Listed below are some simple to do strategies to drive more traffic to your website. And, they won’t cost you a dime (except your time). While you might get better results with paid traffic tactics, these four strategies can be used to “test the waters,” to see which ideas are more effective for your audience and to gauge where to go from here.

Optimize Your site for the Search Engines

Search Engine Optimization or SEO simply means: utilizing tools and methods that will result in making your site top ranking in the results of search engines.

Its important to know that the majority of people who surf the web via search engines, rarely go beyond page one to find what they are looking for. Most people only the ten top search results in the first page. Making it to the first page, more so to the top three is a barometer of a sites success in search engine optimization. And the search engines decide who gets seen on those pages. Typically they show sites with the highest likelihood of meeting the needs of the person doing the search.

It’s a constant challenge and requires ongoing effort to get to page one. But it does happen. Which is why the stronger and more narrow your niche, the greater your chances of getting there. The more you keep to your niche, focusing on the keywords your target audience is likely to search for, the greater your chances of getting there. And when you do, you get more traffic to your website. The more traffic for your site, the more business you rake in.

Take advantage of online forums and online communities.

The great thing about forums and online communities is that you can target a certain group that fits a specific demographic you are looking for. You can discuss lots of things about the niche you represent or offer. Sites like Quora offer interesting dialog, interaction and engagement. If you market to a specific geographic area, Alignable and other online communities are geared toward promoting local businesses.

With online communities and forums you can build a reputation for your company. Show them what you are made of and wow them with your range of expertise about your subject. Helping people with answers to their questions can go a long way to build a reputation and build trust with the people looking for your expertise and knowledge. Give them a reason to visit your website such as an article expanding on a subject they have shown an interest in.

Make use of newsletters. Yours and Others

Provide people with a catalog of your products and interesting and entertaining articles. If you make it really interesting and entertaining, more people will sign up for your newsletter and recommend it to other people. If your newsletter is unique and offers something your reader cannot find elsewhere, you will also have a better chance of increasing your audience AND driving targeted traffic to your website.

Find newsletters that cater to a similar audience – those that are not in direct competition, but would complement your business. Offer to submit content to those newsletters. Use a call to action in the signature line with a link to your website. Nothing too self-promotional. Simple. To the point. Helpful. If you have a newsletter, offer to include their content as well.

Find ways to get listed on authority sites.

You can do this by offering valuable content to those sites. Write articles, offer give-aways, promote those sites on social media, your website, in your newsletter. The more value you can provide to these sites, the more likely they will be to publish your content and/or list your site.

Make sure your content is Well-Written and Accurate

Many search engines track down the keywords and keyword phrases your site uses and how they are used. While you do not have to hire a professional copywriter to write your web content, you need to make sure it is accurate and showcases you in a professional manner. Quality over quantity will increase your reputation in the marketplace.