Filtering traffic

[marcjacob]

Any chance of a discussion on filtering traffic? Its seems mega important from what people here are saying. Can you say in easy terms what it is, and I was hoping we could discuss methods, what works, what doesn't etc.

Anyone happy to show their sites?? I *promise* I never copy!

This is not only great for me to learn but any newbies. I have a friend I sort of mentor (really we help each other but I'm helping him increase his income - blind leading the blind LOL) and I want to direct him to it.

BTW Im loving this board. Im learning so much and its only new!!

[abostonboy]

Marc,

We can do that. I am doing some free sites and will be filtering my traffic. Filtering traffic is pretty easy to understand once it's explained to you. The HARD part with filtering traffic is that in many cases you have to build up a network to filter it to.

You filter your traffic on a very simple level every day at your link list. Each category filters traffic to a niche of links. Just make sure you are running asian banners in the asian category as well as maybe a buy one, get 20 free deals for those that don't just like asians. Having links to VOD also "filters" it even more as now you are offering pay per minute for those that want it.

[basschick]

there are many ways of filtering traffic, and i'm working like crazy today, but i'll start.

some typical - and effective ways of filtering traffic include:

pass-through pages that are accurate and descriptive. what these are are ads for a single site or a few sites that market those sites and are put between two pages in a free.

accurate descriptions. you'd be surprised how much better a site can convert with accurate text. for example, some webmasters always use "download" about videos, but if you send traffic to a site that's streaming-only using a link that offers downloads, you probably won't sell very well.

full page ads. a good fpa isn't just a purty picture and some links. it tells surfers what to expect. those who aren't interested in what that site has to offer you can now send elsewhere, like to a hub.

reviews - reviews, whether very short or full page, make sure that anyone who clicks to see the site knows exactly what they're getting. if the niche, video format or anything else doesn't appeal to a surfer, he can go to other links in your site rather than going to a paysite that he wouldn't want to join.

stay within the niche. a bondage gallery means all bondage links. want to tighten it up? a gallery or free site showing a mature bear being tied up is going to send traffic that is looking for mature bears being tied up, so with accurate descriptions and a site that seemlessly matches your text and gallery or free site content, you can end up sending traffic to your bear bondage site that is looking for exactly what it has. and that means better sales.

[abostonboy]

This is a topic I love!

Fake Top Lists have always done well for me as a way to filter traffic... :)

[Relentless]

Any good filter is an HONEST one. Filtering is the exact opposite of making a surfer feel "whoops... how did I get to this page?!"

If you design your sites well and label things clearly your members will filter themselves. Think of your site as an airport. Each gate has to have a clear name or number, announcements are made to tell travelers where their flight is boarding... when it boards etc... and then they go where they want to be.

Many sites are idiotically designed to "push" traffic to one gate or another. Just because an airline wants more people to fly to San Francisco, that doesn't mean a traveler who wants to go to New York will be happy when he is lied to about his correct gate for take-off.

Filtering is about honesty and clarity more than anything else.