Viral & Non-SE Traffic Generation

[Nick W]

There is no good place to put this, SE's arent the only way to get traffic danny! :)

I wanted to take a look at this, get some ideas and some discussion on ways of generating traffic that does not require the SE's. I'll start with a few off the top of my head, please feel free to add to the list..

How many ways can you get traffic without an SE?

General

Tell a friend
News letters (they get fowarded of course..)
Time limited discounts/tell a friend
etc etc - Can anyone add any more?


Products/Downloads

Flash/shockwave gimicks
Time limited offers
Programs and utilities for free download
etc etc , anyone add some more?


Stickiness

Fun questionaire type things ("find out what kind of hamster you really are...")
Communication apps. (forums, privmsg systems, chat areas)
Content update notifications
Subscriptions to certain 'areas'
etc etc, anyone add some more?


Content

Tasteless/offensive content - ppl love it whether you think they ought to or not..
Serialized content
Controversial/political content
etc etc, anyone add some more?


Non SE link traffic

Topical directories
Links to your controversial/political/sick content
Blogging
Authority posts on forums and other social software like email lists etc
etc etc, anyone add some more?


Offline

General media advertising
PR Stunts
whisper/buzz campaigns
etc etc, anyone add some more?


I've almost certainly missed a whole bunch of embarrasingly obvious ones but hopefully that'll get the ball rolling!

So, how else can you get traffic without SE referals?

Nick

[Jill Whalen]

Real-world stuff:


Put your URL on your car, truck, license plate, etc.
Put it on your stationery, envelopes, invoices.
Place flyers on cars in parking lots.
Go to local chamber of commerce meetings and network and give out business cards.

[Nick W]

Thanks Jill, that was a big omission huh?

add to that:


Shop fronts
Recipts
Answer phone messages/voice mail etc


Nick

[Brad]

Free swag. Stick that URL on calendars, pens etc.

Freebie, useful computer programs. (Virtual swag.) :)

RSS feeds - amazing how people can find you and become repeat visitors via RSS.

Get mentioned by bloggers.

[MrMackin]

>Place flyers on cars in parking lots.

Be careful with that one.
Many cities have laws.
There are licensed services that you can use in metro areas.

[bethabernathy]

Real-world stuff:

Put your URL on your car, truck, license plate, etc.

I am purchasing a car thing right now. That is a GREAT idea.

[Marcia]

For cars, check with the particular insurance company. Some consider it a commercial vehicle when there's any type of advertising on it and the rates are different.

Online or off, involvement with peer groups or organizations.

[robwatts]

I recently struck a deal with an egg wholesaler getting 4 urls on the inside lid of each egg box :)

They shift in excess of 10000 boxes per week.

Eggsciting stuff.

[Nick W]

Eggxcelent!

Have you managed to work out a rough figure for the return on those adds? - in traffic i mean?

Nick

[robwatts]

Not yet, the boxes have just been printed, so are not yet circulated. ( old stock still in situ)

In terms of ROI, Its gonna be kinda tough to measure precisely how much the venture earns, whatever the case it isn't going to hurt. It was a very good deal for both parties, and its a great way of getting urls in front of a few thousand peoples boat races.

People talk about all sorts of stuff over breakfast. :)

[Nick W]

They sure do!

Another thought is the magazine 'dropout' - the little postcard sized adds that fall out the mag when you open it. With the right mag, copy and presentation that could be a great little earner im guessing..

Nick

[robwatts]

Personally, I chuck magazine inserts away ( shake the paper in the bin first), but yes sure, if its cheap enough then yeah, why not.

Im trying to encourage the egg dudes to go with an idea related to food dyes.Eggs are stamped with a codemark made from a non toxic edible food dye the idea being...I think they might baulk though as might the food standards agency, but..if you dont ask, you dont get :d

On the food theme

Seaside rocks..urls written through the centre..

Little girl:look mummy its a url!
Mummy: Oooh just what I needed! Good girl.

[rustybrick]

Online Gift Registries...

This idea is kind of like tell a friend but its more. Because they tell a lot more friends, who then set up their own registries and tell their friends, etc...