Using Software to Generate Traffic

First, be clear that none of the links in this article are sponsored links and I do not recommend the products. In fact, I prefer that you do NOT buy them. I am linking to them only for your reference and for the sake of helpful content in this article. Please also notice that I did not give the links valuable anchor text…

It seems like every time a new traffic generation technique comes to light, software is quickly developed to automate the manual process. The software makes it super fast and easy to do what used to be tedious and take valuable time.

Using software to make tasks more efficient is not a questionable task - it is actually preferred. If you disagree, stop using Word Press, Type Pad, Blogger, Front Page, or even Outlook for that matter. The issue is not whether or not using software is ok. Rather, the problem with using software to generate online content is that the resulting product is usually almost unreadable and certainly does not add value for the reader. In effect, using software to generate online content is SPAM.

4 Controversial Methods to Generate Traffic

With the popularity of blogs and forums, it is easy to see why businesses want to be involved in them. And search engine algorithm criteria have been identified that allows for web owners to proactively manage their sites ratings.

1. Blog Automation Software
2. Article Spinning Software
3. Reciprocal Links
4. Traffic Exchange Programs

Blog Automation Software

People are more likely to find you online if you are active. That means you have to post frequently and regularly on your blog, comments on others blogs, and in forum discussions to be successful. This can take hours each day. Blog automation software works in various ways but, basically, it mixes your content, keywords, some ads, and maybe even some videos and posts them to your blog at predetermined intervals.

The advantages of blog automation software (here’s one) are that it is time effective and potentially increases your traffic. The software makes the posts for you, and save hours of valuable time. You can post a generic message and your company contact information on thousands of blog posts with the click of a mouse. The hope is that web surfers will stumble across your blog and then become subscribers.

The main disadvantage to blogging software is that widespread blog posting will probably be considered spam, and you will be ignored. Using blog posting software puts your credibility in question by potential customers because most automated posts are immediately recognizable as unreadable refuge.

Article Spinning Software

Article spinning software takes pre-purchased Private Label Rights (PLR) material and “spins” it into an unrecognizable copy. The program substitutes words with synonyms, so that it does not sound like the same article. Sites that use recycled articles are most often looking for traffic coming from random search hits over regular subscribers. Here’s an example.

Content is king on the internet and article spinning software helps you generate quantity without quality. Successful websites need to have new content on a consistent basis to be attractive to viewers and search engines and some web owners believe focusing on quantity over quality will get the desired results. If you are truly going for numbers and keyword-laden content generation then article spinning software might be for you.

The main benefits of using software to generate articles are that it saves you time and money. Software can generate hundreds of versions of the same article in seconds. This prevents you from having to do it manually, which will cost you hours of your time. If you do not do your own writing, hiring someone else to write original articles will cost you money.

There are huge drawbacks to article spinning. Search engines look negatively upon duplicate content. Spinning technology touts that it can avoid the search engine spiders that are looking for content that is the same as what is already on the web. No one knows for certain what the components are in the search engine algorithms, but most experts agree that duplicate content is a big no-no. Another drawback is that they readability of spun articles is usually not very good. Often the original PLR article was not well-written, so re-writing it further makes it even worse.

Basically, if you want repeat visitors do not use article spinning software.

Reciprocated Links

Reciprocal links are links exchanged between sites that do not usually add value to the readers. These are usually added to the “links” page. I do not have a huge problem with these as there is usually nothing dishonest about them. Reciprocal links are typically clearly labeled as such. I prefer to only links to sites that are related to the originating site. Reciprocal links carry less weight with search engines than they used to but still seem to offer some benefit to a site’s link popularity.

There is a lot of software made to generate and manage reciprocal links. Text linking software (like these) available online will generate reciprocal links and allow you to manage them. I am not opposed to organic reciprocal links but would never recommend reciprocal link software.

Traffic Exchange Programs

Traffic exchanges (here’s one) occur when people view each others’ web pages to get higher traffic counts. There are traffic exchange programs – fee-based and free – that provide a place to connect with other web owners looking for traffic.

Traffic exchange programs coordinate web owners seeking additional traffic (more traffic looks better to search engines). Participants visit others’ sites and receive visits in return based on a pre-determined program plan.

One of the drawbacks to traffic exchanges is that they diminish the meaning of your traffic stats. The page view numbers are not real searchers looking for information or products but are simply visitors whose sole intent is to rack up page views, thus increasing the popularity of the site. People (including me) question if there is a true benefit to traffic exchange programs.

This is a fantastic short (and funny) video about common errors people make with Powerpoint. If you ever use Powerpoint for presentations, you should take a look at it.

There is no doubt in my mind that I am NOT the only person to post this, or something similar, today but I got this email today from MSN stating MSN’s changes in their management of trademark policy.  I emboldened the main points.

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Dear Chris,

Microsoft adCenter is changing the way we manage our trademark policy starting September 10, 2007. While no change will be made to the trademark policy itself, this update aligns better with marketplace practices, speeds up editorial review to get your ads live faster, and ensures consumers see relevant ads.

Microsoft adCenter’s Trademark Policy
As stated above, we are not changing the trademark policy itself. You may still use trademarked terms in your ads when you, as the advertiser, are the owner of the trademark, an affiliate or reseller of trademarked products or services, or a site that uses the trademarked term in an informational, descriptive, or non-competitive manner. Infringing use of trademark terms by direct competitors remains a violation of Microsoft adCenter policies.

What’s changing?
It will now be the advertiser’s responsibility to obtain permission from the trademark owner to use a trademarked term in their ads. It will also be the trademark owner’s responsibility to address ongoing incorrect usage of their trademark term(s) directly with third-party advertisers. Microsoft adCenter will no longer intercede to obtain permission for the advertiser wanting to use a trademarked term.

What does this mean for my search advertising?

• Your ads may display next to other ads that contain your trademarked terms.
• Affiliates, resellers, and third parties may show up against queries for your trademarked terms.
• Competitor’s ads may show up in search results against queries for trademarks in certain scenarios, due to match types other than exact.
  For example, if a generic term is included in the overall search query, advertisers who bid on the generic term may show up in the search results.

If you are a trademark owner and you believe your trademark is being misused in Microsoft adCenter, you can submit a report by following the instructions on our Trademark Concern Form.

Visit our adCenter Blog post to read more about this change and if you have additional questions about these changes please contact our adCenter Support Team.

Sincerely,

The Microsoft adCenter Team

Many of you probably already use Google Alerts. If you do not use it yet, you should try it. I use it daily for myself and clients for the following three business purposes:

• Competitive Research
• Find New Content
• Find News and Blogs With My/My Clients’ Names

Aside from saving a ton of time on these pursuits, I know I am being introduced to new sites, competitors, and information I would not have found otherwise.  It is a great way to automate some tasks.  I think Timothy Ferriss would be proud.

From the Google Alerts page.