“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
This philosophical quote is often used to invoke questions regarding observation and perception…but it can also be applied to online marketing.
If a website is built and no one ever navigates to it…is it really there?
Well, of course it’s there. But does it really matter if it isn’t helping you achieve your marketing goals?
You could have the most elaborate, beautifully-designed website in the world, but if it doesn’t see any traffic, it will ultimately have no impact.
Generating consistent, quality web traffic often feels like a grueling uphill battle for business owners, but there are some tried and true marketing tactics that can make the process easier.
In today’s blog post, we’re breaking down 7 surefire ways to increase traffic to your website.
1.) SEO
Optimizing your website for search engines is the first step in boosting organic traffic.
Make sure your site’s content includes a proper density of keywords and phrases for which your target audience is searching and that image alt text, meta descriptions, and backlinks are being strategically utilized.
Don’t know where to start? Baer Performance Marketing offers free, comprehensive SEO audits that identify problem areas and offer solutions to improve the search ranking and overall performance of your website. Learn more.
2.) SSL Security
The “s” at the end of http (https) means a website is secured. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is an internet communication protocol that protects the integrity and confidentiality of data between the user’s computer and the site.
Search engines, like Google, favor secure (HTTPS) websites—so having an unsecured site could greatly impact your website’s search presence.
If you need help installing an SSL Certificate on your website, contact the web experts at BPM today.
3.) Compelling Blog Headlines
Headlines are often the make-or-break moment for every blog post. If a headline isn’t attention grabbing, blogs are rendered invisible when they come up in a search or through social media.
The writers at BuzzFeed know the importance of a headline and typically compile around 20 separate headlines for every article. At first, the headlines are typically boring and formulaic, but they gradually get better. The digital media company has found that at 18, 19 and 20 is when “the magic happens” and the best headline ideas take shape.
Also, be sure to keep up on the latest web content trends and research, and analyze views and other metrics to continue to improve writing and web traffic.
4.) More Visuals
Visuals—such as images, video, infographics and memes—are proving to be one of the most potent tools in content marketing:
- Articles with images get 94% more views. (Source)
- Facebook posts with images see 2.3X more engagement than those without images. (Source)
- Tweets with images receive 150% more retweets than tweets without images. (Source)
- Infographics can increase web traffic by up to 12%. (Source)
Visuals help people quickly process content and better retain information. They earn more likes, get more shares and ultimately drive more web traffic.
5.) Email Marketing
Email marketing is still one of the most efficient tactics to get a target audience to a website, though, it’s recently become more sophisticated through automation.
There are a wide variety of automated email campaigns being used by businesses to drive web traffic, but some of the more popular include:
- Welcome Emails – Used to nurture new customers or eblast/newsletter subscribers
- Recommendations – Personalized messages recommending products that are curated based on a customer’s browsing and/or purchasing history
- Retargeting – This includes emails reminding customers of an abandoned cart.
6.) Instagram and Facebook Stories
Instagram and Facebook Stories have been growing expeditiously. Instagram Stories alone are used by 500 million users every day, with one-third of the most viewed Stories coming from businesses. And with new features, like shoppable tags and polls, being developed regularly, it’s unlikely the momentum will be slowing down anytime soon.
If Facebook and/or Instagram are a part of your company’s social media strategy, Stories can be a great way to share new blogs and other web content.
7.) Offline Promotion
Always include your web address on receipts, customer invoices and any printed sales collateral. Also, consider promoting online-only coupons, and encourage customers to sign up for eblasts that will further drive traffic to your website.
These seven tactics are by no means an exhaustive how-to manual, but they’re definitely a great place to start. Know, too, that web traffic doesn’t improve overnight. Results require steadfast commitment and consistency. The most effective methods will depend on your industry and customers, and oftentimes, it’s only through trial and error that you’ll find the best practices for your unique business.
