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It's not all about the money.
Written on August 15th 2007
Having a good looking and a well monetized website is very important (and very cool), but without readers, it's kind of pointless. Or at least it wont make you a lot of money. So how can you begin gathering new readers to your website? Well there are a variety of methods, some very well known and others not so well. Well try to touch on all of them here.
Social Networks
Probably the most obvious (and most used) way to get new readers is through social networking websites such as Digg Reddit and del.icio.us but how does your article end up there? Unless you're totally new to the internet you should know that Digg and Reddit let you register an account and submit content to the site. The more up-votes it gets, the more people will see it.
Submitting Your Own Content
This has been a question that every website owner has asked themselves. "Should I submit this article to Digg or will it just look like spam?" If it's a spammy article or a spammy website, chances are it won't be very popular. But if it's a well written article or a unique photo, the chances of if going to the front page are greatly increased, no matter who submitted it. While you shouldn't over-do submissions from your own website, don't be afraid to see what other people think about your work. Some people think it's even necessary to submit your own content.
Comments, Forums and Networking
One of the easiest ways for the readers of other websites (and other website owners) to become aware of your blog is if you start commenting and talking to them on their websites. If you're starting a digital photography website, find some other high-profile photography websites and start networking with their users. It would also be very helpful to find high-traffic photography forums, and put a link to your website in your signature.
First Rule: Do Not Spam!
I'm going to speak about Comment spam, but this is true for social networks as well. Don't just post a comment like "Great site" or "Great post" with a link to your website. It doesn't contribute to the article or discussion on hand, and is just down-right annoying. It's not wrong to link back to your website, but engage in a real conversation, leave feedback, tips and comments for the author, just do not spam!
These are just a few ideas to get a new website off the ground and gain a little bit of a user base. Even if it's small, one of those readers could submit your article to the right place and your traffic could explode. A similar article with more ways to promote your website will be coming out soon.
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