Ask a marketer or business owner what they want the most in the world and they will probably tell you "more customers." What often comes after customers are on a company's wishlist? More traffic to their site. There are many ways to increase your website traffic, and in today's post we'll take a look at 25 of them, including several ways to increase website traffic for FREE.
1. Advertising
This is so obvious that we'll look at it first. Paid search, social media ads, and display ads are all great ways to attract visitors, building your brand and introducing your site to people. Customize your paid strategies according to your goals - do you just need more traffic or do you want to increase conversions too? Each paid channel has its pros and cons, so think carefully about your goals before using your credit card.
If you are hoping that more traffic to your site will also lead to more sales, then you need to target high commercial intent keywords as part of your paid search strategies. Yes, the competition for these search terms can be fierce (and costly), but the rewards are well worth it.
2. Communicate
It's not enough to create great content and hope people find it - you need to be proactive. One of the best ways to increase traffic to your website is to use social media channels to promote your content . Twitter is perfect for short, quick (and tempting) links, whereas a Google+ promotion can help your site appear in personalized search results and seems especially effective in B2B niches. If you manufacture B2C products, you might like social sites with lots of images like Pinterest and Instagram. Here are some more tips for making the most of your social media marketing.
3. Mix
There is no magic formula for content marketing success, despite what some claim. For this reason, vary the length and format of your content to make it as appealing as possible to different readers. Alternate short blog news posts with long content as well as videos, infographics, and data-driven elements for maximum impact.
4. Write compelling headlines
Headlines are one of the most important parts of your content. Without a compelling title, even the most comprehensive blog post will go unread.... Master the art of headline writing. For example, authors BuzzFeed and Upworthy often write up to twenty different headlines before finally settling on the one that will attract the most traffic, so think carefully about your headline before clicking publish.
5. Pay attention to SEO on the page
Think SEO is dead? Think again. Search engine optimization is still a valuable and rewarding practice. Are you making the most of the image alt text? Are you creating internal links to new content? What about meta descriptions? Optimizing for on-page SEO shouldn't take long, and it can help increase your organic traffic.
6. Target Long Tails
Are your high intent keywords and popular keyword bases covered? Then it's time to target your long tail keywords as well. Long tail keywords make up the majority of web searches, which means if you're not targeting them as part of a paid search or SEO effort, you're overlooking.
7. Start a guest blog
Before you say it - no, real guest blogging is alive and well, despite what you may have heard. Hosting a guest post on a reputable site can increase traffic to your blog and help promote your brand in a positive light. However, beware - guest blogging standards have changed radically in the past eighteen months, and spamming tactics can lead to severe penalties. Continue with care.
8. Invite others to guest blog on your site
A guest blog is a two-way street. In addition to posting content on other blogs, invite people from your niche to blog on your own site... They are more likely to share and link to their guest article, which can attract new readers to your site. Just make sure you only post quality, original content with no spam links, because Google fights hard against a low-quality guest blog.
9. Monitor Referral Traffic
Instead of trying to convince other sites to link to you (a tedious and time-consuming process), create content that just begs for a link.
When Larry wrote about the notorious slap in the teeth for eBay's Google Panda update, try getting a link from Ars Technica in the Editor's Choice section along with links to The New York Times and National Geographic. Not too bad - neither is the spike in referral traffic. Find out what types of links are sending a lot of referral traffic and how to get them.
10. Post Content on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has become much more than just a new job search tool. The world's largest professional social network is now a valuable publishing platform in its own right, which means you have to post content to LinkedIn regularly . This can increase traffic to your site as well as boost your profile in your industry, especially if you have a moderate to large number of subscribers.
11. Embed microdata schema
Implementing a schema (or other microdata format) will not necessarily increase traffic to your site, but it will make it easier for search robots to find and index your pages . Another advantage of using a schema for SEO is that it can lead to more fully functional portions of the site, which can increase your click-through rate.
12. Internal Link
The strength of your link profile is determined not only by how many sites link to you, but can also be influenced by your internal link structure.... When creating and posting content, be sure to keep an eye out for internal linking opportunities. This not only helps with SEO, but also leads to a better and more rewarding user experience - the cornerstone of increasing traffic to your site.
13. Interviews with Industry Thought Leaders
Think interviews are only for the big leagues? You'd be surprised how many people want to talk to you if you just ask them. Send out emails requesting interviews to influencers in your industry and post the interviews on your blog . Name recognition will not only boost your authority and increase traffic to your website, but it is likely that the other person will also share content, further expanding its reach.
14. Don't neglect email marketing
So many companies are focused on attracting new customers through content marketing that they forget about more traditional methods. Email marketing can be a powerful tool, and even moderately successful email marketing can lead to a significant increase in traffic. Just be careful not to bombard people with endless emails about every update to your business. Also, don't overlook the power of word of mouth, especially from people who already love your products or services. A friendly email reminder of a new service or product can also help you increase your traffic.
15. Make sure your site is responsive
The days when web browsing was done exclusively on desktop PCs are long gone. More people today than ever before are using mobile devices to access the Internet, and if you force visitors to squeeze and scroll on your site, you are basically telling them to go elsewhere. Even if you have a basic website, you still need to make sure that it is accessible and easy to view on a variety of devices , including small smartphones.
16. Make Sure Your Site Is Fast
Ever had to wait thirty seconds for a web page to load? Me neither. If your site loads endlessly, the bounce rate will be sky-high. Make sure your pages are as technically optimized as possible, including image file sizes, page structure, and third party plugin functionality. The faster your site loads, the better.
17. Cultivate a sense of community
People want to voice their opinions and weigh the topics they are interested in , so building a community on your site is a great way to start a conversation and increase traffic to your site. Implement a robust commenting system with third-party solutions like Facebook or Disqus comments, or create a dedicated forum where visitors can ask questions. However, remember to manage your community to ensure that minimum standards of decency are met.
18. Make sure to be heard in the comment sections
You probably regularly visit at least a few sites related to your business, so why not join the conversation? Commenting doesn't necessarily immediately generate an immediate increase in referral traffic, but building a name for yourself by providing insightful, thought-provoking comments on industry blogs and websites is a great way to make yourself known, which can lead to more traffic to your own site later on. Just remember that, as with guest posting, quality and relevance are key - you should interact with others in your niche, not dump spam links to unrelated websites.
19. Explore your analytics data
Google Analytics is an invaluable source of data on almost every conceivable aspect of your site, from the most popular pages to the demographics of your visitors. Keep a close eye on your Google Analytics data and use this information to develop your advertising and content strategies. Pay attention to which posts and pages are the most popular. Examine your visitor data to find out how, where, and when traffic is coming to your site.
20. Be active on social media
It's not enough just to share content through social channels - you also need to actively participate in the life of the community. Have a Twitter account? Then join group discussions with relevant hashtags. Does your audience leave comments on your Facebook posts? Answer questions and connect with your readers. Nothing distracts people faster than using social media as your broadcast channel - use social media as intended and connect with your fans.
21. Submit your content to aggregator sites
First, a disclaimer - don't spam Reddit and other similar sites in the hopes of hitting the jackpot in referral traffic because that won't happen. Members of communities like Reddit are unusually quick-witted for spam disguised as legitimate links, but from time to time it doesn't hurt to post links that this audience will find really useful. Select the appropriate subreddit, submit your content and watch the traffic flow.
22. Incorporate video into your content strategy
Text content is good, but video can be a valuable asset both for attracting new visitors and increasing the appeal of your site. The data shows that content retention is significantly higher for visual content than for text, which means that video marketing is a great way to attract - and retain - your audience's attention while increasing traffic to your website.
23. Study the competition
If you haven't used software like BuzzSumo to find out what your competitors are doing, you are at a very disadvantage. These services combine the social performance of specific sites and content so you can see at a glance which topics resonate with readers and, most importantly, spread across social media. Find out what people are reading (and talking about) and simulate such content to drive traffic to your site.
24.
Hosting Webinars People love to learn, and webinars are a great way to share your knowledge with an eager audience. Combined with an effective social media campaign, webinars are a great way to increase traffic to your website. Send an email about a week in advance or a “last opportunity to sign up” reminder the day before your webinar. Be sure to archive your presentation for later viewing and promote your webinars widely on social media. If you're wondering how to host a webinar, check out the tutorials for some tips.
25. Attend conferences
Whatever industry you work in, chances are there are at least one or two major conventions and conferences that are relevant to your business. Attending these events is a good idea - speaking even better at them. Even a decent halfway speech is a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and gain significant exposure for your site.
Well that's it for today's post. If you have your own tips for increasing traffic to your website, I'd love to hear them.
1. Advertising
This is so obvious that we'll look at it first. Paid search, social media ads, and display ads are all great ways to attract visitors, building your brand and introducing your site to people. Customize your paid strategies according to your goals - do you just need more traffic or do you want to increase conversions too? Each paid channel has its pros and cons, so think carefully about your goals before using your credit card.
If you are hoping that more traffic to your site will also lead to more sales, then you need to target high commercial intent keywords as part of your paid search strategies. Yes, the competition for these search terms can be fierce (and costly), but the rewards are well worth it.
2. Communicate
It's not enough to create great content and hope people find it - you need to be proactive. One of the best ways to increase traffic to your website is to use social media channels to promote your content . Twitter is perfect for short, quick (and tempting) links, whereas a Google+ promotion can help your site appear in personalized search results and seems especially effective in B2B niches. If you manufacture B2C products, you might like social sites with lots of images like Pinterest and Instagram. Here are some more tips for making the most of your social media marketing.
3. Mix
There is no magic formula for content marketing success, despite what some claim. For this reason, vary the length and format of your content to make it as appealing as possible to different readers. Alternate short blog news posts with long content as well as videos, infographics, and data-driven elements for maximum impact.
4. Write compelling headlines
Headlines are one of the most important parts of your content. Without a compelling title, even the most comprehensive blog post will go unread.... Master the art of headline writing. For example, authors BuzzFeed and Upworthy often write up to twenty different headlines before finally settling on the one that will attract the most traffic, so think carefully about your headline before clicking publish.
5. Pay attention to SEO on the page
Think SEO is dead? Think again. Search engine optimization is still a valuable and rewarding practice. Are you making the most of the image alt text? Are you creating internal links to new content? What about meta descriptions? Optimizing for on-page SEO shouldn't take long, and it can help increase your organic traffic.
6. Target Long Tails
Are your high intent keywords and popular keyword bases covered? Then it's time to target your long tail keywords as well. Long tail keywords make up the majority of web searches, which means if you're not targeting them as part of a paid search or SEO effort, you're overlooking.
7. Start a guest blog
Before you say it - no, real guest blogging is alive and well, despite what you may have heard. Hosting a guest post on a reputable site can increase traffic to your blog and help promote your brand in a positive light. However, beware - guest blogging standards have changed radically in the past eighteen months, and spamming tactics can lead to severe penalties. Continue with care.
8. Invite others to guest blog on your site
A guest blog is a two-way street. In addition to posting content on other blogs, invite people from your niche to blog on your own site... They are more likely to share and link to their guest article, which can attract new readers to your site. Just make sure you only post quality, original content with no spam links, because Google fights hard against a low-quality guest blog.
9. Monitor Referral Traffic
Instead of trying to convince other sites to link to you (a tedious and time-consuming process), create content that just begs for a link.
When Larry wrote about the notorious slap in the teeth for eBay's Google Panda update, try getting a link from Ars Technica in the Editor's Choice section along with links to The New York Times and National Geographic. Not too bad - neither is the spike in referral traffic. Find out what types of links are sending a lot of referral traffic and how to get them.
10. Post Content on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has become much more than just a new job search tool. The world's largest professional social network is now a valuable publishing platform in its own right, which means you have to post content to LinkedIn regularly . This can increase traffic to your site as well as boost your profile in your industry, especially if you have a moderate to large number of subscribers.
11. Embed microdata schema
Implementing a schema (or other microdata format) will not necessarily increase traffic to your site, but it will make it easier for search robots to find and index your pages . Another advantage of using a schema for SEO is that it can lead to more fully functional portions of the site, which can increase your click-through rate.
12. Internal Link
The strength of your link profile is determined not only by how many sites link to you, but can also be influenced by your internal link structure.... When creating and posting content, be sure to keep an eye out for internal linking opportunities. This not only helps with SEO, but also leads to a better and more rewarding user experience - the cornerstone of increasing traffic to your site.
13. Interviews with Industry Thought Leaders
Think interviews are only for the big leagues? You'd be surprised how many people want to talk to you if you just ask them. Send out emails requesting interviews to influencers in your industry and post the interviews on your blog . Name recognition will not only boost your authority and increase traffic to your website, but it is likely that the other person will also share content, further expanding its reach.
14. Don't neglect email marketing
So many companies are focused on attracting new customers through content marketing that they forget about more traditional methods. Email marketing can be a powerful tool, and even moderately successful email marketing can lead to a significant increase in traffic. Just be careful not to bombard people with endless emails about every update to your business. Also, don't overlook the power of word of mouth, especially from people who already love your products or services. A friendly email reminder of a new service or product can also help you increase your traffic.
15. Make sure your site is responsive
The days when web browsing was done exclusively on desktop PCs are long gone. More people today than ever before are using mobile devices to access the Internet, and if you force visitors to squeeze and scroll on your site, you are basically telling them to go elsewhere. Even if you have a basic website, you still need to make sure that it is accessible and easy to view on a variety of devices , including small smartphones.
16. Make Sure Your Site Is Fast
Ever had to wait thirty seconds for a web page to load? Me neither. If your site loads endlessly, the bounce rate will be sky-high. Make sure your pages are as technically optimized as possible, including image file sizes, page structure, and third party plugin functionality. The faster your site loads, the better.
17. Cultivate a sense of community
People want to voice their opinions and weigh the topics they are interested in , so building a community on your site is a great way to start a conversation and increase traffic to your site. Implement a robust commenting system with third-party solutions like Facebook or Disqus comments, or create a dedicated forum where visitors can ask questions. However, remember to manage your community to ensure that minimum standards of decency are met.
18. Make sure to be heard in the comment sections
You probably regularly visit at least a few sites related to your business, so why not join the conversation? Commenting doesn't necessarily immediately generate an immediate increase in referral traffic, but building a name for yourself by providing insightful, thought-provoking comments on industry blogs and websites is a great way to make yourself known, which can lead to more traffic to your own site later on. Just remember that, as with guest posting, quality and relevance are key - you should interact with others in your niche, not dump spam links to unrelated websites.
19. Explore your analytics data
Google Analytics is an invaluable source of data on almost every conceivable aspect of your site, from the most popular pages to the demographics of your visitors. Keep a close eye on your Google Analytics data and use this information to develop your advertising and content strategies. Pay attention to which posts and pages are the most popular. Examine your visitor data to find out how, where, and when traffic is coming to your site.
20. Be active on social media
It's not enough just to share content through social channels - you also need to actively participate in the life of the community. Have a Twitter account? Then join group discussions with relevant hashtags. Does your audience leave comments on your Facebook posts? Answer questions and connect with your readers. Nothing distracts people faster than using social media as your broadcast channel - use social media as intended and connect with your fans.
21. Submit your content to aggregator sites
First, a disclaimer - don't spam Reddit and other similar sites in the hopes of hitting the jackpot in referral traffic because that won't happen. Members of communities like Reddit are unusually quick-witted for spam disguised as legitimate links, but from time to time it doesn't hurt to post links that this audience will find really useful. Select the appropriate subreddit, submit your content and watch the traffic flow.
22. Incorporate video into your content strategy
Text content is good, but video can be a valuable asset both for attracting new visitors and increasing the appeal of your site. The data shows that content retention is significantly higher for visual content than for text, which means that video marketing is a great way to attract - and retain - your audience's attention while increasing traffic to your website.
23. Study the competition
If you haven't used software like BuzzSumo to find out what your competitors are doing, you are at a very disadvantage. These services combine the social performance of specific sites and content so you can see at a glance which topics resonate with readers and, most importantly, spread across social media. Find out what people are reading (and talking about) and simulate such content to drive traffic to your site.
24.
Hosting Webinars People love to learn, and webinars are a great way to share your knowledge with an eager audience. Combined with an effective social media campaign, webinars are a great way to increase traffic to your website. Send an email about a week in advance or a “last opportunity to sign up” reminder the day before your webinar. Be sure to archive your presentation for later viewing and promote your webinars widely on social media. If you're wondering how to host a webinar, check out the tutorials for some tips.
25. Attend conferences
Whatever industry you work in, chances are there are at least one or two major conventions and conferences that are relevant to your business. Attending these events is a good idea - speaking even better at them. Even a decent halfway speech is a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and gain significant exposure for your site.
Well that's it for today's post. If you have your own tips for increasing traffic to your website, I'd love to hear them.
