Contests Drive Traffic To Your Site

By Author: Jimmy Anderson
Total Articles: 41
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Step right up, folks. Enter the labyrinth without lights! Welcome to the 'Indie' book-marketing maze. Today, we're going to learn a development-charged way to navigate the dark passages of this warren.
Always jump in with both feet when opportunity knocks! Last month, an intriguing Facebook picture encouraged me to follow a link. An established, best-selling author offered to award contestants a storyteller's badge, if they would send in a 1000-word story. Here was a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Write a story and get some free publicity.
What is important about this little adventure? It's an object lesson in how to drive traffic to your own site. Let's see how!
The author in question recognizes the need to tend her flock. She got back to me with another offer shortly after. She would publicize my book on her site, if I was willing to offer a free book to one reader. Get ready to emulate that follow-up strategy or disappear like the Ford Edsel in the late 1950s.
So, now my book cover decorates her site. As well, I get free exposure and a link to my book's page on Amazon. What does ...
... she get? She reaps the coveted Golden Fleece of 'Indie' publishing-traffic on her site. Guess what else she got? Many of the grateful 'Indie' authors gratitude translated into Facebook shares, Tweets and Pinterest posts. More importantly, every person that participates in contests or giveaways visits the original author's site. Traffic flow promises to increase her sales.
So, it's a win-win approach for everyone, right? You bet. How can you do the same? You can create a world for you and your books on the net. As always, move one-step at a time.
First, buy your own domain name with some measure of author protection. I'll explain this in more detail in a future article.
Second, you could type "free website builder" at Google and your choices would multiply before your eyes. Thanks to my hard-won experience, better options exist. You have to make a decision now. Are you in this game for 'keeps' or just as a passing interest? I have a great free site that was easy to build. Unfortunately, that level of exposure's not enough. For a variety of reasons, I've just discovered I have to start over again.
You never forget the lessons you learn, by feeling them on your own skin. What did I learn? Experience taught me to host my own environment. As a result, I will monetize future possible advantages. Remember: this is the first move in a paced strategy. Go 'whole hog' or don't go at all.
Third, you should always lead, rather than follow. With a little hard work, you can learn the skills demonstrated by the best-selling author mentioned above. Get set to build your own contest pages and tend to your own flock.
Your 'Indie' author toolkit just added a new shelf. Web promotions drive traffic to your world. Get out there and learn how to do it yourself. Of course, you're aching to join the 'cause' with me. Let's share the thrill of a successful collaboration, building a thriving author environment. Be sure to come back and comment on these articles. This summer we're going to build our own sites for an affordable annual cost. I know you're itching to know the 'bottom line'. You'll just have to wait 'till the next article, won't you?

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