I receive traffic from numerous sources; from my e-books to YouTube, social networking sites you name it.
But when I look at my traffic stats and review my top two sources, they have been the same for many years…
1) search engines
2) bookmark traffic
Of course, the percentage of traffic I receive from these various sources has changed. For example, my bookmark traffic has increased by quite a bit over the past few years.
Nevertheless my top three sources have typically been search engines, bookmark traffic and voluntary inbound links.
So I thought I’d open up a discussion about traffic here. What are your top two (or three) sources right now and how have they changed over the months/years (if at all)? Noticed any patterns?
Let’s talk!
Hi, my name is 
According to Google Analytics:
Search Engines: 70%
Direct Traffic: 15%
Referring Sites: 14%
Other: 1%
.-= James Fisher´s last blog … Monday Morning Blog Review =-.
According to analytics:
Search engine traffic 44%
Direct Traffic 28%
Referring sites 27%
Another report from Google Analytics!
Search Engines (65.10%)
Happy New Ye…! Oh. The Party’s Over. 
=-.
Referring Sites (23.49%)
Direct Traffic (10.74%)
Other (0.67%)
.-= Michael / South Bay Foodies´s last blog …
Google Analytics say:
Referring Sites (71.48%)
Direct Traffic (22.89%)
Search Engines (2.82%)
Other (2.82%)
Hmm I guess that’s pretty expected for a blog, for others to refer to your good posts.
.-= Gordon´s last blog … Getting Your First Traffic Spike =-.
According to google analytics I have:
42% direct traffic
37% refering sites
11% SEO
ok there u go
.-= Try and resist clicking my name´s last blog … As we close a crazy weather week, I think despite a quitet near term the long range remains exiting as always! =-.
For my blog (I dont use Google Analytics) most of of my traffic come from search engines.
For my retail store:
Search Engines: (48.32%)
Referring Sites: (28.29%)
Direct Traffic: (23.39%)
my 4 month old website, receives about 60% from organic searches and 30% from other sites voluntarily linking and the rest is just direct and unknown.
I don’t get tons of traffic but its decent and for a 4 month old website what i’m getting is more then expected.
___________
As for my other sites, I have built them to target a major keyword in google, 1 receives 10k and 90% of it is from Search engines. I’m about to sell this site too, I think Google is changing the way they rank sites, I have lost my place from 2.nd place to 7th and I have so many voluntary links on other websites.
.-= Start-A-Site.Com´s last blog … How to set link colors with Style Sheets =-.
According to Google Analytics:
Search Engines – 90.39%
Direct Traffic – 5.65%
Referring Sites – 3.86%
Other – 0.10%
I remember when I first started and had trouble getting any search engine traffic. Man, that seems like a long time ago.
.-= Paul´s last blog … Delayed Write Failure With External Hard Drive =-.
I don’t know what you refer to as “bookmark traffic” — do you mean social bookmarking sites like Digg or Stumbleupon or do you mean one’s browser bookmarks? For you have no way of knowing the latter.
As for my GA traffic source metrics over the past 30 days…
14.15% – Direct Traffic
12.34% – Referring Sites
71.41% – Search Engines
The top 5 referring sites were twitter.com, google.com, smartbrief.com, facebook.com, and images.google.com.
The top 5 search engines were google (67%), bing, search, yahoo, and aol.
.-= Ari Herzog´s last blog … Why Do You Subscribe to Blog Comments? =-.
I meant direct traffic or people who bookmark my site. Sorry about that.
though I am new to all this stuff you are are referring to but from alexa.com my forum is the 496 traffic site in NG, though I am really trying to enable the google analytics for my site I have not found the way yet!!! Thanks Lisa for all the stuff you write.
Search engines always been my major traffic source, analytics as follows:
Search Engines (74.63%)
Direct Traffic (12.55%)
Referring Sites (12.02%)
Other (0.80%)
.-= Jinnat Ul Hasan´s last blog … Google Adsense Cheque – November, 2009 =-.
Google Analytics say:
Direct – 30.16%
Google – 22.98%
Facebook – 9.69%
BetterNetworker – 9.34%
Bit.ly – 6.46%
My blog is 2 months old, so not bad going. I still have a way to go, but I will get there.
Dwayne
.-= Dwayne Huggins´s last blog … Do You Know Where To Get Quality Network Marketing Content? =-.
My almost 3 months blog has had 3200 visits.
Google Analytics stats:
- Google (52%)
- answers.yahoo (13%) – Yes, I started answering questions about photography (DSLRs) on Yahoo and it’s working very well
- Direct (13%)
- Youtube – I have an account there and I make YouTube videos and post links to my site.
There are more, but these 3 (no direct) are the most important ones to me and I keep on working on them.
.-= Chio´s last blog … White Balance =-.
I have a two month old blog with Alexa ranking of 303,825. I still wish I could get more traffic to the site on a daily basis, but it is still pretty knew. My Google analytics stats are:
2019 visits with:
18% direct traffic
69% referring sites
8.87% search engines
3% other traffic (not sure what that means)
I wish I could find a way to increase my search engine traffic, but not too sure how to do this. Perhaps my niche is just one that’s not as important or needed.
.-= Blia´s last blog … Whine Festivals and Pre-pregnancy Pants =-.
-About 65% from search engines, mostly google.com and images.google.com
-Forums I attend in, I post my posts in there, about 13%
-Direct Traffic 16%
- The other 4-5% is from emails, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook.
How can I increase my direct traffic?
I shortened my domain name & now have all my traffic f/ my old domain name forwarded to my new one. My search engine traffic is the worst of any traffic source:
Direct: 84.35%
Referring: 12.46%
Search Engines: 3.19%
I need help! Lol, really tho!
I didn’t leave my last blog on here when I commented so here it is: http://ypblogspot.com/success-you-changed/
According to Google Analytics:
Search Engines – 1.49%
Direct Traffic – 16.42%
Referring Sites – 82.09%
These days, my experience mirrors a few others who have chimed in (like Michael’s from South Bay Foodies and Carla).
At first, most of my traffic came from referring sites and direct traffic. Then, the trend changed and slowly more and more traffic began coming in from search engines.
Now, most of my traffic comes from search engines, but referring sites is in the second place and third is direct traffic.
Great conversation topic, by the way
.
Hi Lisa,
I get about 80% of my traffic from Twitter and the other 20% is split between the forums I belong to like Website Babble (of course) and Blog Engage. I also get incoming traffic from my other blogs (I have 4).
.-= ileane´s last blog … Say Goodbye to Family, Friends and A Good Night’s Sleep! =-.
I get most of my traffic from LinkReferral, about 50%, then probably 20% comes from posting authentic comments on high traffic blogs like this great one!, then I’d say 10% from Google, and the last 10% from Twitter.
.-= Kiesha @ Highly Favored´s last blog … If you don’t plant seeds how do you expect anything to grow? =-.
Oldest site:
92.05% search engine
4.58% referring
3.37% direct
(there is a couple in between as well)
Newest site:
48.03% search engine (newest site, 3.5 weeks old)
38.58% referring
13.39% direct
I see a trend that in the beginning referring and direct is stronger, quickly swinging to search engine traffic as the site gains traction.
.-= Michelle´s last blog … Jan 13, Importance of Time Management: Advantages of Learning Effective Skills =-.
I am not @skincaregeek not sure why it says that???
.-= Michelle´s last blog … Jan 13, Importance of Time Management: Advantages of Learning Effective Skills =-.
A little confused?
My other comment disappeared? Take 2!
Oldest site:
direct: 3.37%
referring: 4.58%
search: 92.05%
(A couple in between)
Newest site:
direct: 48.03%
referring: 38.58%
search: 13.39%
I have noticed that when a site begins, referring sites and direct traffic (presumably yourself) are the strongest… which changes to search engine traffic as you develop traction.
.-= Michelle´s last blog … Jan 13, Importance of Time Management: Advantages of Learning Effective Skills =-.
Direct Traffic 87.00 (76.99%)
Referring Sites 20.00 (17.70%)
Search Engines 6.00 (5.31%)
Granted, my site just officially launched yesterday I don’t exactly know what this means.
I’m grateful to have found 2createawebsite! Its’ easy to understand and full of positive information for succeeding. As far as stats, still too new to publish but stay tuned!
Search engine and direct traffic, yep! Looks like the trend is consistent.
.-= Jonathan´s last blog … $50 Amazon.com Gift Card with Xbox 360 Elite Winter Bundle Purchase =-.
I find that traffic that converts the best is closely related often niche sites.
.-= PowerPoint Templates´s last blog … Homestead PowerPoint Template =-.
Most of my traffic comes from the SE’s which is a great thing. I also notice that article marketing plays a significant role as visitors will come through those venues as well. Some hot products for my affiliate sites generate a lot of traffic from Stumble and Reddit, again these are for specific products that are very popular.
One more thing I noticed today, as many here have commented is the Direct Traffic source, which I have researched before was never really clear on where it comes from, I understand it to be people who went there by typing the url themselves into browsers, but seems strange when brand new sites have a good amount of visitors via that source.
.-= JR´s last blog … List of 128 Comment Luv Blogs by Niche =-.
In the case of my main website it’s the same as with most of you guys:
Google: 86%
Direct: 9%
Referral: 4%
But I have another website which is of interest only to a very small group of people and the stats are very different there:
Google: 41%
Direct: 9%
Referral: 52%
.-= Paul Pela´s last blog … Szybkie porady dla sfrustrowanych pocz?tkuj?cych =-.
my traffic has been very low i do not know why. and also google has not indexed some of my pages. i do not know why. can you help?
please take a look at http://www.freelancing-on-net.com
thanks,
steven
* 39.77%
Direct Traffic
* 53.18%
Referring Sites
* 7.05%
Search Engines
.-= Angelo Jules´s last blog … Rihanna Sexy Photo Shoot For ‘W’ Magazine =-.
My blog is very young so most of my traffic is from referrers, the search engine traffic is just starting to build up.
Search Engines (74.09%)
Referring Sites (14.32%)
Direct Traffic (8.41%)
Other (3.18%)
My site is a little over 4 months old and gradually progressing in stats.
Hi Lisa,
This is a really good topic to discuss. One of my main sites has been online for exactly 6 weeks, (though it took over 6 months to complete the strategy and market research). In that time, the site has attracted 4,800 unique visits, and 23,600 page views).
My top 3 sources for the site are:
1) Google Search (87%)
2) Direct/Bookmarks (5%)
3) Twitter (3%)
Before I launched the site, I spent many hours looking at the most popular keywords and key phrases that bring traffic for my niche. I targetted one particular search phrase that if I get top of Google for, (and that means a lot of hard work to beat 6 key commercial competitor websites), it will bring around 200,000 visitors a month. But I saw an opportunity, because one one of the 6 had really spent time on developing an SEO strategy.
In terms of patterns, I’ve seen a steady increase in the number of keywords and keyphrases that are bringing visitors to my website – it goes up by around 40-50 a day, and now stands at nearly 600.
In my opinion, the Google Keywords Tool is the best place to start for anyone thinking of starting up a website. Like Lisa says, you always have to consider the business aspects too. For example, I know that getting top of Google for that key phrase will bring in 200,000 visitors a month, and at around £25 per 1,00 visitors (estimate going on current statistics), that’s £5,000 per month ($7,800).
If you’re prepared to work hard and smart, there’s no reason you can’t make a good income online!
I’ve found a great page about increasing traffic to your website, from Alexa.com. The URL is: http://blog.alexa.com/2009/07/how-to-increase-traffic-to-your-website.html
A quick question for you, Lisa.
I’m an (relative) internet newbie, and I only learned what SEO stood for about 7 months ago. After TONS of reading, much of it on your website, I optimized my website as best I could. I created some inbound links, Tweeted my links like crazy, and some things are finally “clicking”. Traffic has picked up to about 500+ uniques and 8000 hits per month. This isn’t an e-commerce website, just a website advertising my local business service.
My question: how much traffic, in your opinion, would be needed for a successful affiliate website, if I were able to get a decent conversion rate on my visitors? I refuse to dive into affiliate marketing until I’m sure I have the knowledge to be successful. Any thoughts?
For me traffic from articles are 1
2. Blog commenting number 2
3. Forums 3
4. Search engines 4
I learned a long time ago to stay away from traffic exchanges they simply do not work. I concentrate most of my time on traffic that makes me money. Do not waste your time on techniques that do not bring you a profit.
.-= Jason´s last blog … ShoeMoney System Money Program Selling Points And Benefits Joining =-.
According to Google Analytics:
Referring Sites (57.10%)
Direct Traffic (30.47%)
Search Engines (12.43%)
.-= Nick´s last blog … New Feature On Swagbucks =-.
I am very new to blogging my site has only one month but I am studying to learn every day more and I’m having a blast, because I love my niche!!!!! =^.^=
Direct Traffic: 11.8%
Referring site: 86.01%
Search Engine: 2.92%
.-= Judy´s last blog … Draco Malfoy Pastel Drawing =-.
Search Engines 70.63%)
Direct Traffic (15.55%)
Referring Sites (12.02%)
Other (1.80%)
I would like to hear some comments regarding my blog. I would like to improve its traffic.
http://www.5dollarblogpost.com
Direct Traffic (48.17%)
Referring Sites (39.27%)
Search Engines (12.57%)
I get most of my traffic from search engines and social marking.
I discovered your blog using yahoo and I must say, this is just one of the best well drafted articles I have come across in a long time. I have bookmarked your site for other posts.
I find this blog through Google search engine. I seek many things from this blog. I have a question about traffic any one can solve it please. I have mad a blog recently and i submit my blog to many directories, feeds sites, Search engines but my blog did not receive any traffic from that sites. There is a problem with me that Google robtos.txt restricted my many posts. I think that’s the reason that My blog is not search index. Can any one tell me how can i remove this error or alow the google robtos to allow my posts.
Lisa, if you have free time for me than please tell me about this problem..
Thanks in advance
Great tutorials and posts here. I bookmarked a couple of of them.
I can only say one thing: organic traffic is the best. It brings high conversion.
mostly from social sites
I started a movie blog last year. I used to get 75% from organic traffic. 1500 unique vistors/ day. Then I stopped posting regularly, all of my regular readers are gone. Now I’m left with 91% bouncing rate and 90.5% search engine source. *sad*
I have just started a advertising/design blog two months ago. I’ve been getting a lot of organic traffic and RSS (I’m surprised). I update everyday with at least 1 new post. I have people sharing my post on social media very often.
Lesson learned. Keep updating on a regular basis and write good quality content is the key.
50% Direct Traffic, 30% referring sites, 20% search engines, is what Google Analytics says. I get around 40 unique visitors a day.
hi lisa,edd here, my site have ben up and runing for about 5 months, i got just a little over 8,000 hits for the month. am finding it hard to learn what to do for some reason are other my brain is just not understanding how to move through my wp -press would you take a look at my site and tell me what i should do please.i need your help,can you help me!
Hey there is huge difference in our Alexa and Google analytic data. Google shows about 80% of traffic from search engines, and Alexa about 5%. Again we have 30% visitors from USA, 30% from Nepal and 40% from rest of the world. But Alexa shows, 90% from USA and rest from Nepal…………how do I take these data???
Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss and would love to
have you share some stories/information.
I know my readers would appreciate your work.
If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Hello Lisa – I know this post is old but will add my stats here…
25,000 pageviews per month
Search Traffic: 51% of which 40% is “keyword not provided” and only 5% is keywords relevant to my site
Direct Traffic: 32%
Referral Traffic: 16%
My Search Traffic is all screwed up but I’ve spent hours and hours with the Keyword Tool and revising my image alt tags and my h2 tags my URL’s and my Yoast SEO titles and it doesn’t get any better.