The worldwide web has completely revolutionized the way we gather and share information. When we are seeking out information, we want to be able to find it easily. When we are posting information on a website, we want it to be able to be found easily. The key to uniting information seekers with information is by directing traffic. Web traffic can be defined as the amount of information or data sent to and received from a web site's visitors.This is measured by the number of visitors to a website and the number of pages visit while they are there. There are a variety of ways to drive this traffic.

To increase web traffic to your site, you want to make use of search engines. Just being accessible through a search engine is not enough, however. Few people search past the first couple of pages of links when looking for a product or information. Inclusion in a website directory can be a wise step. When you submit the URL of your website to a directory it is then in a searchable list. Search engines scroll through these directories to provide results to internet surfers. Directory submission is an economical way to get links and help websites get notices. Similar in form are a link directory and a business directory. Directories are often referred to as add URL and free add URL. These free directories allow for free URL submission to the directory.

Another method of driving traffic is through links. A link exchange is a group of websites registered with a central organization. The html code within the exchange causes banner advertisements to be displayed on the sites of other exchange member sites. There are pros and cons to this form of linking. Highly focused readership of the ad is one important advantage. It is also a stable way to hyperlink. A con, however, is the often distracting and irritating nature of banner advertisements. Another method of linking is reciprocal linking. This is when two sites link to each other. This method is frequently used by small to midsize operations as a way to promote web traffic and link popularity. Backlinks are the links that come to a site and can indicate the popularity of a site. They can be defined as any link received by a web page, site or directory form another web page, site or directory.

However you choose to promote your website, the key is visibility. You want people to see your site. You want them to visit the site and send others to the site. Numbers are important on the worldwide web. Careful planning should be given to how you are going to lead visitors to your site.