Do you rely on search engines for traffic?

[cpvr]

This brings up a nice little discussion, because I've seen many websites come and go throughout my webmaster career, and I've seen some websites die because of their rankings going down and such.

So, I'd love to ask all those webmasters out there if they rely on search engines for traffic or not.

As we all know, getting ranked, and ranked well on search engines can help or break a site, so I'm one to say that some of my partners' websites rely soley on search engines and word of mouth, while my sites rely on word of mouth.

How about you?

[splendidcredit]

Hmm.. I really don't rely only to search engines for traffic..I also does other things... like social networking.

[searchmaster]

SEO Traffic is the finest ...... and most targeted but also it is so undependable that no can just sit and see his traffic coming only from search engines.

so smo, word of mouth, ppc should go along......

[cheesedude]

Originally Posted by cpvr

So, I'd love to ask all those webmasters out there if they rely on search engines for traffic or not.

Yes. 85% of my traffic comes from search engines. The rest are return visitors and referral links from other sites and forum posts.

[stymiee]

Originally Posted by searchmaster

SEO Traffic is the finest ...... and most targeted

I definitely wouldn't say it is the most targeted. Traffic from search engines is more like a shotgun approach more often then not. PPC advertising tends to be more targeted if you do it properly.

[Hafsoh]

Yeah i do rely on search engines traffic

[rcj662]

Search engine traffic is the best free traffic. Paid traffic like adwords delivers better traffic if done correct but the cost has to monitored.

[galen]

It's best to rely on direct traffic =]. Get visitors to find you via a search engine and provide them with content that makes them bookmark your site.

[dvduval]

A few years ago I relied more on search engines. They still provide me with some excellent conversions, but now my strategy is much more diversified.

[kompoint]

Traffic from search engines is free and first step for doing online business.

[stymiee]

Originally Posted by kompoint

Traffic from search engines is free and first step for doing online business.

I don't know if I would say it is the first step. A pres release and advertising will be a far more effective way to start since it takes a while to get any traction at all in the search engines.

[internetdominus]

Originally Posted by dvduval

A few years ago I relied more on search engines. They still provide me with some excellent conversions, but now my strategy is much more diversified.

and that strategy includes things such as....or too good to share?

[JakeJeck]

At work - site that gets over 1M visitors a year.

40% SE
30% Type in/bookmark
30% Other sites

Other sites and SE convert at nearly the same rate and type-in traffic converts at half of those rates.

[Gharibe]

almost 50%

[DaveWoods]

Personal site (last month)...

10% Direct Traffic
49% Referrals
41% Search Engines

Ideally, I'd like the direct traffic to be a little more but the volume is increasing every month in each area so it's all heading in the right direction and not reliant on one particular area for visitors.

[rush4rk]

my stats are a bit the same csswiz