I've read so much about the importance of using an autoresponder and building a mailing list that I finally bit the bullet and started using one. I chose AWeber because someone on this site recommended it, and find it very easy to use. I'm using an autoresponder for both my websites, and have created a monthly newsletter as well as a "special report" to give away to those who subscribe to my newsletters. Now I need some traffic/subscribers, and will accept any advice anyone can offer. Here's what I've done so far:
Both of my sites are relatively new and not completely picked up by major search engines yet. I have started exchanging links with other relevant sites, and have submitted my url's to many, many directories and search engines. I have blogs pertaining to both of topics, with links to my sites on each. I try to write a blog post at least once a week and use 2 pinger services to get the word out. I also submit articles on a regular basis to ezinearticles.com, again trying to submit at least one article per week for each topic. My articles are doing fairly well, with a lot of "reads" and several have been picked up for publication on other sites.
Last weekend, I submitted 32 ads to Craigslist and got my first 2 subscribers (yay!) to one newsletter. I was hoping for more, but what do you expect for free, right? My question to you now is: what do you suggest I do next to start driving traffic to my sites? Should I sit back and be patient, try PPC (if so, which program do you recommend - I'm thinking MSN), or something else? I have toyed with the idea of doing some classified ads in newspapers, as well as distributing flyers locally in an effort to do some "offline" PR.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated. I've read way too many affiliate marketing newsletters and reports and although I think I'm headed in the right direction, I'm a bit confused as to what to do next. My gut feeling is to focus on getting more incoming links and sit back and wait awhile for the SE's to do their thing. I'm eager to start some PPC ads, but not sure which program to start out with.
Both of my sites are relatively new and not completely picked up by major search engines yet. I have started exchanging links with other relevant sites, and have submitted my url's to many, many directories and search engines. I have blogs pertaining to both of topics, with links to my sites on each. I try to write a blog post at least once a week and use 2 pinger services to get the word out. I also submit articles on a regular basis to ezinearticles.com, again trying to submit at least one article per week for each topic. My articles are doing fairly well, with a lot of "reads" and several have been picked up for publication on other sites.
Last weekend, I submitted 32 ads to Craigslist and got my first 2 subscribers (yay!) to one newsletter. I was hoping for more, but what do you expect for free, right? My question to you now is: what do you suggest I do next to start driving traffic to my sites? Should I sit back and be patient, try PPC (if so, which program do you recommend - I'm thinking MSN), or something else? I have toyed with the idea of doing some classified ads in newspapers, as well as distributing flyers locally in an effort to do some "offline" PR.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated. I've read way too many affiliate marketing newsletters and reports and although I think I'm headed in the right direction, I'm a bit confused as to what to do next. My gut feeling is to focus on getting more incoming links and sit back and wait awhile for the SE's to do their thing. I'm eager to start some PPC ads, but not sure which program to start out with.