Website Traffic:: Finding 'holy grail' of Internet-focused, targeted traffic! I've tried everything you can think of and my traffic has steadily grown over years, but it has not been due to 'tricks' or many of traffic 'gadgets' I've seen being sold on Internet.

My basic traffic methods are pretty simple and boring: Word of mouth, being visible on major discussion boards and trying to be helpful to everyone who emails me with a question.

My own SEO methods are almost non-existant. I decided a long time ago I would not chase search engines because they constantly change rules of game. But... I am trying out something that is very, very sexy... it may be exactly 'holy grail' of traffic I've been looking for, http://www.marketingcheats.com e.html

I'm testing program now and I have a few ideas how it could be used much more effectively. One test I'm conducting is to use this program to create feeder sites to my own sites... another is to generate high quality, targeted reciprocal link sites that DO get indexed by Google. Please note: This is NOT a program for novices. If you don't know anything about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques, do some reading up first: http://www.marketingcheats.com e.html

eBay :: A centralized market with millions of registered users! I got my start on Internet selling on ebaY. First I sold rare books, then I sold entire websites...

The sale of 'websites' on ebay has hit an all-time low. At one time I could have sold an orginal developed (not a template) site for $500-$1,000. Although they took a long time to make, a sale is a sale... I couldn't get those kinds of prices anymore.

Where are hot markets on ebay now? There are actually a lot of them, but not one's I'm interetsed in pursuing. ebaY is a very tough market for information publishers. Ebooks are selling for peanuts. Entire websites are selling for $20!

I still use it for generating leads, which is probably best way to use ebaY right now for info-publishers, but another InfoLab member has found a very interesting way to use ebaY (among other lead generating systems) to create a dynamic viral backend money making system that made him a 'extra' $46,538 last year, http://www.strongmarket.com/viral.html

I think this is VERY smart... use ebay for lead generation and create multiple backend sales.

My ebaY 'project' (if you can call it that) for is to create 'keyword' rich listings that get found by 'right' prospects who then bid on simple CD-rom or DVD products I create. Nothing fancy, just solid products with a niche focus.

You don’t even necessarily need to be so sophisticated. Simple html, images, and good writing could do this job as well. Software companies can really benefit from this tactic. Screen shots of their software, with descriptions of how their product benefits customer, put together in an attractive presentation can act like a sales person who never sleeps or takes a break.

3) Required Customer Information

Do you or your employees spend time asking each new client their particular specifications for a job? Is there a set of questions you ask every customer in order to fulfill their request and complete project? Consider creating an html form that asks these questions, have answers emailed directly to your inbox, and place form on your Web site. A catering company may have a standard set of questions they ask a bride and groom that could be automated and put on caterer’s Web site. This could save caterers valuable time, freeing them up to party plan and cook, which is probably why they got in business in first place.

4) Partnering

Do you have business partners? Do you waste a lot of time sending out mail to each partner when you have something to communicate? Do you want to entice other businesses to partner with you but don’t have a good incentive? Creating a simple password protected area of your Web site that only current partners can access may be answer.

If you share information with partners on a regular basis, this is particularly useful. It is much easier for an advertising or creative agency to post work they’re doing for their client to review than it is to snail mail it or actually meet with client for each new draft. A more sophisticated application of this concept involves hooking your inventory system up to partner Web site section where every partner can see what is in stock in real-time.

5) Product or Service Information / Catalogs If you spend an inordinate amount of time, money and energy snail mailing catalogs out to potential customers, you may want to consider recreating your traditional print catalog online and making it easily accessible on your Web site. This may sound like a simple idea, and it is, but there are still many companies that haven’t done this yet. However, taking this mindset a step further could truly allow you to break away from pack and free up a lot of you and your employees’ time.

This is actually a lot simpler than it sounds. One of hardest parts is coming up with possible web service opportunities. Often we are so entrenched in old way of doing things that we don’t even see possibilities. It is important that you stretch your creativity when thinking of possible solutions. If you think something could be done automatically but aren’t sure if it’s possible, ask around or speak to an expert.

The possibilities are endless. In future, many of tasks of today will be done by computer, (this could have been a line in an article written in 80’s, and it certainly came true), but now it will be networked computer that accomplishes tasks, in other words, Web. I challenge you to get creative and think of ways to save you and your employees’ time and money by utilizing power of Web.

******************* Jason OConnor is President of Oak Web Works The synthesis of Web marketing, design, and technology Jason is a Web expert, e-strategist, and e-marketer who builds sites and programs for the Web

http://www.oakwebworks.com