Webmasters know the value and importance of traffic. They know only too well that the very success of their online business depends on the volume of targeted traffic they can generate and if they can find ways and means of obtaining free traffic, then why not!

There are several tried and tested Online and Offline methods that can generate free traffic to your website.

Online Free Traffic:

The easiest and simplest method is to include your website URL in your signature in e-mails.

Write articles and submit to article directories on the theme of your website and related topics that will display your expertise. It is important that you have a link to your website in the Resource Box at the end of the article. This is considered to be the best way of attracting free traffic especially if you are working on a low budget.

Regularly visit topic related Forums and make useful contributions, give valuable advice and ensure that you place your signature in the forum posts.

Actively participate in reciprocal link exchange with websites that are relevant to the theme of your website and preferably of higher page rank.

Optimize your website for the search engines especially Google, Yahoo and MSN with the most relevant keywords or keyword phrases that will ensure that your website will appear high in the search results when these keywords or phrases are searched in the search engines.

Have excellent and unique content and constantly update them. This will entice visitors and the search engines too, to make frequent visits to your site.

Submit your website to high quality topic related directories that accept free submissions.

Advertise in free classifieds sites that cater to the category to which your online business website falls.

Submit a press release every time you introduce a new product or make changes in your business which will create interest in your customers or attract new customers.

Submit your website to social booking sites whenever you update your site. Useful information is shared by people and this will bring you a stream of targeted traffic.

Start a Blog on your website. Search Engines especially Google love Blogs that are frequently updated and make regular visits to these Blogs.

Offline Free Traffic:

Word of mouth is considered to be one of the best offline methods of generating free traffic for your online business. Pass the round to your friends, acquaintances, colleagues and relatives about your business.

Put your website URL on all printed material that goes out of your office such as letterheads, envelopes, invoices, faxes, labels and anything and everything you can think of.

Print Business Cards with your website URL and exchange cards with others at seminars, conferences, trade fairs, parties and other functions. Business Cards project your image and credibility.

Distribute Flyers with a description of your online business, your physical address and your website URL. This is one of the cheapest and low budget ways of promoting your business offline.

Write articles about your business in the local community newspapers with your website URL in them.

Place bumper stickers or magnetic signs on your vehicles displaying your website URL and your phone number are a free or an inexpensive way of promoting your online business Offline.

Place your Ads in Community centers, Bulletin boards and other places that provide the opportunity to place free Ads.

All these methods will bring to your online business a stream of free traffic that will boost your confidence and keep you enthusiastic and motivated even if you working on a low budget.