Content Doesn't Matter if You Don't Want Traffic to Your Site

I’m afraid you’ve heard the truth too many times already.  ”Content, content and more content” is what you need to get traffic to your site.  But, of course, it’s not just any content.  First of all, it has to be valuable content.  Not just “yack-yack”.  Who’s really going to come back for more of that?   Secondly, the content should apply to whatever you sell or offer. 

Here’s three quick tips on using content for your home business: 

1. Use content to gain repeat visits to your site.  Please don’t sink your head in the sand.  It’s true.  Find all the freebie places to advertise, but it will never be as valuable as spending your time researching and writing worthy content for your site.  If you have a direct sales company website, then make it a priority to create your own website.  Don’t wait!  You’ll be missing out on an opportunity to brand yourself, collect leads, and add your own content to your site.  Add “valuable” content that will get your visitors begging for more.   Here are three ways that you can start:

• Include informational articles on your site.  The main purpose of internet users is still to find useful information.  You don’t have to be a professional writer.  Simply do some research on your subject,  place your information in a decent order and make it sound interesting by letting your personality shine through as if you were talking to your best friend.  We usually offer our own friends valuable information with enthusaism and even have fun telling our view. 
• A monthly newsletter is a great way to offer content. Be sure to include your newsletter sign up on each page.  Entice them with all the goodies they will get or information they will learn from your newsletter.  Tempt them even more by offering a free ebook, report or ecourse.
• Drawings and contests can be considered content for your site as well.  Make them fun and interesting. Hold a free drawing each month if you can.  People love to win prizes and this is a timeless promotion that will keep on working for you as long as you make good on your offers.

2.  Use content to establish yourself as an expert in your field.  You can brand yourself by choosing a particular niche to work on.  Study and learn all you can.  Soak up all the information you can find on the subject.   Learn from your own errors as well and share this knowledge.  People may like to learn what to do, but they also like to learn what “not” to do as well. So, sharing your successes and mistakes will help your readers connect with you.  Here’s some ways to share your knowledge:

• Blogs, Websites
• Newsletters, Ezines, Ecourses
• Ebooks, Reports, Articles, Audios
• Online Chats, Podcasts, Teleseminars

3.  Use content to market your site.  Try “un-advertising” for while.  While many may like to spend their day posting ads for their home business, it really will not get you the attention you’re seeking as much as spending your time making genuine efforts to get to know others and help others.   A couple of ways to share your content with others:

• Forums -  How about sharing your articles or other knowledgeable resources with your forum friends?  Join a few good forums that are close to your niche area and establish yourself there. (It’s better to establish yourself with a few good forums rather than jumping around on three hundred different ones. How can anyone really get to know you that well if your’re a forum hopper?)  Establishing genuine friendships and sharing your resources there will market your site better than posting ads.
• Networking groups is another great way to exchange ideas and share your content.  A few network members believe “networking” means advertising your home business to all the other members.  That’s as boring as someone who comes to a party just to talk about themselves.  Ugh! Who wants to really listen?  Too bad we don’t use more “trading of knowledge” and “sharing ideas and resources”.  I believe we all might just achieve a little bit more with the “un-advertising” technique.  True, you won’t gain alot of sales and become rich through networking, but you can gain more knowledge and resources, find partners, get referrals and more through networking in the right manner.
• Contributing to newsletters and ezines of other webmasters who are targeting some of the same audience as you are.  Try exchanging content with other webmasters who have established their own mailing list or offer a free ebook to all their subscribers. 

Content still reigns when it comes to gaining interest from other internet users.  Train yourself to think “content” first and find unique ways to offer your content.   If you’re stuck on ideas, spend time browsing other sites. Take note on what interests you the most as well as what bores you the most.  Of course, I shouldn’t have to clarify which ideas you should use.  You’ve got the right idea.  New, fresh, interesting content is as refreshing as a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie…”something worthy to bite into”.