Have you ever stumbled, read, or even wrote on ways to increase traffic in one's blog site? As much as I would deny it, the topic of "increasing your blog traffic" is now one of the most popular topics among bloggers, especially here in Malaysia. So popular that a lot of blogger out there claim that they know what it takes or the advices to bloggers in order to increase the traffic of their own site.
[ Wondering what your blog traffic is like? ]
In two separate occasions, people have asked me two different questions on websites that offer this services. Firstly, do these services actually work? Personally its a question that I myself am curious, therefore I have taken the liberty to find out the only way I know how, to finally have an honest, true blue answer to blog traffic promotion.
What I did was simple, took a few popular blog promotion sites around town, tested it out for about three months and find out what the results are. Note that I don't get paid for this post, so trust me when I say this that I tested this all out myself for the benefit of curiosity.
How Does it Work?
The mechanics of the site is quite simple actually, your membership accumulates points that you can either buy or collect from clicking on other member's website. The more points that you collect, the more likely for people to click to your blog when they themselves are surfing among members for points.
The Bad
As popular as how this site would boast, personally the site has a lot of problems. In order for one to surf other people's site for credits, they need to press in a set of numbers in their designated "number pad" in order to ensure that people actually stay on the site for 30 seconds rather than a "Touch and Go" situation. This pad sometimes disappears or sometimes even shows up as a broken link on most browsers, making you unable to even surf of people's site.
The Good
Being a popular site, the site boast a large number of members. The minute you get yourself a considerable amount of credit from surfing, you literally will sit back and enjoy the ride as you watch the traffic come.
How much does it actually effect your traffic?
A considerable amount, seeing that the number of active members are large, therefore making the likelihood of your traffic to increase.
Do I recommend you to use it?
Honestly, not really. As tempting as the quantity of surfers that it boast, the problems that occur on the site still overshadows the benefit. Plus, after 2 months of using, I realized that the help desk is pretty much abandoned by the administrators, only left with website volunteers.
How Does it Work?
Similar to BlogExplosion, generate traffic from clicking on other people's site. The only difference that this site requires you to stay at a particular site in a shorter time and the number pad clicking system is far easier.
The Bad
Due to the short amount of time that a person stays on your site, you would not get the quality of readers to your site, nor would you get possible returning readers that might help you maintain the increase of traffic to your site.
The Good
Its really easy to use and quite honestly, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the mechanic of the site. Plus, they have a cycling system which means that even if you're done cycling through the member's website, you will go back to the same and and complete the process.
How much does it actually effect your traffic?
After three months of painstakingly going through the site everyday, the site does offer a strong increase to your site. On average, you would be looking to increase your traffic between 40 - 50 readers a day.
Do I recommend you to use it?
Yes, but as I said earlier, do not expect to have much loyalty from the people visiting your site.
How Does it Work?
Slightly different mechanics to this site, instead of visiting and clicking on other members, this site has a directory to which people can view your site. The objective is to get as higher ranked on that directory as possible by reviewing other people's site, visiting and even contributing to the forum post.
The Bad
This site takes a lot of work in order for you to gain traffic, and therefore takes up a lot of your time to get yourself up the ranks of the site. Personally every single day I would have to spend around 10 - 15 minutes at least in order to fulfill the criteria for me to get up the ranks.
The Good
This site actually generates traffic from the readers that you want. Because they actually categorize your site, you'll actually get readers that are interested in your site. Plus, the reviewing system not only gives traffic to your site but people would actually put their reviews on your site in order for them to increase your traffic.
How much does it actually effect your traffic?
The site does not offer as much traffic as other "click sites" but I realized that some of the readers that review my site actually returns on my site on a daily basis. No proof so far for how long though...
Do I recommend you to use it?
Absolutely, as long as you don't mind to work a little for quality traffic.
How Does it Work?
Malaysia's own social network for bloggers, all you need to do is to post up your latest post in the system. Your title post will be posted on the site's main page and it is up to the members to click and check out your latest post. Even with a system to "Dang" a post that you particular don't like.
The Bad
Due to the need to "self promote" your post to the member's chatbox (Ms Ave T calls this "Fame Whoring"), there is a lot of pestering for people to check out your box that goes on the site. To some, this might be slightly irritating as you can even get your message across during peak hours.
The Good
People who want to use this system must be within the Nuffnang membership, therefore not only does this website generates traffic for you, it does make your site more known, depending on how well you communicate with people. The more you socialize in the site, the more known your website becomes. Make traffic, make friends.
How much does it actually effect your traffic?
Quite frankly this generates 80% of my traffic increase. Because the site focuses more on the demographic of Asian bloggers in town, you are more likely to see a steady increase of interest rather than just traffic to your site.
Do I recommend you to use it?
Absolutely. Best among them all I would have to admit.
[ Pinging your site! ]
How Does it Work?
Rather than generate traffic to your site from a website, this system is where you highlight your latest post to majority of the search engines around the world.
The Bad
Bad news for slow internet users as this might take up some time. Either have a monster speed internet or don't really use this system
The Good
Provides a worldwide interest to your site rather than having to wait for the web crawlers to discover your site.
How much does it actually effect your traffic?
Quite a bit actually, because of the fact that the webcrawlers get to your site faster, the more likely for people to search a particular key word and therefore come to your site.
Do I recommend you to use it?
Yes, but not excessively. Maybe every time you post something new. Below are a list of site for pinging I find useful
There you have it, a list of research that I have done for myself for the past three months. Perhaps that this mediocre list of mine would be able to share at least a real light to what exactly are you getting yourself into whenever some would advise you on increasing your traffic. To try each of the site, do click on the link under each name.
Of course the second question of the matter, DO PEOPLE WHO PROMOTE WAYS OF INCREASING TRAFFIC actually have a high traffic value? Personally I think that most of the time, no. This is because that either the person is merely regurgitating a site that has already been posted before or heard about the site and thought it would be a good idea to generate interest to his site by posting it up.
My task here is simple, make my own review and actually tell people what I really think about this site promoters. At least there is an honest opinion on the matter and hopefully people would know more about it before actually jumping in to try out.
So what do you guys think? If there is anything (or any site) that I missed, share with me below and I will respond ASAP.
Nang this post if you like it guys! Thanks!
Good research. Excellent, actually!
ReplyDeletevedder..my 2 cents...
ReplyDeletethe first 2..total crap..this is what we call autosurf in the past..where people put money and surf to gain credits and cash out later..hate it when there's website popups and beware, if you have adsense..this will get you banned.
link referral..it's quite ok since it's more targeted and real traffic.
innit...we all know about it..no need to discuss about it.
pinging is ok..but not too excessive...search engines these days are smart enough to find your updates...
for me..the best traffic come from search engines...right keywords..variety of stuff posted on and eye catching articles will hook your readers right away and they will subscribe for more. :)
WOW, very informative.
ReplyDeleteurrghh..kinda missing Innit..i violated (didn't bother 2 read the t & c when first registering with Innit actly..my bad...) the rules of having other ad-host..so i get removed from Glitterati. Do u think i still hve the chance to reapply 4 Innit/Glitterati membership now tht i had removed all the alien ads..? sad.. ;-(..tu la bah...mcm temaha kan..hohoho
ReplyDeleteu saw me in linkreferral and innit man! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info dude!! It would be a good try for me.
ReplyDeleteyes you can..just remove the alien ads..make sure you have gliteratti status back..maybe takes 2 days after you remove the other ads...if there's still no Gliterati status after 2 days..ask Nuffnang why by opening a ticket..maybe you missed any hidden ads. :)
ReplyDeleteThis pad sometimes disappears or sometimes even shows up as a broken link on most browsers
ReplyDeleteI thought i am the only one facing this problem >< it doesnt increase my visitors :(
THANK YOU! really informative^^
ReplyDeletei only use innit among the list.. =)
ReplyDeleteat the moment, i only use innit and blogged.my..more from innit i guess..thanks for sharing.:)
ReplyDeleteyupz... so far i have only use innit :D and i think its good! :D
ReplyDeletenice points. since i'm using seoquakes, i can monitor each blog's traffic. sometimes i get skeptical too with those who promote the tips, but the worst are those who simply copy paste without acknowledging the info.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those who wrote topics on how to increase Alexa traffic. but purely from my own xp at that time+what i read.i shared it on my blog when my traffic increased sharply from millions to just 2 mill in 1-2weeks time. also,i usually "learn" by reading from senior bloggers..now my Alexa rank is under 400,000 after almost 2 months =). guess some of my tips are working =)
thanks YaM..just checked this mrning m back in Innit now..hehe..
ReplyDeleteHey there...
ReplyDeleteThis is really informative and well written.
thanks for taking the trouble to educate some of us.
came by your blog from INNIT. so, i guess that's the best that works for u =)
thanks so much for visiting. as i mentioned above, innit does bring the most results for us here in malaysia
ReplyDeletethats really good information! will keep it in mind next time! thanks!
ReplyDeleteof course, hence why we are innit buds! :D
ReplyDeletethanks for the info on blogged.my. never really realized its existence... :D
ReplyDeletelike most people do actually :D
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome!
ReplyDeletei know. irritating that this isn't it?
ReplyDeletetell me how it turns out! :D
ReplyDeleteI know! how coincidental was that!
ReplyDeletethis is what I like to see! Thanks Yam for the help!
ReplyDeletecheers jr
ReplyDeletethanks for your input brother. surely this would be helpful for the rest here
ReplyDeletethank you very much!
ReplyDelete