forget to bookmark your site or blog.

14. Join relevant groups at Yahoo groups

You'll find everything from groups on growing your small business, writing books, finding your passion, even underwater basket weaving. You're sure to find one that's right for what you're promoting. When you do find the right group, join and participate.

15. Start an email newsletter

While it may not seem like a newsletter that you email can drive traffic to your site you'd be surprised at the effectiveness of this type of promotion. If your newsletter (like your articles) is interesting and relevant to your audience, you'll find that it has a huge pass-through factor, meaning that it is passed from one email subscriber to another. Also, if you have an email newsletter you should never, ever go to a single event without a signup sheet. Yes, you can even use offline events to drive traffic to your web site.

16. Offline efforts

If you're ever quoted in a magazine or other publication, make sure and mention your URL as it's appropriate to the topic. Do not forget to tell folks you have a website that may be a great resource for the topic of your interview.

17. Have products to sell

Why not get a store on eBay? This site gets a tremendous amount of traffic and on your sales page you can to list your URL. It's another great way to get an inbound link and a way for people to find you. E-junkie is a featured packed online shopping cart and digital delivery system. Fast, easy setup, no software required, this is another great resource to sell or provide items like digital downloads, ebooks, subscriptions, etc.

18. Upload a video

Get your video on YouTube and other video sites.

19. Podcasting is another great way to drive traffic

You can record your podcast quickly and easily with many different podcast programs. Many of them will syndicate your recording to podcast directories including iTunes. It's a great way to let people know about you and your web site!

20. Make sure your site is converting traffic into something

If you're going to go through all the trouble of getting traffic to your site, make sure your site is converting this traffic into something. Get folks to sign up for something, your newsletter, the RSS feed on your blog, whatever it is, getting their email address will help you remarket to them when the time is right. Studies show that visitors landing on a site often don't buy the first time. That's ok! You want to get them into your marketing funnel so you can market to them again and again. Remember, market not in a way that's obtrusive, offensive or downright annoying, but in a way that is helping them with their own mission. An example might be an email newsletter. A helpful, informative newsletter is a fantastic funnel. A blog is another great way to keep people in your marketing loop without bombarding them with useless email messages. Also, make sure you know what your traffic numbers are before you launch into any Internet marketing campaign. By traffic numbers I mean how many people are visiting your site. You want to know this so you can gauge a before and after view of your marketing efforts.

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About The Author
Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a book marketing and media relations expert whose company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns.