So, you have your web site or blog all dressed up for the holidays and you're ready to receive your guests. But, wait . . . did you remember to send the invitations?

You could be waiting around for quite a while wondering if someone is going to show up "fashionably late" or just plain late, or are they coming at all? 

Let's take a look at some of the most popular and free ways invite your guests to the party (e.g.generate traffic to for your site).

1.  Social Marketing

Have you joined Twitter yet? What are you waiting for? It's a nifty little mini-blog site, in case you've been hybernating somewhere off the planet and haven't heard of it yet.

Perry Belcher describes social marketing as attending a party. You don't just show up and tell every person you run into about your fantastic new product or the web site you just created. Of course not, you socialize. Small talk . . . get to know each other. Make friends. Anyway, check it out. Even if you don't get it right now, you'll soon see the magnitude of Twitter and how you can create relationships with people around the world.

There are many other ways of Social Marketing, but for this article, I'm just going to list Twitter. Leave a comment at the bottom with your own favorites if you'd like. 

2.  Video

Everybody is an expert at something. Has it become second nature for you to tune into Youtube or Viddler to learn how to do just about anything?

Video is also a way for you to explain what your product does and how it can benefit your customer. Help your readers understand how to do something by creating a video with a free software called CamStudio. I like my Flip camera for "talking" with my readers and both have been helpful in getting people to stay a little longer on my site.

The other day I created a short video and had just uploaded it to Youtube and had a couple of views before I even had it on my site. I don't pretend to know how that happens, but I'm happy I don't have to in order for it to work for me.

3. Blog and Forum Posting

Doesn't everyone have a blog these days? You can use them to keep up with family and friends or use them for your business endeavors.

Do a search on Google or Youtube for keywords in your particular niche. Then select the sites/videos that have had visits in the thousands. Go to Statistics & Data. See where it says "Sites linking to this video"? Click on the sites that have the most clicks. Visit those sites and leave comments that are helpful and really add value to the conversations.

Again, do a search on Google for a forum in your industry or interest and join. Read the posts and answer questions for people or leave comments that are helpful in some way. Have fun and participate. Don't always be looking for the money. Look to build relationships . . . it always goes back to people. Check with the forum's policy on links. You don't want to get banned from a forum for stocking your posts with your affiliate links right off the bat. 

4.  Article Marketing 

Well, have you gotten over your fear of writing yet? Start writing the way you talk and it will probably be more effective when it comes to connecting with people.

I know a fellow who is dyslexic, flunked out of school, and is on his way to becoming a millionaire next year. He writes like he talks . . . conversationally. Now, I don't recommend quitting or flunking out of school and writing articles or blogging on your site all day, but I just want to stress the point that you don't have to have a degree in order to write effectively for the web.

There is a book that I really like called "The Artist's Way". Julia Cameron offers a writing exercise to do where you write for 30 minutes without stopping. It can be just nonsense, and it has a freeing (is that a word?) effect. So, if you're feeling stuck, you might give it a try.

Anyway, there are lot's of places where you can submit articles that you write about your niche. There are even places that pay for your articles (could be another source of income.)

If you don't happen to like writing or you're busy and want to outsource this task, you might like to look into a site called Articlez. 

Planning and preparation will attract the visitors to your sites. It takes time, patience, and work. Remember to ask yourself "What's in it for my guest?" Give them a reason to return and invite their friends over, too.

I hope this helps and I'll look forward to visiting with you soon.