# How do I get traffic to my website? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357 "2006-11-30T17:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/1 "2006-11-30T17:51:35Z")
I’m not a techie at all, know almost nothing about the Internet. But I do have to figure out how to get more people to my website. I’ve heard that some of the old stuff doesn’t work so well anymore and I’m wondering what the newer trends are. I’m OK with spending money if that’s necessary, either for labor or advertising space. Anything you’ve found to be helpful would be appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/2 "2006-11-30T19:03:14Z")
Well, making sure your headline is relavent to the topic you are posting on would be top priority for me. 😃 I suspect some wierd wire-crossing has happened. It will strongly depend on what sort of website you are running. Getting traffic to come ot an e-commercre website will be much different than getting traffic to come look at your pictures of your new baby. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/3 "2006-11-30T19:04:19Z")
Ok, that was really wierd. When I posted to this thread, the title was “Anyone else Avoid the Pit or GB?” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/4 "2006-11-30T19:05:50Z")
[QUOTE=crazyjoe] Ok, that was really wierd. When I posted to this thread, the title was “Anyone else Avoid the Pit or GB?” [/QUOTE] It was. It was split from a separate thread ('cause of a posting error), and the title needed to be changed manually. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/5 "2006-11-30T19:19:17Z")
Yeah, but, like, you totally ruined my joke. Now I just look like a buffoon. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/6 "2006-11-30T19:38:40Z")
Google’s new [webmaster tools](https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/siteoverview?hl=en) are pretty handy. The term you are going to want to google is SEO or “Search Engine Optimization.” There are millions of web pages and tons of books on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/7 "2006-12-01T00:40:28Z")
With agreement to what **Crazyjoe** said about it differing for different types of websites, you have to get the word out at every opportunity. Visit message boards and include a link and a brief description in your signature line at every one. Get yourself listed at all the relevant online directories and in old-fashioned print directories, if that applies. If you’re really dedicated, start attending conventions or other real-life events and try to get yourself invited as a speaker. And if you’re going to use web advertising, make sure it’s good advertising. You need to be both eye-catching and very specific and clear about what you’re offering. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/8 "2006-12-01T00:42:41Z")
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ] The term you are going to want to google is SEO or “Search Engine Optimization.” There are millions of web pages and tons of books on the subject. [/QUOTE] And whichever site comes up first is obviously the best at it. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/9 "2006-12-01T00:55:18Z")
Here’s a good newspaper article on positioning websites. [MIND YOUR BUSINESS How to drive traffic to your Web site with right keywords](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/29/BUGPNMLG511.DTL&type=business_small) ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-traffic-to-my-website/382357/10 "2006-12-01T02:20:42Z")
Thanks so much for the suggestions so far. This will not be a boring weekend for me, I’ll try to follow up on all of them.