Everyone wants more traffic to their site. So which traffic sources are the the best to use? Today, I want to take an in-depth look at Drop My Link, and share how it grew from no traffic at all to nearly 10,000 visitors a month. With very little effort on my part, I might add.
DropMyLink is a site I created back in December 2009 that helps you find free do-follow backlinks. It does this by performing specific Google queries that will find all sorts of backlink friendly sites, like CommentLuv Premium blogs, KeywordLuv blogs, and more.
What is interesting though, is that I ended up never really doing too much promotion of the site myself. I did initially make a couple of forum posts on WarriorForum and DigitalPoint forums to try and publicize it. But I was never able to generate a ton of buzz at the time, so DropMyLink became more of an afterthought as I moved onto new and better things.
Then six months ago, seemingly by itself, the site’s traffic took off. It steadily grew from 20 to 80 to 150 to now 350 visitors a day. It essentially went viral as people started spreading word about it on their own.
So where is all this traffic coming from?
I thought it would be interesting to share in this post what the site’s biggest traffic sources are and share some real stats about how much traffic each one has sent. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to give a shout out to some of the people who were responsible for helping the site grow as fast as it has.
1. Product Traffic
DropMyLink really exploded traffic wise when it was featured in a product called Fast Attack Links by Anthony Devine and Craig Mako.
This is the 3rd in the popular series of Fast Attack Reports, with Fast Attack SEO and Fast Attack Traffic being the other two. According to WarriorPlus, each of these 3 reports are in the Top 10 best selling WSOs of all time.
DropMyLink was the first tool featured in the Fast Attack Links report and this resulted in a massive increase in traffic to the site. My traffic stats are a little in-exact since click-throughs via the ebook don’t pass the referrer data. But when Fast Attack Links launched, I estimate it sent over 2,000 visitors in the first week, and it has more than doubled the site’s daily traffic since that time.
2. Site/Blog Traffic
Once a site reaches a certain level of visibility, and it offers some compelling value, other marketers and bloggers will take notice and start writing about it. That is what happened with DropMyLink.
The most traffic DropMyLink has received from any one site so far was after it was featured on DotComSecrets.com. This is the official company site of well known IM guru Russell Brunson.
Russell actually mentioned Drop My Link in a video that he did during the Halloween Episode of his Daily Sketch series.
Check it out: (Starts at 5:18)
Pretty cool, right? This one video alone brought in 450 visitors to the site in the first week.
That isn’t the only site to talk about DropMyLink. Here are three other examples of blog posts that have sent hundreds more visitors to the site:
- 8 Completely Free Tools That Will Catapult Your Link Building Efforts (AlexWhalley.com)
- Fast Way To Find DoFollow Blogs & .edu Sites That Accept Comments (NicksTrafficTricks)
- Find Blogs to Comment On with Drop My Link now with Livefyre Search (DragonBlogger)
3. Guest Posting
Guest posting is probably the best way that anyone can get more traffic to their site. But you definitely need to choose wisely as not every site will send you the amount of traffic that you expect.
In the IM/blogging market, ProBlogger is probably the holy grail of guest posting opportunities. With over 161k RSS subscribers, ProBlogger has the biggest reach of any IM blog I know.
Lucky for me, Ben Jackson from SEODiscovery wrote a completely unsolicited and fantastic guest post featuring Drop My Link titled White-Hat SEO + Social Media = Link Bait Magic.
This particular guest post on ProBlogger sent over 210 visitors the first day and more than 500 visitors overall.
I also got Ben to write another guest post on the ComLuv blog network called 3 New Ways to Rank & Succeed with Blog Commenting. This an excellent site for guest posting (PR 6) and this post has brought me almost a 100 new visitors since it went live.
Ana Hoffman from Traffic Generation Cafe also wrote a terrific guest post on Kikolani.com called 10 Dreadful Mistakes That Kill Your Comments that mentions DropMyLink. Currently, it has attracted 88 Comments, 128 Tweets, and 95 Facebook Likes which is way better than I could ever do myself. If you ever are looking to create a great guest post yourself, then this is certainly one to model yours after.
4. Forum Marketing
Forum marketing is a very powerful traffic source and frankly quite underrated as well. While blog traffic and guest posting can often send more visitors at one time, the amount of traffic will decrease over time as posts drop off the front page.
Forum traffic on the other hand is generally more consistent over the long haul as threads get bumped up and new posters are exposed to your threads.
At this time, there are 18 threads on the WarriorForum, and 17 threads over on DigitalPoint which mention DropMyLink. And how much traffic have these forum threads sent overall? According to the stats, more than 1,000 visitors each, and growing by the day.
And those are just two of the major internet marketing forums. It also gets traffic from a quite a few other forums as well, along with some paid forums like WPGoldmine, Adsense100kBlueprint, and Bring the Fresh that I can’t even access myself!
5. Social Traffic
I’m not really a big into social media myself. But DropMyLink still gets quite a bit of social traffic as well, with StumbleUpon being the major source. Stumbleupon has sent over 3,000 visitors over the lifetime of the site. And I don’t even have a StumbleUpon button on the site!
StumbleUpon only works if you have something good to share, but if you do, don’t forget to take advantage of it. Following some of these social marketing tips is a good idea too.
I also get quite a bit of Twitter and Facebook traffic as well. Mostly as a result of the guest posting that’s been done I’m guessing. Unfortunately, the exact sources from each are harder to pinpoint since they don’t pass the referrer information in my analytics.
Final Thoughts
Here are a few takeaways from this post.
First, create content and products that fill a need. A site like DropMyLink isn’t hard to create, but it has become successful because it does something that people are always looking for (free ways to help their site rank better). All it takes is to be observant, and find ways to solve some real problems that people in your market are experiencing.
Second, target as many different traffic sources as you can. The more exposure you get, the more chance you have of going viral. Take advantage of traffic source ones you can control like guest posting and forum posting. This will enable you to plant some seeds and build some buzz around your site or product. Sometimes that all it takes for whatever you are promoting to take off.
And finally, don’t be as passive about promoting your stuff as I was. If you have something you know is good, then promote it as hard as you can. While DropMyLink became popular despite the lack of my own marketing efforts, who knows how much bigger it could be if I had spent more time promoting it myself?
Now let me pose a question to you. Which traffic sources have worked best for you? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Really inspiring post Chris! I would have to say my best traffic source is still Google. Although, I think I should take your advice and not be so reliant on them. Easier said than done though. :(
Hey Kinley. I think your site would do well with some targeted guest posting. Have you tried that yet?
The secret to my traffic is patience and Google. My stats show that nobody of any value comes via Yahoo or Bing (incidentally, I think Bing is nice, never thought I would say that about a MS offering!) But patience is key and factor in some good urls, good tagging and making sure your snippets catch at least one of your keywords. I’m not sure traffic for the sake of traffic is of any use (yes I understand the viral element and of course the more popular your site looks the quicker your domain or page authority can grow) to some businesses. Ours being a case in point. On the flip side the seo blogs thrive as traffic is king. For now I’m happy to have a commluv backlink and a couple of others every week but I’m always open to suggestion.
Always love stopping by
So now we know the truth about drop my link
Not only is “DropMyLink” an excellent tool but it is also a prime example of “giving before getting” marketing. These days many in the IM niche offer freebies to build their list which have little or no value at all. This of course is good for astute marketers like yourself who stand out from the crowd and offer true value so you fully deserve the large lists that result from your efforts. If it’s okay with you I will link to this post in a future post on my Southern Affiliate site.
Thanks for the kind words Jon! And it would definitely be awesome if you linked to this post from your blog. :)
I actually learned about dropmylink from one of the newsletter I signed up on and it is indeed a great tool.
Good info Chris. So far for me it’s been referring sites that have given me most traffic with Google a close second. Of course I would love an increase from Google, so it’s back to the drawing board for me.
For getting more organic Google traffic, it’s all about targeting good keywords and building quality links. Good luck with your site Henry and thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Wow! Talk about a great post!! Oh yeah!
What is the best way to be able to do a guest post? Just ask them directly or just maybe start commenting on their blog? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks so much!
Hey Scott! Thanks for stopping by. Definitely, establishing a relationship first by becoming a regular commenter or sharing their content is a really good strategy.
You can also try a site like MyBlogGuest which makes it easy to connect with other site owners who are specifically looking for guest posters on their site.
DROP by your post and found
DROPMYLINK to get backlinks,
DROP off to go there now!
Thanks Chris!
Haha, nice one!
The moral of the story, Chris – create an incredibly useful product and most of the traffic and links will come naturally.
Congrats on the great product; I will keep mentioning it everywhere I go.
And thanks for the mention, of course.
Ana
Thanks Ana. I agree completely… but you do need to get a certain amount of exposure before it will take off usually.
PS Your TweetMeme button is not working for me – 404 error.
I have noticed that TweetMeme seems to be experiencing problems lately…but it currently works at the moment.
Hi Chris, first let me say congrats on your product and your new found traffic for it. I read just about all the blogs you mentioned and Ben has done a guest post on my blog recently too. I actually use many of the same strategies you do but I also belong to some blogging communities like Blog Engage, Blokube and BizSugar. I get great traffic from all of them and they have low bounce rates.
StumbleUpon has also worked well to bring in traffic and over time the bounce rate has gone down from that source as well.
Chat soon Chris :)
Hi Ileane. I’ve never tried those blog communities before, but I just signed up for all 3 to test them out.
I’m interested in seeing how much traffic they can send. Thanks for the suggestions!
Hey Ileane as always your looking out for us at blog engage! Thanks for sending Chris our way I think he’s going to fit in perfect with us! I’ll make sure to credit your account as well for the commission. I know if it wasn’t for you he may have never heard of us! Thanks Ileane you’re a sweetheart!
Hello Chris, it’s very nice meeting you and I want to extend a warm welcome to our blog engage community. I love the Warrior forums and Digital Point. I think DP has a lot more to offer when it comes to driving traffic as Warrior Forums has some picky mod and admins that are a little stuck up. If I had to pick on to spend the majority of my time it would definitely be DP.
I’ve created everything I have online to this day by marketing in forums and it’s been such an essential part of driving traffic to my sites. It’s funny how many people underestimate how much traffic forum marketing can drive.
Hey Chris,
Interesting Post and congratulations on the awesome product. Guest Posting & Forum Marketing are ways to get traffic. I am using DigitalPoint from a year now, and have to say it’s one of the best Business/Marketing Forums out there.
Thanks for sharing this awesome article with us. Tweeted and shared on all social media networks.
Appreciate you stopping by Dev, and thanks for sharing!
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the shout out! DML is a great tool, and like Ana said, excellent products or content are just naturally shareable and link magnets.
Also, loved the post, thanks for sharing the actual amounts of traffic each source sent you.
Nice one! Thanks for sharing this with us all. Guest blogging is something I haven’t done a lot of, but I’m about to start getting in to it as it makes perfect sense and everyone is talking about it!
Take care,
Rachael Macgregor
Great post Chris! What is your opinion on software that guarantees traffic and basically sets up networks for you? One of these is Traffic Geyse. Any ideas?
My main method lately has been buying solo ads and directing that traffic to a capture email page and once they get on my list I send them automatic broadcasts of my blog. Another tactic which brought a good deal of traffic was using the LinkedIn Loophole I found in Warriors Forum…if you publish the right type of post and share it within LinkedIn you’ll get lots of traffic ;)
Hi Chris,
It is interesting that you mentioned StumbledUpon as high traffic driver. Just recently, my traffic has taken off and many of the referrals are from StumbledUpon. I am a bit baffled as I have not touched StumbledUpon either?
I have been trying to get into guest blogging within my niche, but alas, I still need more time to write the articles!
Hi Rachael. Most likely, one of your readers submitted your content for you to Stumbleupon, and then other people who saw it stumbled it as well.
Isn’t it nice to get free traffic with no work? :)
Sounds tips Chris…
Seems that you laid a solid foundation for the traffic flow when you created such a useful resource in the first place. Have never heard of Drop My Link… Better check it out!
Great work and thanks for ‘revealing’ your secrets…
I appreciate the kind words Jym. Thank for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing! Is this similar to Traffic Geyser?
Wow! Being noticed by the really big bloggers who have a large readership really pays off, doesn’t it?
Do you know how Anthony Devine and the others found out about DropMyLink? Did you promote to them, or did they hear about it through word of mouth and gave up a thumbs up simply because they liked it?
Hi Rose. I had actually never heard of Anthony before, so I did not not promote the site to him. :)
While I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing that Anthony probably learned about DropMyLink via one of the WarriorForum threads since he’s a big forum member.
Hi Chris,
Most of my traffic sources are from Social Media Sites and Forums. I have to say that you really convinced me to try guest posting. I mean, i heard of this method before but at that time, I’m not yet fully convinced that it’s a good idea since it requires a lot of time to write high quality articles. But now, you change my impression towards guest posting and I’d love to hear your expert opinion. How many guest post do you suggest in a month? I look forward to your response. Thank you very much!
Regards,
Veronica
Honestly, if you’re just starting out I would suggest guest posting as much as possible. It’s just the easiest way to build your brand, and get traffic when you start. Just as long as you can write some high quality articles. :)
wow! that`s really inspiring……10,000 visitors a month is really impressive, being noticed by the really big bloggers who have a large readership really pays off then, doesn’t it?
great post, helpful info, I must confess my best traffic source is still Google. i shall make it my new years resolution to not be so reliant on them though, thanks
Chris, I had to drop a comment on this when I saw you created dropmylink.com. – I was re-reading my copy of fast attack links earlier today.
It’s great to see that your site has really taken off, because it’s a very useful tool and the fact it’s been featured in fast attack links and in posts on some notable blogs goes to show just how useful it is.
Thanks!
Blown my mind. So many great ideas. Checking out dropmylink tonight
It isn’t overnight success when dealing with link building. I actually want to try to create guest postings someday that I think they will bring quality links to my blogs. Right now I still focus on one or two link building methods that I am sure I can do it regularly including dropping good comments on other blogs. Thanks for the tips..
I have to concur with the guest posting and it’s totally “green-saving” in that it’s a win-win situation if done professionally and bartering some time and talent saves on the treasure (chest). This shouldn’t be confused with comment spamming and you’ve outlined it nicely; well done!
Hi,
thanks for sharing your informations. It´s a great post for all bloggers and people with business.
i agree with Zamahsri, and my strategies is also to comment on sites with quality content.
You get great backlinks with quality, and this is important for linkbuidling!!!!!!!
So, the owner of the sites became fresh and unique content, and the result is… good way for all.
Thanks a lot for your post and this interesting discussion.
Wish you much success with your projects.
with greetings from germany. Enjoy the evening. Sandy :-)
Hey Chris,
I can’t believe I have never checked out on Fast Attack Links yet!! I have really got to see how good it is. 10000 visitors is no joke and definitely proves that a lot of people like it. It it is endorsed by IM Pros like Russell, even more reason to find out about it.
This is sort of an eye-opening post. The only problem is thinking up new and powerful tools that people will actually use.
Ted
Chris this is first time I’m landing on your blog and I’m loving your content. Well researched and more over you sharing your experience, which is useful for everyone.
hello Chris,
must say well researched post however even i do the same thing but still my big traffic comes from google only other guest posting not working for me :(
Why hasn’t guest posting been working for you Rohit? Are you able to get published on high traffic blogs?
hi Chris,
dont know man i am able to publish my post on high traffic blog but not getting true visitors god know where i am lacking behind :(
Hi Chris
I get most of my traffic from Google, but your points on forum traffic interest me. Getting long term traffic from forum posts is something I’d like to integrate into my promotional strategy, I just need to find a few niche specific forums to post on and set aside a little time. I’ve heard forum links are good quality links so it should be worth it.
I think the most effective for me so far has been guest blogging, It may sound easy, But trust me it is cumbersome.. As it takes a lot of time and efforts and convincing on your part so that you can post in someone else’s blog.
This is truly possible. Anyone can do this to reach at least 10k visitors a month. Right now, I’m more focused into guest blog posting and forum marketing, which both are purely effective for me to promote my own blog and affiliate products.
Cheers!
Dan Lew
Chris, that’s awesome man. I’ve tended to focus most of my efforts solely on SEO but this goes to show, there’s many ways to skin a cat. P.s -Drop my link is da bomb son ::)
-Kris
Thanks Kris. Glad you like DropMyLink. :)
I bought FastAttack links but it has rather gathered dust on my hard drive so I think I will go back and revisit it.
I also agree with Guest Posting – something I am just getting into now and will be doing more of in the future.
It also shows that SERP ranking isn’t everything, there are many more ways to generate traffic….
Thanks for the great post Chris.
I still think that SEO will give you the most visitors if you can rank on Google. But this definitely can help you to improve the traffic from many different sources.
The major factor behind the traffic is the fact that ‘Drop My Link’ being the perfect deal for finding the backlink sources. That is why wherever Drop My Link is listed it receives positive feedback and thus a natural traffic. The people’s feedback always play an important role in generating traffic from communities and social media.
Just goes to prove that great content is the key and it will always get good traffic in the end even if you do nothing to promote it yourself.
Well nicely compiled list!
Thanks for sharing :)
Nice list. I find posting in forums and giving good answers works quite well. It’s time consuming though.
Hi Chris,
I think your suggestions are very useful. I’m new to the blogging community that’s why I find these kinds of articles very helpful. To be honest some of the terms you have here are new to me so I’ll have to do a bit more research on them but hey at least I now know where to start right? Great article really and thanks for sharing!
– Cristina
Hi Chris,
Congratulations on the product.Thanks for sharing your internet marketing knowledge and information with others.I think guest posting and social networking sites are best to generate traffic.
Hi Chris,
I never do forum marketing for generating traffic but I like your idea and would think it for future traffic.
The circular (but genius!) nature of posting a high-traffic post which is in itself about something which is pulling a lot of traffic via other high traffic things already linking to it, is slightly blowing my mind ;)
Just going to check out Drop My Link now though.
btw, i love your blog but (am I being dumb?) can’t see an RSS feed icon anywhere. I have the memory of a goldfish so out of Reader = out of mind!
I used Drop My Link as one of the very first ways to get backlinks I ever tried. It was pretty cool. Since then I have completely forgot about it, and now I’ve been reminded I may check it out again!
As far as traffic goes, I haven’t done much with Social forms yet, but I do notice a few Stumbleupon referals and such fairly often. Obviously I need to utilize those as a traffic source more, which is something I’m working on.
Forums are very difficult if you mostly have product related sites :(
So it sounds like the best way to get a lot of traffic is to get out there in as many venues as you can. I now know that blogging is all just about social networking basically and how to get your name spread around aggressively.
Hi Chris,
I want to thank you for this post and a big thank you for inventing such a nice tool. I am using it from last 6 months and getting satisfied results. With this toll I have created links from Edu, Org, and many other TLD.
I introduce this tool where I am working and they were surprised and congratulate me for this research.