How can I get more traffic on my website without buying it?

I have seen this request at least a dozen times in the past few months- I think I even responded to one, but I wanted to answer your request. I've researched this topic quite a bit and I think you're asking two questions:

One: How do I get more visitors to my site?

And Two: How do I monetize those visitors?

For the sake of arguement, let's say those are your two main goals. I could be wrong, you could be building an altruistic website that gives away information for nothing.

I'm fine with that. More than fine, I don't worry about monetization at all. What I focus on is a creative outlet that allows me to express myself, and share information I may have. I end up getting some money for it, but it's not my bread and butter, if you know what I mean.

You can monetize your traffic in a couple of ways: click through ad's where they read what you have to say, and you may earn a nickel to a buck IF they click on a google ad on your site. It works, but is not guaranteed. Most surfers are immune to ads now.

You can do an affiliate program. A lot of people have success with these; however, smart surfers can smell it a mile away, and trust me, more and more people are smart surfers.

No, I think the number one way to monetize your traffic is to A; Write a book jam packed with funny usefule information, and B: Give away up to 60% of your info.

Don't think it can work? Check on Tim Ferris, the author of THE 4 HOUR WORK WEEK. That's exactly what he does. He gives, and gives so much useful information, tips and how to's, that you buy his book to get more. He travels the world, and posts it on his blog, he visits with other, connected bloggers and gives to them as well. It absolutely works.

When I go to the web, I want information, so I key in a query. Do you know how many darn sites I have to wade through to find what I want? It's like we're all throwing keywords out there, hoping to get people to our site, and convince them to buy from us. But all I really want is to know who has good pizza within 5 blocks of where I'm staying in Memphis for the weekend. (BTW, I know, you don't go to Memphis for the pizza, you go for the Bar B Q!)

All right, so maybe I've convinced you to give away a lot of information! I mean lots! But keep some nuggets for your book- and now, you want to know how to get people to your site?

Right? That's the gist of it, isn't it?

Like I mentioned, I've been on this topic a lot, and if you want FREE WEB TRAFFIC, this place right here, hubpages is the number one place you can get it.

Look, it's an awesome supportive community to give away your free information, AND you can earn some money doing it. For example, I have been busy working to a few real estate projects and haven't had as much time to visit and write lately.

But with my 50 or so published articles here, I got 6000 + free visitors over the last 6 months. That's not a lot, but again, I haven't published anything fresh or new in months.

Now, how often are you going to turn away FREE visits?

But did you monetize them? I don't know. I didn't track it, believe it or not, because my focus was elsewhere.

However, I did make some money, and I didn't have to pay for the visitors, and every time I put a piece of information out there, I get feedback and comments.

Okay, so you want traffic:

Number one: Post good, funny articles here.

Number two: Make a list of ten writers you like, and visit their blogs every day. Read them. Leave comments. Link back to your article, or website. Make sure your topic compliments here.

I hate seeing comments like: Chris, you're absolutly right (who am I kidding, I love to hear I'm right!) and the best way to fund your real estate ventures is with a stay at home business. I've gathered a list of 10 top businesses you can find here -

blah! blah! blah! Doesn't help me, doesn't help my readers. Complete waste of time. Mine, and whoever posted it.

Don't be that guy.

Now you're writing a fresh new article for hubpages every day, and it's crammed full of useful tips.

You're visiting 10 bloggers you like every day, and commenting with them.

You start your Facebook page and every time you write an article, go post it on your wall. Every time you leave a comment, go post it on your wall.

You could Twitter, Digg, Stumble It, etc, but most of those people only want one thing: INFORMATION.

People love to buy, but hate to be sold. So the best way you can help anyone (and yourself) is to provide valuable information. Give away the store.

And if you're good at what you do-

if you give, give, give-

if you're funny, and informative, and insightful-

if you touch people and connect with them-

They will buy your book, or DVD, when it comes time for that.

Until then, if you want to make money with FREE TRAFFIC, write good articles for hubpages. Watch your keywords carefully in the tags. Be sure to set up an Amazon and Ebay account, and link it.

The better you write, the more visitors you will receive. The more information you give, the more people will talk or blog, or link. And you can create an explosive spiderweb of vistors.