Your new website is live and you wait for your first customer. A day goes by but no one arrives. Then a week. Then a month.
Where is all the website traffic you were promised?
Every website needs quality visitors but how do you bring them in? Do you have to pay them to come? Or can you do it for free?
This article explains how to get traffic to your website.
We look at essential techniques like search engine optimization and marketing. You’ll discover free traffic sources you never considered like social media. And find out if email and direct marketing are still the best traffic sources in 2020.
Read on to learn 5 different methods of getting traffic to your site that you can convert into paying customers.
1. Search Engine Optimization
SEO simply means making your website as Google-friendly as possible so it ranks well for search phrases.
You don’t pay to have your website listed in these Google listings called organic traffic. And if you rank well, it can provide thousands of clicks for free (unlike Google Ads, which we’ll discuss shortly).
There are 3 types of SEO: on-site, on-page and off-site. And they all begin with keyword analysis.
Keyword Analysis
Keywords are the search words or phrases your visitors enter into Google to find your site.
It’s essential you identify what keywords you want to rank well for. All of your copy/text content, images, and hidden data will focus on these terms.
So where do you begin?
First, make a list of all your products and services you promote on your website. Then use keyword tools like WordTracker to view their marketing traffic.
Some tools are free but have a limited amount of searches until you need to pay. Google Keyword Planner is Google’s own app but you need to sign up to Google Ads to use it. That’s free but puts off first-time users.
On-Page SEO
On-page optimization refers to editing the individual pages on your website to increase your Google ranking.
Optimizing for Google covers a range of factors including editing content, titles, and metadata. The text should include your keywords but in a natural way. Remember, Google wants to see great content, not spam.
Also, consider your web page address or URL.
Google prefers URLs like yoursite.com/mountain-bike instead of yoursite.com/?id=32384. Your website software should do this automatically but you may need assistance from a WordPress specialist.
On-Site SEO
This version of optimization centres on your website as a whole.
Navigation links form the basis of good on-site SEO. So make sure all your internal links work and that they make sense. And make sure the process of filling out the contact form or making payments is as easy as possible to increase your conversion rate.
Also be sure to check your website speed, as Google now marks slow websites down. And always ensure it’s mobile-friendly. You’ll soon discover that most web searches are done via a mobile device!
Off-Site SEO
Off-site activities link to your website but aren’t controlled by your site. Other high-ranking blogs, comments, bookmarking etc. all fall into that category along with social media and SEM.
The rest of this article focuses on gaining Internet traffic sources using off-site means.
2. Search Engine Marketing
Paid web traffic sources like SEM fall under the banner of pay-per-click or PPC.
Google Ads offers websites the opportunity to appear above their organic search listings. And businesses only have to pay when a visitor clicks on their advert.
This proven method of traffic sourcing works because the ads only appear alongside related keyword searches.
A study shows 75% of site visitors believe PPC ads make it easier to find relevant information. And that’s especially true when they want to purchase.
However, managing SEM campaigns isn’t easy.
Calculating click-through rates (CTRs), optimizing ads, split testing etc. can be complex. Seek out an SEM specialist who focuses on bringing the best ROI for your online ads.
3. Social Media
If you think that social media is only for sharing pictures of cats then think again!
Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users with 75% being under 35. If that’s your demographic, then you’ll join the 71% of businesses that use Instagram to drive traffic to their sites.
Of course, don’t forget about Facebook.
Still top of the social media list, Facebook attracts 2.45 billion users each month. The fastest-growing group is now aged 65+. And the majority are high-earners with a larger disposable income.
Both platforms are free to join and post content. Google “Facebook business page” to set up your presence within a few hours.
You can also advertise on social media sites including Twitter and LinkedIn.
Facebook has filters that you can target exactly who you want, including where they live. But try to use the free services first. Then you can build on that success with PPC.
Finally, remember to cross-promote your content with your website. And include social media logos on all your advertising, both online and offline.
4. Email Marketing
Email marketing is just spam, isn’t it?
According to Hubspot, email marketing traffic can see an ROI of 3,800%! And it doesn’t have to cost you a penny.
Email services like MailChimp.com let you send professional emails to under two thousand subscribers for free. You can link your website pages directly within the email and track a customer’s journey.
Segment your email campaigns into categories and see exactly who opens and follows the links. Certainly worth investing time to drive extra traffic to your site.
5. YouTube
Google-owned YouTube combines PPC with social media as one of the best traffic sources.
It’s recognized as the third most popular platform among Internet marketers. Nearly half of their online spend is spent on YouTube alone.
If you want to promote your brand then YouTube can bring a 112% boost in brand recall.
Yes, you’ll need to create a video advert to take full advantage. But Google is currently offering £75 free credit if you spend £25 or more on video ads. And you can host the advert directly on your website to enforce your message.
Get on Top of Traffic Sources
These five traffic sources that bring visitors to your website need time, resources, and skill to tap into. And many businesses need help to boost their rankings and convert sales.
On Top Marketing is a marketing traffic specialist based in Essex with a proven track record.
Our clients see real growth with total number of clicks reaching 753% higher than a year earlier. Our guarantee is that you’ll see more people visit your website or we’ll give you your money back!
We specialize in search engine optimization including eCommerce SEO. So contact us today for a FREE initial quote for your online business.
Get on top of your website traffic with On Top Marketing.