Today, there are 1.2 billion websites, which means that for every seven people in the world, there’s a website. With so much competition, you’ll need to take specific actions to attract traffic to your website. Here are ten strategies that experienced online marketers use to increase web traffic.
1. Improve Website Speed
Slow-loading sites frustrate visitors and can lead them to leave quickly. Search engines also penalize slow websites. Use free tools like Google’s speed test, Webpage Test, or Pingdom to check your site’s speed and identify areas for improvement. Then, work with your website developer to make the necessary adjustments.
2. Attach a Blog to Your Website
A blog allows you to add fresh content to your site, which can draw in more visitors. According to HubSpot, businesses with blogs receive 3 to 4 times more traffic than those without. Ensure your blog content is relevant and informative, avoiding outright sales pitches. Consider what topics would attract potential customers to your business.
3. Use Proper Keywords
Keywords are the terms people use when searching online. By incorporating relevant keywords naturally into your pages and blog posts, you’ll improve your chances of attracting search engine traffic. Focus on specific keywords related to your business, products, or services to draw in genuinely interested visitors.
4. Share all Your Content on Social Media
Share all types of content, such as blog posts, whitepapers, and videos, on social media. Be active but avoid spamming; don’t post the same blog ten times a day on Twitter, for example. Engage with others by commenting, liking, and sharing their content.
5. Seek Guest Blogging Opportunities
Create original, engaging, and informative content, and then reach out to sites in your industry to publish it. This introduces your business to a new audience. Treat guest blogging as an opportunity to inform rather than advertise, as this builds credibility.
6. Publish an Email Newsletter
Regular newsletters can help drive traffic to your site. Include snippets of your blog posts and links to the full content. Add a “subscribe” box on nearly every page of your website, and encourage your social media followers to subscribe when you release a new issue.
7. Participate in Social Groups
Engage actively in groups on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. Regularly comment or answer questions, but be mindful of each group’s rules regarding posting links.
8. Use a Call-To-Action on Posts
Include a call-to-action at the end of your blog posts to direct readers to other relevant content on your site. The more content a visitor views, the more likely they are to return. Use blog posts to promote longer content like ebooks and whitepapers.
9. Make Optimum Use of Headlines
A compelling headline is crucial for attracting visitors. Take your time crafting attention-grabbing titles for blog posts, videos, and social updates. Headlines are so important that creating or using a title generator tool is worthwhile.
10. Pump up Your Local Listings
If you have a physical location, ensure your business is listed in local directories like Bing Places for Business, Google My Business, Apple Maps, yellow pages sites, and Facebook Places. You can check your listings using free tools from AdviceLocal, Synup, or Moz Local.
Remember, building web traffic is a marathon, not a sprint. Commit to these strategies for the long-term to see sustained results.