I was doing a little searching around the online traffic and targeted traffic websites and blogs.  I do this a lot, because I want to find out if anyone is really putting anything truly useful and new out there.

Today I found what might be called a common theme.  It is method, many say, to increase online traffic and create tons of profits.  You probably would like that I’m thinking.

But what could be so good that so many were writing about it?

Well, you won’t believe it, but it was about writing a newsletter.  This theme was really beginning to irritate me.  Why?

I saw post after post telling newbies and any readers that came their way that simply writing a newsletter would get you traffic.  So ask yourself, “If I just post a newsletter, and have no list, and have no traffic – is a newsletter going to generate tons of targeted traffic?

I think you know the answer.  If you are really going to increase online traffic, then maybe it takes a little more work than just writing a newsletter.

Now there is no doubt that a newsletter is a great tool and you should have one.  It is how you generate sales, and direct your traffic from your opt in list to the places you want them to go.  However, did you catch the key phrase here?  You direct your opt in list.  Hmmm….

In order to have somewhere to send your newsletter, you must have traffic, and a highly targeted audience that wants to receive your information.  You don’t get it by simply posting a newsletter.  Once you have traffic, and opt-ins, your newsletter is very powerful.  So you definitely must have one – but for the right reasons.  Starting your targeted traffic is not the right reason.

The closest thing to enable you to increase online traffic in a forum similar to a newsletter is article marketing.  In some cases, if your not experienced, and you find the knuckle-heads telling you to create targeted traffic with a newsletter, they seem to be actually substituting the term newsletter for article marketing.

Don’t be mislead.

Article marketing is very powerful and does increase online traffic.  But it is not the same as having a newsletter.

So let me be clear:

When writing to create targeted traffic, article marketing is the tool.  Focused articles on niche topics will generated an increase in targeted website traffic, and will bring targeted traffic for long time to come.

Writing a newsletter (unless as one source says – you have someone with tons of traffic to circulate it for you) will not create targeted website traffic.  It will enable you to steer your followers and help you direct them to the sites you want to increase online traffic at.  It will also enable you to create higher profits.

If your just starting to generate targeted traffic, don’t miss the boat.  Use article marketing and also be creating a newsletter so you have the power to steer your followers correctly.

I hope you had a great week.

- Wayne Sharer

P.S.  One of the many great lessons I learned from Tellman Knudson is exactly how to create a newsletter, and how to do article marketing.  Two different things, for two different purposes.  Tellman’s Listbuilding Club is amazing and can teach you much more for the price of a cup of coffee.  What a great investment!