Rephrasing my question: I have no search traffic -- I would love some feedback

[WendyKKelly]

I just posted a question:

http://www.seomoz.org/q/am-i-on-the-right-track-still-not-seeing-results-in-rank-traffic-etc

An it already has 63 views and one response, but I think I may have phrased the question wrong.

I would love a little feedback on my site - I have zero search traffic -- none. I find that odd. I am not sure if it "just takes time" and I need to be patient, or if I am doing something really obviously wrong.

I have been really amazed by what I have read so far in this community, and have learned a ton. In my previous question, I listed all the things I am doing -- and I think I have the basics down pat.

Should I not have at least 1 visitor per day?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you so much!!

[EGOL]

Are you sure you have NO search traffic?   I see your site in the SERPs.

What analytics are you using?    If you don't have any then toss Getclicky.com or something easy on for a day and watch the real time data.

Also, you seem to be putting a lot of work into a blog that is on a different domain.

[WendyKKelly]

Thanks! I have noticed your answers many times in this community and they are always spot on (IMHO)Thank you for taking the time to answer!

Yes, I have no search traffic...When I visit (I have several ips blocked, but the current one is not blocked) it shows my search visits -- I know b/c I have so little traffic that it is obvious that it is me. The only search traffic is a certain ip in my town, on a Mac, who used the keywords "i school at home" yep, that'd be me : ) So analytics, I assume, is properly installed.

I just started an adwords campaign to see what would happen..so that is something -- I will try getclicky -- I had never heard of it! Thank you!!!

I know. I currently have my site hosted by SBI, which frustrates the heck out of me. My blog I threw up on Blue Host and it is a subdomain of care2read.com

Does that make a difference? Is it important enough to change?

Also:

I just started affiliate marketing -- Lumosity is the one I am starting with -- and, in one week, it shows that those links have gotten close to 1,000 views. So that is odd...

[EGOL]

in one week, it shows that those links have gotten close to 1,000 views.

So analytics, I assume, is properly installed.

I am absolutely, 100% confident that you are getting search traffic.

The following is just what I would do... this isn't "advice"... just saying what I would do...

I don't know the history of your site, how much you have invested there, how hard it would be to move and what can be done about redirects, etc.

But, most likely,

I would find a quality host and and install wordpress.

I would use "pages" for my website and "posts" for my blog.  The blog would be on my primary domain.

I would use hosting that does not offer "unlimited bandwidth"... because those that offer unlimited bandwidth usually throttle your success by limiting your processing, database connections or some other metric that is invisible to most webmasters.  (Most people never notice a problem but if you get up to several thousand visitors per day the throttling usually begins.  I want a host who will charge me for everything that I use because that way they will want me to be extremely successful.)

If I was really serious about this site I would get a person who is experienced in SEO and wordpress to set it up for me.  That way it would be done properly and that person's experience would save me a lot of experimentation and possible mistakes.

After that I would attack with a steady stream of great content.

[WendyKKelly]

Do you mind if I ask a couple really dumb follow up questions? (I hope not...)

1. When you say you are absolutely confident that I am getting search traffic, do you mean people are coming but I just can't "see" them?

2. I love Wordpress and love your solution, and have considered it. I have played around with Wordpress for a few years and particularly am fond of pagelines. I have very very little money. I cannot really afford to hire someone...is it possible to do on one's own? What are your reasons for suggesting i hire someone -- based on what you have seen, do you feel I have a huge learning curve? (I hope that comes out correctly -- I am just asking for more information, since I have very little money -- if it is possible to do on my own, I will -- if not, I am not sure what my "plan B" is...

3. Do you recommend anywhere in particular for hosting???

THANK YOU!!! : ) I have installed clicky and do not see much traffic...but I do love this service -- that alone is enough -- thank you so much!!

[EGOL]

1)  Yes, I did a few logical searches and saw your site in the SERPs several times.

2. You are working really hard on this site.  That time is worth an awful lot.  You can probably get a smart someone to set-up a wordpress site for you, duplicating your "look", moving the content, and applying quality SEO for... I am guessing a few hundred dollars.  The key is not getting the wrong person.

You could probably set up your own wordpress site.  Lots of people do it.    When I need a wordpress site or a blog I don't set it up myself.  I get an expert so I know that its done properly.

3. If you hire an experienced person to set up a wordpress site for you they will probably know a good place - where they are very familiar with the system.  My sites are at a host where outside software, including wordpress, can be very hard to set-up.  I think that they make it that way to avoid problems.

[EGOL]

You are going to make an enormous investment of time into this site.  Don't  be afraid to invest in it.

The biggest mistake that I have made is not betting on myself sooner.

[WendyKKelly]

I just clicked "Good Answer" -- all your answers were awesome -- THANK YOU --

Do you mind -- last question -- why would it make a difference WP vs traditional site?

Just before I make the plunge and move everything -- would I see different results, do you think, and if so, why??

OH, heck -- i have to ask -- how is it that I am not seeing all my traffic? How is this even possible? The getclicky, too,. shows that I am not getting very much traffic -- there were a couple search visits, probably you : )  -- how is that possible, and would that change with a WP site??

Thank you!!

[EGOL]

WP vs traditional site?

Both are good.  Both perform well in the search engines - if they are set-up properly.

Most of my sites have been built with Dreamweaver and server-side includes that are controlled by perl programs.  Most of these sites also have a blog that is powered by wordpress.  I use wordpress because it is quick and easy to make short posts.

I use Dreamweaver because I make a lot of different page formats and I like to have complete control over it.  I like to build finely-craft arrows rather than cookie cutter pages.

how is it that I am not seeing all my traffic?

I don't know.  Are you seeing any Google visits from GetClicky?  I am betting that you will see visitors coming from many sources - so you know that I am not the one you are seeing.

[WendyKKelly]

It is just so odd, isn't it? Since I set up get clicky, I have had 9 visitors, 2 of them me : )

9 total -- that's direct, referral and search combined. And I am showing up in the SERPs, so, though I am sure the site isn't perfectly optimized, it does show up.

And it is not a spam site -- maybe it could be (a lot) better, but it certainly isn't horrid content

So, though I could see moving to WP, it still wouldn't theoretically fix the problem, would it? I am showing up in SERPs, but no one is clicking -- do I understand that correctly?

And if that is true, why the heck not, I wonder?

I really appreciate all this help, by the way -- I love that what you said about betting on yourself. I do think that is part of the equation.

Thank you very much!!

[EGOL]

You are showing up in the SERPs.  The number of visitors that you get will be determined by your position and how well your title tag elicits clicks.

Your site would not be a good one to offer "free beer" in the title tags but if you can discover words and phrases that elicit clicks then your traffic will go up.

Also, as your site becomes better know you will have likes and links pointing towards it and people will start asking for it by name.   As these things occur your rankings will rise.

I write an article and a couple months later it appears on the second page... but a couple years later it can be #1 or #2.  If you can produce content that is "Best-On-The-Web" in your niche it generally rises to a nice position.