Tactical Execution

98% of websites get fewer than 10 unique visitors per day.  That one statistic should be enough to shock almost any internet user.  But it also serves to demonstrate that a small number of websites carry massive amounts of traffic on a daily basis.  Those websites are like raging rivers and your goal should be to have at least one small siphon in each one.

The metaphor carries a lot of parallels with the internet equivalent.  When you have a siphon in a raging river, most of the water will flow past without consequence but the water flowing precisely in the siphon’s path will get picked up and diverted with a velocity unmatched in smaller streams.  Indeed, even a tiny percentage of water diverted can add up to a sizable water source compared with other sources.

Jumping back to the internet world, the raging rivers are those websites with huge amounts of traffic and your siphons are the links you get from those high-traffic sites to your own.  The traffic game really comes down to an analysis of the top traffic websites and an effort to position links on that site.

As of November 2007, Yahoo is the number one website on the internet and there are a number of places where you can position links to your own site.  You can setup a 360 profile and include a link to your site.  You can also demonstrate your expertise on Answers at Yahoo.  You can also list classified ads on the Yahoo platform.  All will act as small siphons in the raging river Yahoo has become.

In the United States, MySpace is the number three website providing another perfect opportunity to create a profile and link to your own website.  You can then take your profile to the next level by joining strategic groups and inviting other profiles as friends on your own.  Over time, you can accumulate an enormous number of friends, each providing another front door to your profile and increasing your traffic as a result.

Craig’s List is another perfect example.  It’s nothing more than a huge bulletin board but it carries enormous traffic and is specifically designed for classified ads.  Posting ads on a regular basis can provide a steady source of new visitors to your website.

EBay and Amazon are other examples.  Each has facilities where you can create a profile and utilize their platform to gain exposure and divert traffic to your website.  On eBay, you can post items for sale even if your primary goal is to divert traffic.  Whether the item sells or not, the exposure can drive traffic in the process.  On Amazon, you can post reviews for books you’ve read, perfectly positioning your comments in front of those who are trying to gain the expertise you already have.  In both cases, you’re putting a siphon in the middle of a raging river and will undoubtedly benefit as a result.

Driving website traffic doesn’t need to be expensive.  Most of the things you can do are actually free.  It just takes time and those who commit the time are the ones who reap the rewards.  But the underlying strategy needs to revolve around identifying the raging rivers and finding ways to drop a siphon right in the middle.  Visit the Tactical Execution website for a lot more ideas how you can do just that.