When you start up a new site there are two things you really need; content and traffic. There is actually a good way to get both of these, all in one go. Run a competition.

The best way you can get content is to get other people to write it for you, since you could find yourself spending hours writing when it really isn't your talent. Though buying copy is quite expensive; a really good copywriter can cost you around £40 an hour, if you're lucky you can find a few people who are willing to write a 500 word article for £10 or so. The bottom line is that copy isn't cheap.

However, there is a sneaky way you can get your visitors to write articles for you, and send them in at no cost to you at all. You could start a competition; get users to write unique content for you and send it in. Tell them you'll put all of the submissions on your site and that the best few will receive a prize.

It's really the prize that draws people's attentions and brings in the traffic. If you're starting up a new website then it's unlikely that you'll be getting many sponsors who will be able and willing to donate prizes for your cause (unlike CopyBlogger gets, or Problogger), so instead you could either find money from your savings to get an expensive prize, but a few small prizes work just as well.

You could even knock up a few $15 T-shirts with your logo on. You'll be getting even more exposure then if the winners walk around with your URL proudly on their custom apparel.