How do I increase traffic to my website?

As digital marketing has developed, so has the understanding of how to measure the popularity of websites or individual pages.

But it’s not just a question of how many people have visited the site, it’s also:

• The average number of page views per visitor
• How long visitors remained on the page
• How many pages they have viewed
• Busy periods
• The route visitors take around the website

While web traffic is not the be all and end all of how your business will perform, it is a great starting point in determining your website’s visibility and its popularity.

Here are 7 simple ways to boost your own website’s traffic without having to become an SEO expert.

1.Make sure your site is responsive and mobile friendly

Today, more and more people use mobile devices to access the web so if they cannot easily navigate your site, they will go elsewhere and therefore not stay on your site very long. Ensure comfortable viewing across all platforms to keep visitors scrolling and clicking through your pages. 

2. It’s all about being social

Your content may be fantastic but that isn’t enough to ensure visitors will find it. You need to be proactive when it comes to your website and you need to use social media outlets to promote your content. Twitter is ideal for providing intriguing links but for more image-heavy content, Instagram and Pinterest are ideal. 

BUT don’t forget social media is a two-way street so you need to actively participate in your network and the wider community. You need to like, share, join group discussions with the relevant hashtags and answer questions. 

3. Never underestimate the power of video

Engaging text is vital and it naturally is the best way for Google to be able to rate your site and find you through SEO and long-tail keywords. However, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world and is owned but the largest – Google. Video is highly shareable and doesn’t just have to be used on your website – you can use it on social media and newsletters too.

4. Blogs and guest blogs

Blogging is an excellent way to create content that is SEO-rich with long-tail keywords that help customers find you. But your content needs to be readable; people need to find it and be engaged enough to click and read it. Blogs should not be salesy. They need to be informative (like this one) so people can share them. 

As well as writing for your own site, offer to write for someone else’s if you have an area of expertise and likewise, get guests to blog on yours. They will share links and market the blog for you through their own network.

5. Post content on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is not just a device to use when you’re searching for a new job. These days, it is so much more. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional social network and posting regularly, including links to your website, will make people more aware of your name and your brand making them want to find out more. 

6. Email marketing is very effective

It isn’t all about content marketing. Traditional methods are still sometimes the most effective. There’s no need to bombard people with emails about every new product, piece of news or business update. However, once in a while, a single piece of succinct, eye-catching and direct email marketing can significantly increase your web traffic. By nature, we as humans are curious. Pique that curiosity!

7. Advertise

Social media advertising, display advertising and paid adverts are all excellent ways to get your brand recognised and in front of people, so they visit your website. By displaying your ads in competitive space, it is a great way to expose your company’s name to a larger audience.

Cover image by DaKub from Pixabay