Free ways to get more visitors to your web site

As a Web Blogger it’s important to understand exactly where your website traffic is being generated from.

With a solid content marketing strategy that attracts readers you can increase your subscribers with greater conversions through social media and search engines.

While search engine marketing and email campaigns are an essential component to increasing your subscribers social media has the potential to drive even more readers as your business attracts an audience through attractive posts and tweets.

Here are several ways you can drive more traffic with a focused marketing strategy:

Optimize your web site for Google

Let’s start with Google so that it gets out of our way. I am sure that you all agree that the best and hardest way to get free traffic is by optimizing your web site for Google. Google holds more than 70% of search engine market share and a place in one of the top positions of Google search is a great source of free traffic. The problem is that the competition is huge so you need to have a great web site both in terms of content and SEO if you want to take a part of the pie.

Share your content on social media and use Hashtags.

Social media gives you a free platform to share your website content, so make sure that you take advantage of this. It is important that you identify the best social media accounts to use for your audience and focus on these, rather then spreading yourself too thin and wasting time promoting on a social platform that your target audience doesn’t participate on. You need to use the social media platform of your readers’ choice, not your own. Try all of them and see what gets traction in your niche.

Comment on industry Blogs with heavy traffic.

One of the quickest ways to send highly relevant traffic to your website is by commenting on blogs within your industry that are extremely popular and have high traffic numbers. When you leave a comment on a blog post the majority of comment systems will allow you to input your own URL along with your name.

Add your web site to the Chrome web store

The chrome web store is a fantastic source of free traffic and yet many webmasters are not taking advantage of it. It is very easy to add your web site to the Chrome Store and the traffic you can get is free and continuous. If you are not familiar of the chrome web store read my previous post which also includes a case study on traffic gains.

Add your blog to Alltop.

Alltop is a very popular aggregator for a wide variety of website content. Several websites and bloggers will look for content to share with their readers and media outlets will often look for news worthy information via Alltop. You can quickly add your blog feed under the correct category and attract new website visitors as well as inbound links.

Also Read:  Website Traffic: How can one get more                                            visitors on a blog daily?

Join relevant LinkedIn and Facebook groups.

Facebook and LinkedIn groups are great for networking and building relationships. Along with these relationships come website visitors from those people that you begin to interact with. Curiosity drives most of the traffic in these groups. Find relevant groups and if you feel that your website content would benefit the members of the group don’t be shy — share it!

Submit your blog posts to StumbleUpon.

StumbleUpon is a website that helps its users find information relevant to their interests. When signing up, users identify topics of interest and then StumbleUpon presents them with random content based on those topics.

Don’t forget about Yahoo and Bing

Yahoo and Bing may not have the market share of Google but a top position in either Bing or Yahoo can bring in a good number of visitors. I have web sites that rank on the first positions for popular keywords on both Google and Bing and although the traffic I get from Bing is ¼ of what I get from Google it is still a good source of free traffic.

Yahoo! Answers.

Register a Yahoo! account and participate in their “Answers” program. This is a Yahoo! community program that allows users to post questions as well as answer questions. In the example below you can see that a user had read that tuna is bad for cats so they posted the question to receive feedback from fellow Yahoo! users. The question quickly attracted 21 answers, all designed to answer the question posted.

Create a mobile version of your web site

More and more users are searching the web using their mobile phones. The numbers of mobile searches are increasing dramatically and you just can’t ignore them. Recent studies show that 28% of mobile searches are converting within an hour so it is very important to provide for a mobile optimized version as well.

What you can do? Mobilise your web site!  Creating a mobile version is not very difficult. You can either use a plugin (if you are on WordPress) or a dedicated service. Howtogomo (a website by Google) has all the information you need (including information on how to go mobile).

Create an Android native app and publish it to the Google Play Store

Do you know that there are more than 1,300,000 new android users per day? What does this means in terms of traffic? You can create an android app and publish it to the Google Play store, users will download your app and some will visit your website.  I am a big fun of this method for getting free traffic and it works very well. Read my post mobile web site vs native app for some real case studies.

Guest post on high traffic web sites

Many people believe that guest posting is about getting links but this shouldn’t be the case. The main reason of why you should guest post to another website is the traffic benefits and not getting a link pointing to your website. A guest post on a trusted website may rank high as well and this will create a steady flow of free traffic to your site.

Keep your content fresh

‘Keep it fresh and keep it relevant’, this was Google’s reply on the importance of having fresh content on your website. New content can get you more free traffic either through more loyal visitors (people will come back to check if you have published new content), more social media mentions or more organic visits (search engines will crawl your website more often).

Engage with Social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Stumbleupon, YouTube, LinkedIn)

Social media platforms are getting popular day by day and if you don’t have a clear strategy of what you want to achieve, you many end up losing your time without having a real benefit. In my opinion the best social media platforms in terms of traffic are Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Stumbleupon, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Keep your content fresh

‘Keep it fresh and keep it relevant’, this was Google’s reply on the importance of having fresh content on your website. New content can get you more free traffic either through more loyal visitors (people will come back to check if you have published new content), more social media mentions or more organic visits (search engines will crawl your website more often).

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Best Free Email Client Software for Windows.

If you are looking for an alternative to Windows Mail or Outlook, or if you just bought Windows 7 and are now sans email management software, there are a plethora of email client options available for free.

An email client is, quite simply, a software program that enables you to effectively manage your email. Effective email management means you can improve and automate your lead management. This is especially important for people who have multiple email accounts or want multiple user access.

The email client doesn't replace your current email software, but it does help you to manage your emails and save them in ways that make them easy to access and search. You may need to try a few of these to find one that matches your requirements and provides the day to day lead management functionality you need.

Also Read: Why do we use the '@' symbol in email addresses?

Mozilla Thunderbird

This is a powerful email client tool for managing email and content. It allows you to work both online and offline so that lead management doesn’t have to stop when you don’t have internet access.

One of the best Mozilla Thunderbird features is its speed. It loads quickly even when contending with multiple RSS feeds and folders. Mozilla Thunderbird has excellent HTML support, junk mail filters and virus protection. Additional features include:

• Tabbed e-mail
• New search tools and indexing
• Smart folders
• Support for Firefox’s Personas
• Simplified setup wizard

You can rest assured your email is secure with the S/MIME, message encryption, digital signing and phishing filters. Speed is also a positive Thunderbird feature and the comprehensive search tool is able to sync with results on desktop searches. Lead management is improved with the fast and powerful search tool. Find a list of features here.

Opera

Still a leading contender, although not as innovative as it once was, Opera is a solid email client with exceptional functionality.  Opera has an excellent search function with a customizable search bar, tab browsing and advanced bookmarking tools so you can remember all your favorite sites.

Opera integrates easily with chat and email and installation will only take a couple of minutes. Emails are stored on your hard drive, so you can continue with lead management tasks even when you are not online.

Get a full list of the Opera features here.

DreamMail

DreamMail is specifically designed for the user who has multiple email accounts which they need to access simultaneously. DreamMail supports POP3, eSMTP, Yahoo, Google SMTP, and even RSS feeds. You can customize your email templates and utilize the email signature management function. Advanced spam and message filtering helps you to manage your email effectively.

Additional features include:

• Multiple users
• Auto detection of server settings
• Messages filtering
• Filtering, sorting and searching

DreamMail has some drawbacks; it doesn’t support Thunderbird or IMAP which makes it unsuitable for many users who want to utilize it for effective lead management. 
Find a full list of features here.

Postbox Express

This is a feature-limited free version of Postbox’s emailing software. Postbox Express has the unique ability to import settings from any other mail client you currently employ. This makes setup a breeze as Postbox Express will sync with your current email seamlessly.

One of Postbox Express’ most handsome features is the search function; the speedy search engine will help you find what you are looking for in record time. It also organizes folders and messages in tabs (much like a web browser) which makes for a far more efficient workspace.

Postbox Express has extended social media functionality which adds a new dimension to your CRM. You can easily post things to your social media platforms, import profile photos and address books or update your status directly to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Use add-ons to extend the functionality or make use of the community-translated language packs. Postbox Express is a functional, customizable email client that is definitely on the first-class mail client list. 
Have a look at a comprehensive list of all the Postbox Express features here.

Windows Live Mail

Compact and functional, Windows Live Mail offers users some nifty features. Installation takes some time and effort and you will have to enter your account server names, details and ports manually and importing your account details and emails from your other email programs may take a little fancy footwork. Once it’s up and running though, Windows Live Mail is impressive and easy to use. Some additional features include:

• POP3 and IMAP support
• Excellent junk mail filter
• Accessible interface
• Support for RSS feeds
• Calendar
• News groups
• Excellent integration with other Microsoft programs

Get a full list of Windows Live Mail features here.

eM Client

The best thing about eM Client is its extensive features list. The free version gives users access to these fantastic features, but does limit you to 2 accounts. This makes it unsuitable for effective lead management of multiple accounts, but the free version is a good way to sample the goods.  Take eM Client for a test drive and, if you don’t have a ton of email accounts, you will really be able to take advantage of the extensive features list. You can import all your files from just about everywhere (including Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows Mail etc.) Other attractive features include:

• Import contacts from Facebook, Google or even CSV and vCard files
• Support got S/MIME, SMTP, IMAP, POP3, SSL/TLS
• Import messages from .eml files
• Customize signatures
• Templates
• Calendar
• Customizable contacts database
• Skype integration
• Google maps for address location

Get a full list of the extensive features here.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the email client programs available for free use. However, it is a comprehensive collection of the most notable players and the ones that have the best functionality and widest range of features. You can utilize the free software for personal mail and to try out each email client until you find your perfect fit.

Most of the programs offer widgets and add-ons that you can choose to pay for to improve lead management functionality.

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Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone Could Do

Even though we use our iPhones all day every day, there are still a handful of features that are relatively unknown.Some of these features are buried in the Settings menu while others are hidden in plain sight.Whether it’s downloading top-notch apps, listening to music on iTunes or asking Siri for help, there’s never a shortage of neat things you can do on your iPhone. But here are a few fun tricks you probably didn’t know your device was capable of.

Emoji Shortcuts

Did you know your iPhone lets you type out your emojis with shortcuts? Say you’ve created a shortcut named “heartz” for the heart emoji; this means every time you type in “heartz” in a message, the aforementioned emoji will immediately appear. It sure beats the hassle of switching keyboards. Click here to see how it’s done.

Snap Pics with Your Headphones

One super-easy trick that many people still don’t know: once you’ve launched the iPhone camera app you can tap the Volume Up (+) button on your headphones to take a picture. It’s perfect for snapping selfies or pics from afar. You can also use them to ignore calls, prompt Siri, rewind a song and more – click here to learn more about the hidden controls of the iPhone headphones.

Shake It Out

Don’t like what you just typed? Just shake your iPhone to get rid of it. Once you do, you’ll have the option to Undo Typing. You can shake it once more to Redo Typing, in case you change your mind. This even works if you’ve accidentally archived or deleted an email. Simply shake your phone to Undo Archive or Undo Trash.

Read It Off-Line

Want to save an online article to read later? Press down on the page and wait for a menu to pop up. Then tap Add to Reading List. Your article is then saved to your Reading List, which is located within the Bookmarks icon in Safari’s navigation bar. The best part is that you can access this list off-line. So, you’ll be able to read all your saved articles even when you don’t have INTERNET access.

Up In the Air

Even if you’re not in the air, you should turn your device on Airplane Mode while it’s charging. Why? Because with all the data cut off, your iPhone will charge a lot faster. It comes in handy when you’re running low on juice and need a quick charge.

To the Right, To the Right

Forget back buttons. From the edge of the screen, swipe to the right to go back to your previous page. It works in Mail, Messages, Safari and even on certain apps like Instagram.

Use Siri to Tweet

Siri has your back when it comes to keeping up with your social media updates. Command her to Post a Tweet and she’ll do it for you. Just be sure your device is logged in to your Twitter account first. Click here to see how it’s done.

Custom Vibrations

Custom ringtones are fun, but if your iPhone is usually set to vibrate, you may get more out of setting up custom vibrations. To do this, select someone from your Contacts List and tap Edit. Scroll down to Vibration. You can choose from stock vibrations like Heartbeat, Rapid and S.O.S or choose Create New Vibration to make your own pattern. Click here to learn more about custom vibrations.

Turn Off Read Receipts

If you don’t want others to know when you’ve read their messages, simply disable Read Receipts. Go to your Settings, tap Messages and then turn off the Send Read Receipts function. It’s as easy as that.

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Useful Tips and Tricks for iPad Users

The iPad is a great tool for both entertainment and productivity. To get the most out of it, however, you have to know its secrets, and here are 10 of the best ones:

1: Using the sidebar

According to Time, the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro sport a cool new feature: the ability to open apps up in a special sidebar without leaving your existing app. All you have to do is swipe a finger from the right to bring up a list of all apps compatible with this feature. Click your desired app and begin multitasking right away!

2: Use your iPad as a virtual card table

Many people don’t realize the amount of traditional tabletop games that the iPad can replace – including a deck of cards! According to Business Insider, the Card Table app allows users to view their hand of cards on their compatible smartphones and use the iPad as a virtual table. Just like that, you’ve got the fun of 52 cards without the worry of picking them up!

3: Hands-free messaging

According to Apple’s own website, one of the simplest iPad tricks is to let Siri handle your messaging. She interacts with your contact list and allows you to send messages by referencing a person’s name, such as telling the iPad “Tell Brad that dinner is at 6:00.” This is great when your hands are occupied by those same dinner preparations.

4: Never stop watching video

From cute cat videos to insightful instructions, we live in a world where video dominates everything. It’s annoying to stop what you are watching to accomplish more mundane tasks like responding to emails. According to Time, the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro let you do both at the same time. Simply press the home button when you are watching videos or using Facetime and the video minimizes to the bottom right corner of the screen while you use other apps.

5: Instant exposure adjustment

One of the greatest abilities of the iPad is to take photos and immediately edit them. With iOS , adjusting exposure is easier than ever. According to Apple, you simply tap where you want to establish the automatic exposure and focus. Then, all you have to do is slide your fingers up and down to adjust the picture’s exposure.

6: Create a second monitor

According to Business Insider, you can use apps such as Air Display 2 to create a second monitor. This is great for those who want extra productivity or just want to double their onscreen fun, all for a fraction of the price of an actual new monitor.

7: Browse all of your files anywhere, anytime

The Apple website notes that the iCloud drive app allows you to browse and open all of your files via compatible applications on your iPad. This helps save time and space in not having to keep the files you want on your iPad at all times.

8: Use virtual buttons

No one likes to imagine their shiny new iPad getting damaged. After all, a broken button can feel like a death sentence for electronics. However, Business Insider notes you can enable Assistive Touch and begin creating virtual buttons for things like the home button, volume buttons, and screen lock buttons. This ensures your device can live long past its outer shell!

9: Sketch on your iPad

Whether it’s killing time in a classroom or laying the conceptual foundation for your next work of art, sketching is a time-honored pencil and paper tradition. As the Apple website notes, you can keep this tradition alive on your iPad as well by using the drawing tools in the Notepad app. This lets you use your finger to doodle. Mess up your sketch? The eraser is just a touch away!

10: Read more easily at night

It doesn't take long for iPad users to see that reading at night can be downright painful as read black letters against a blinding background. Business Insider notes you can go to your Accessibility settings and invert colors. Now, the background is black and the letters are white, making night reading a breeze!

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HowTo Wirelessly Synchronize Contacts and Calendar on BlackBerry OS 10

if you use a device running BlackBerry OS 10 and need to figure out how to sync your contacts and calendar, you’ve come to the right place. These steps will lead you through the whole process, from downloading Outlook Hotmail Connector to performing your first sync.

1. Make Sure You Have a Microsoft Email Account

This might seem obvious, but to perform a wireless sync of your contacts and calendar on BlackBerry OS 10 using Outlook Hotmail Connector, you’ll first need a Microsoft email account. If you already have an Outlook, Hotmail or Windows Live email account, you’re good to go. If not, go to Outlook.com or Windows Live and set one up. Then jump back here for the next step.

2. Download and Install Outlook Hotmail Connector

Now you need to get Outlook Hotmail Connector on your PC. There are a couple of different versions depending on your computer’s hardware. If you have a 32-bit PC, click here. If you have a 64-bit PC, then click here. Follow the download and installation instructions, then move on to the next step.

3. Add Your Microsoft Email Account to Microsoft Outlook

Now you’re ready to add your Microsoft email account to Outlook on your computer. Start by opening Outlook and clicking File in the menu bar. Now click +Add Account, then select Email account. You’ll be prompted to enter your name, the email address you’re adding and the associated password. Do so and click Next. Then click Finish.

4. Copy Your Current Contacts and Calendar Data to Your New Email Profile in Outlook

Now you can copy over your existing contacts and calendar data to your new email profile in Outlook. Just follow the instructions, verifying that the Sync Contacts & Sync Calendar toggle is set to On. And that’s it. Now the contacts and calendars on your phone and computer will automatically synchronize via wireless connection.

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How to Customize Your Windows 10 Experience

Windows 10 seems to be a winner. But, the only way to really know if a new operating system will meet the public’s needs and wants is to wait and see how they react. If they keep it when they buy a new computer, it’s a good system. 

If they put an older OS on a new computer, then it’s probably not. 

The reception of Windows 10 is positive overall. 

With Windows 10, as with all of Microsoft’s operating systems so far, there are programs, apps, and other tools that can be turned on and used. However, they’re not necessary or useful for every user, so it’s important to choose what’s right for you.

 ALSO READ: keyboard shortcuts for Windows10

According to a report about personal technology in the New York Times, many of the optional features are related to networking, system administration, and software development, but as with earlier versions of Windows, there are also options that “regular” users may wish to use. The first step is to go to the Windows Features option box and look at the different menus and screens and determine what is possible for the version of Windows you have.

The Windows Features box, when selected, will show the user a list of different applications and programs that can be enabled or disabled. If there is a checkmark in the box next to the option, the option is already on. The “Start” menu is one of the first places the technophiles suggest a new user of Windows 10 begins their search to see what they do want to turn on or off.

The Start Menu

Most people will be perfectly satisfied with the default version of the start menu. It is the same version of “Start” that they accessed with Windows 7 with a few nuggets from Windows 8.1 that proved popular. One difference is there is a Tablet mode with this version of Windows and it has been made for 2 in 1 devices and allows easy access to the start menu when the keyboard has been removed.

ALSO READ: Windows 10: tips and tricks

The folders that the user sees when they go to the start menu can also be customized. This allows the user to have the folders they use the most at a convenient location. All the user has to do is go to settings, then personalization, then start and add to or remove apps or folders, or other things that they use a lot. Perhaps it is Netflix that the user wants to have access easily and quickly. It is easy to add this program to the Start Menu.

Cortana



Windows 10 has its own personal assistant called Cortana. Setting up Cortana is easy as it will ask (in writing), very simply what you want to be called, and if you want different customization for Cortana too. If you think that Cortana is a little too Big Brother to your Winston Smith, you can leave this program off too.  If you like Cortana, you can teach her to know your voice only, or you can let any voice access her.

Update Apps
When you upgrade to Windows 10, you can upgrade many of the apps that you have already received from Windows by going to the Windows Store and following the prompts from the Downloads and Installs pages as they relate to Windows 10. This is also where a user can ensure they have all of the updates to Windows 10 installed on their computer and their system.

Microsoft Edge


Windows 10 has a new Microsoft browser called Microsoft Edge. Using Microsoft Edge will not stop you from using other browsers, but Edge will be there for you to use if you like, and if you choose, you can make it your default browser. 

Quick Action Buttons



There is now an Action Center on the desktop for different devices. This Action Center will alert users about apps and systems that might need to have upgrades or changes made for them. As part of the Action Center, there are also Quick Action buttons that allow the user to click them and go to different options that the user visits often. 

Optional Features on Windows 10
The truth is, there are dozens of features that users can turn off or turn on with any operating system. Most users won’t even know that these options exist, and if they did know of their existence, they wouldn’t mess with them. 

Examples (there are dozens of optional features):

    .NET Framework 3.5 — This is needed for people who want to run certain applications
    Active Directory Lightweight Director Services — This is used to authenticate users on a network
    Embedded Shell Launcher — Use this if you want to replace Windows 10’s Explorer.exe shell with a custom shell. 
    Hyper V — This is a virtualization tool

People very involved in technology may turn these optional features (and the dozens of other options) on or off, but some will automatically turn on if a new download requires it. Most people won’t consider changing the factory settings, but should know that they are there if needed.

Windows 10 is proving to be popular with users and is recognized as a convenient and improved operating system.

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Free Video Apps to Capture Your Creativity

All you need now are some apps to make the most of both. We’ve rounded up a handful of great apps designed for mobile videographers of all levels, from budding auteurs to friends capturing friends’ antics to families looking for fun creative outlets for their kids. The best part? You can get started with all of them without paying a penny up front.

This one has potential to keep kids – and geeky grown-ups – busy for hours on end by turning anyone who can hold a camera steady into an expert special-effects director. All you have to do is select one of the available scenes or effects – like a meteor smashing into the ground, say, or an avalanche – and then point the camera at your subject. Press record for the specified amount of time, hit the OK button afterwards, and around five seconds later you’ll have your very own professionally rendered CGI Hollywood action scene starring your friends, family and even your toys or pets. It comes with plenty of free scenes to choose from – including one in which a Star Wars BB-8 will zap the subject of your choice (the app was built by J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot production company) – and you can purchase more scenes in packs for just a couple of bucks each.

Action Movie FX

Free with in-app purchases | iOS

Hailing from the image gurus at Instagram, Boomerang doesn’t capture true video but instead short bursts of photos that it then runs back and forth in an infinite loop, a bit like a GIF. Boomerangs can make their subjects appear to defy physics – like a drink forever pouring and un-pouring itself – or transform a friend’s casual smile into a study in muscle movement. And it’s incredibly easy to use: just point your phone at your subject and hit record. The app takes care of the rest. Another couple of taps will let you instantly share your boomerangs however you like; not just on Instagram but also Facebook, Twitter, text message or email.

Boomerang from Instagram

Free | Android, iOS

This awesomely accessible video editor is so well designed that it was recently purchased by GoPro to give its extreme-sports camera customers the power to quickly and easily edit footage on mobile devices. But you don’t need a GoPro camera to use it. You can import videos (and photos) from your device or a cloud service. Then in just a few simple steps, Splice will stitch everything together, automatically adding transitions and the music of your choice. Once all of your scenes have been put together, you can edit speed, add effects, crop out bits of the frame you don’t want, and add text or narration. It’s a quick and painless way to put together professional-looking videos from your library while on the go.

Splice

Free with in-app purchases | iOS

Give a tablet loaded with this app to an imaginative kid and you probably won’t see them again for the rest of the day. They can get started with virtually no instruction. Just open the app, point it at a scene – like a table set up with action figures or dolls – and then start tapping the onscreen shutter button, moving subjects a smidgeon at a time between shots to create a sense of movement. You can play back your progress at any point, adjusting speed and adding your own voice. It’s as simple and easy as animation gets, yet it opens the door to endless possibilities, from Lego movies to cartoons made from paper cutouts. No kids? Consider using it to document the progress of a home reno or backyard project, capture the magic of blooming flowers, or record the gathering of storm clouds.

Stop Motion Studio

Free with in-app purchases | Android, iOS, Windows Phone

Want quick Web celebrity? Triller could be the ticket. It will let you put together an (almost) MTV-worthy music video in a matter of minutes. Just pick a song from the app’s featured list of top 40 artists or one your own library, select the length you’d like your video to be, then record yourself performing it as many times and using as many filters and effects as you like. Once you’re done, the app will create a preliminary video by automatically stitching together segments from each of your takes. Unhappy with the final cut? No problem. You can easily shorten or lengthen each segment with a quick slide of your finger. When finished, you can share it with your friends or upload it to the Triller community. Then just sit back and wait (hope?) for a bit of viral fame.

Triller

Free | Android, iOS

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