Web traffic is of course the holy grail of every internet endeavor. Whether the goal of your site is to earn advertising money, to present information or entertainment, or to promote a cause, you want your site to be seen by as many people as possible. One way to increase web traffic is by advertising, but the costs involved in that can make it a fruitless effort. Fortunately, there are other ways of generating web traffic that cost little to no money.

One good way to quickly get free web traffic is to post comments on blogs that have subject matter of interest to readers of your site. Most commenting areas on blogs will give you an option to have your name link back to your site. Use a name that relates to your site. For example if you have a site on antique camera collecting, choose a user name something like "old camera collector" or "antique camera guy" instead of using your first name.

It's important not to abuse this. Only comment when you have something interesting and relevant to say. Mention that you have a site if it is easily worked into the post, but do not post too often or mention your site gratuitously. Blog spam really turns people off and can diminish your site in the eyes of your target audience. Your attempt to increase web traffic can backfire. But if you have things to say about the subject of your site, find some good blogs to say them on.

Doing some networking online is helpful. Search for other people which have sites that could attract your kind of audience, then email the webmasters. Ask them for a quote for an online article, or invite them for an appearance - as guests - on your blog or to write an article for your website.

Site owners, being quite flattered, may put you on their blog roll or even give you a link back from their site. By being asked to guest blogger post or even to write an article for their site will give you more exposure and free web traffic.

Don't limit your networking to only small blogs or sites. Many very successful bloggers have gotten exposure and a huge amount of hits from being quoted in larger publications like their local newspaper or even major magazines like Time or Newsweek. They may be primarily old-fashioned paper publications, but most of them have an online component.

One of the best ways to increase web traffic is by having your site linked in a large publication. To do this, find out which reporters cover subjects that are of interest to your readers. Writing to them that you enjoy their articles, sending them press releases and letting them know you have a site that relates may get you quoted and your site mentioned.