At a recent online marketing seminar, one expert presented a lengthy and highly detailed series on traffic generation. Various methods of obtaining guaranteed web site traffic were discussed for a total of six hours and exhausted students were left to decide which strategy or strategies best fit their marketing plans. One student, an obvious newcomer to the internet marketing community, approached the expert and inquired as to which method was the best. Another question centered on how many of the techniques should be used for a newcomer who wanted desperately to succeed with an online business. The expert recommended each step in the series, but suggested that starting slowly and working to grow the business at a deliberate pace was a wise choice.

One suggestion centered on forum creation and maintenance. The use of forums can attract a multiplicity of visitors according to Stan Pferdner, owner of a popular sporting goods site. ?I use a forum to communicate with my customers. It's a great way to see what they like and what they will buy. The forum continues to grow and that means more business for me. It ranks well in the search engines and I don't need to do a lot of maintenance to it?. Forums can also be used to obtain email addresses/list building.

The newcomer also learned that he could buy targeted traffic. Google Adwords is the most widely accepted form of purchasing potentially targeted visitors. Nancy Barton operates an online business that is dedicated to gift baskets and uses Adwords extensively. ?Making an investment with Adwords was a no brainier for me. Gift baskets is a growing business and I spend the money to rank well in the search engines. It's the quickest way to get people to my site?. Using such a service can be very expensive, but it can bring an immediate group of consumers to your site.

In addition to the previously mentioned methods of obtaining increased web site traffic, online business owners can use blogs and article writing. Michael Woodson owns several sites that are devoted to landscaping and lawn care tips and describes his online business as being text driven. ?I rely heavily on blogging and article writing. My Adsense sites try to help individuals with landscaping and lawn care ideas. I've tossed in numerous videos and pics too. The blogs and articles really bring a lot of traffic to my sites and the clicks keep piling up?. The lesson here is obvious and these two methods are highly recommended.

At the seminar, the expert lectured students on the art of acquiring guaranteed web site traffic. His final recommendation centered on putting the methods to work as opposed to ignoring the advice and becoming lethargic. Taking the initiative, just as these three business owners have done, will bring handsome dividends to those who act upon this sound advice.