SEO Strategies, Tips, and Tricks
How to Increase Traffic to Your Website in 2023 (6 Proven Tactics & 20 Tools)
Trying to Increase Traffic To Your Website Can Be Frustrating
You’ve spent a lot of time and money making a beautiful website, writing content, taking new team and product photos, crafting the perfect “About Us” page, and sweating every detail, only to realize that hardly anyone is visiting your website. That’s frustrating. How do you increase traffic to your website? All of your hard work, meetings, decisions, and money spent haven’t produced the results you were hoping for and expecting.
Or maybe you’ve hit a plateau while increasing your website traffic or you’re simply exploring new ways to drive more traffic to you, then this article is for you
You need a plan to increase traffic to your website. Most highly trafficked websites didn’t happen by accident.
“If you build it, they will come”, no longer applies to launching a website because there are over 200 new websites created every minute, which adds up to around 288,000 new websites launched worldwide every day. Just having a website is no longer enough. You simply can’t launch it and forget it and hope to gain traffic.
Why is increasing traffic to your website important?
More people equals more leads, which leads to more sales. Having a steady and consistent amount of targeted website traffic is crucial for your business. “Traffic” is simply how many people (also called visitors or sessions) you have coming to your site to learn about you and what you have to offer. The more traffic you get, the more people will discover your brand, products, and services.
Another reason consistent traffic is important is that search engines take website traffic (and other statistics) into consideration when ranking your site in their search results.
As you can see, it’s worth the time to attract and drive more people to your website.
So how do I get more traffic and visitors to my website?
If you follow the high-level steps outlined below, you’ll build a strong online presence with digital marketing that will help your website get found, stand out, and connect with potential customers which will generate more leads and ultimately more sales.
In this article, we'll show you the most common reasons why you might not be getting enough traffic to your website and provide seven actionable tactics to help you get more people to find you. Whether you're a blogger, business owner, or just looking to get more people to your website, this blog post is for you!
You deserve more traffic and have the people that are searching for your products and services find you so read on, and we’ll show you how to improve your website and increase your visitors, which will grow your business.
Six Proven Methods to Increase Website Traffic
1. How to Increase Traffic To Your Website with SEO
Search engine optimization is essential for attracting visitors to your website and ranking higher on SERPs (search engine results pages) in organic searches. The higher a website or page appears in the search results; the more likely people are to visit it. This will lead to an increase in traffic to the website, which will in turn lead to more leads, conversions, and sales.
If your website is not on the first page of results (within the top 10), you’re essentially invisible for that keyword since 91% of searchers don’t go past the first page. So, you can see how important SEO is.
How to optimize for SEO
Research the most searched for keywords for your product or service
It’s essential that you know what keywords (and phrases) people are actually searching for so you can add these keywords to your SEO plan and content.
Keep in mind that each product or service may have its own unique keywords.
Pro Tip: Don't assume you know what people are searching for, always check.
Do keyword research using the tools below to discover which keywords are used the most and how difficult it will be for you to rank for them. In heavily competitive industries, it may be best to target less competitive keywords or target long-tail phrases. Long-tail keywords are more specific and less common than other keywords. Think of them as focusing more on a niche rather than the entire pie.
Four Paid & Free Tools for Keyword Research:
- Google Keyword Planner (Free)
- SEMRush (Paid)
- AHREFS (Paid)
- MOZ Keyword Explorer - Free up to 10 queries/mo.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider Tool - Free & Paid
Integrate those keywords throughout your website
Naturally, add those keywords to your page titles, H1 page headers, meta descriptions, content, and URLs. Don’t keyword stuff! Just let add the keywords to your content as you would naturally speak or type. Quality is more important than quantity.
Set up Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that can help website owners monitor and maintain their website's performance in Google search results. It provides valuable insights into how a website is performing, identifies technical issues, and helps to improve mobile usability and website security.
By submitting sitemaps and URLs to Google using Search Console, website owners can help Google discover and index new content on their website faster. Google Search Console is an important tool to improve your website's visibility and reputation in Google search results.
2. How to Increase Traffic To Your Website with Backlinks
Building backlinks is important to increasing your website traffic because it can help improve your website's rankings on search engines. When other websites link back to your website, it tells search engines that your website is valuable and should be ranked higher in search results.
Search engines use complex algorithms to determine which websites to show in search results, and backlinks are one of many factors they consider. When a website with a high domain authority (DA) links to your website, it can boost your own website's DA and improve your search engine rankings.
Additionally, backlinks can help drive traffic directly to your website.
Note that not all backlinks are created equal. Backlinks from high-quality, relevant websites are more valuable than backlinks from low-quality, unrelated sites. It's also important to build backlinks naturally and not use any spammy tactics that will harm your website's reputation and search engine rankings.
Overall, building high-quality backlinks can be an effective strategy for increasing website traffic and improving your website's search engine rankings.
3. How to Increase Traffic To Your Website with Content
Website content is "king" because it plays a crucial role in driving traffic, engagement, and conversions to your website. Content is the main reason people visit websites - they are looking for information, solutions to problems, or just entertainment.
Quality website content will attract more visitors, establish your brand's authority and credibility, and persuade visitors to take desired actions such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or subscribing to a newsletter.
Search engines also prioritize fresh, frequent, high-quality, and relevant content in their search results, which can help you rank higher and get more traffic.
You should use a variety of content types including blog posts, videos, infographics, etc, and target them around what your audience is searching for. Don’t forget to naturally integrate your keywords throughout your content (see point 1, optimize for SEO).
Website content is king because it not only informs and engages visitors but also attracts search engines, which in turn drives traffic, leads, and sales.
16 Ideas for Types of Content to Add to Attract Traffic
- Blog posts relating to your product or service
- How-tos, tutorials, guides, and tips
- Listicles such as top 10 lists and lists of related items
- Create engaging videos and video stories
- Infographics
- Guest blogging
- Customer testimonials and reviews
- Images and photo galleries
- News and announcements
- Conduct an interview
- Contests and giveaways
- Publish industry headlines and news
- Take advantage of trending topics
- Do an unboxing video
- Link to external content
- Holidays
4. How to Increase Traffic To Your Website with Social Media
Did you know that billions of people use social media and the average person spends 2 ½ hours every day on it? That statistic alone should convince you that you need to be using social to increase visitors to your business and website.
The key benefits of using social media include:
- Increased visibility and brand awareness for your brand and products or services
- Improved engagement with your customers. Use it to answer their questions, receive feedback in real time, and build stronger relationships with them.
- Link building to your website and it can help with SEO
- Post articles, blogs, videos, and more with teasers that draw them back to your website whenever possible
- Connect with your audience, responding to questions and comments
- Use hashtags in your posts that target your specific audience
- Include calls to action that prompt your users to do something such as links to your website, signups, encourage likes, etc.
5. How to Increase Traffic To Your Website with Email Marketing
Email newsletters are a great way to connect with your audience directly and more personally than social media. By sending targeted and personalized emails, you can attract visitors, promote your brand, and increase engagement on your website.
Sending emails also helps you stay in people's minds. By sending regular emails, you can remind people about your website and the awesome content you have there. You can personalize your emails based on a customer's interests, making it more likely they'll want to click through to your website.
Another way email marketing can help increase traffic to your website is by segmenting your email list. This means you can send targeted messages to specific groups of subscribers based on their interests, up-sell opportunities, or behavior. With email targeting, you can increase engagement and conversion rates, since people are more likely to click through to your site if they receive an email that's customized to their interests.
Plus, email marketing allows you to include clear calls-to-action in your messages, directing subscribers to your website or specific landing pages. This can increase traffic and conversions, as people are more likely to take action when they're given a clear direction.
Finally, email marketing is a cost-effective way to promote your website. It requires minimal investment and can generate high returns, making it a great option for your business.
Here are 10 ideas for building an email list
- Create a lead magnet - Offer your website visitors a valuable resource, such as an e-book, a guide, or a free course, in exchange for their email address. This can entice people to join your list and give them a taste of what you have to offer.
- Host a webinar or event - Host a webinar or event on a topic related to your niche and ask people to sign up with their email address to participate. This can help you attract new subscribers and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.
- Add opt-ins on your website - Add opt-in forms to your website, such as pop-ups, slide-ins, or header bars. Make sure the forms are visible and a compelling benefit to joining your list.
- Use social media - Promote your lead magnet or offer on social media and include a link to your opt-in page. This can help you reach a wider audience and attract new subscribers.
- Use paid advertising to promote your lead magnet or offer - Use paid advertising on social media platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram, to promote your lead magnet or offer. This can help you reach a targeted audience and attract new subscribers.
- Add a signup link in your email signature - Include a link to your sign up page in your email signature, so that every time you send an email, people have the opportunity to join your list.
- Run a contest or giveaway - Host a contest or giveaway and ask people to sign up with their email address for a chance to win. This can help you attract new subscribers and generate buzz around your brand.
- Offer a discount - Offer a discount code or coupon to people who sign up for your email list. This can incentivize people to join and give them a reason to make a purchase.
- Use referral marketing - Offer an incentive, such as a discount or freebie, to current subscribers who refer new people to your list. This can help you attract new subscribers through word-of-mouth.
- Offer a free trial or demo - If you offer a product or service, offer a free trial or demo in exchange for the visitor's email address. This can help you attract new subscribers who are interested in your product or service.
6. How to Increase Traffic To Your Website with Paid Advertising
Paid advertising (also known as PPC or pay-per-click advertising) is the fastest way to increase traffic and attract customers to your website. It's a great tool because it enables you to target specific audiences, demographics, and more and allows you to reach buyers when they're ready to buy.
With paid advertising, you get more granular control over who you target, how much you spend, and your messaging, which allows you to maximize your results.
Here are some reasons why you might want to use paid advertising:
- You can target your specific audience: With paid advertising, you can target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors of your ideal audience. This means you can reach people who are likely to be interested in your product or service, which can increase the chances of them clicking to go to your website.
- You can see results faster: Paid advertising can generate traffic to your website quickly. You can set up a campaign and start seeing results within hours or days.
- You can measure the effectiveness of your campaigns: Paid advertising platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads provide detailed analytics that allows you to measure the performance of your campaigns. This means you can track your progress, adjust your strategy as needed, and get a better understanding of the return on your investment.
- You can control your budget: Paid advertising allows you to control your budget and set limits on how much you spend. This means you can experiment with different campaigns and strategies to find what works best for your business without overspending.
- You can increase brand awareness: Paid advertising can also help increase brand awareness by exposing your brand to a wider audience. Even if someone doesn't click on your ad, they may still remember your brand and consider it in the future.
Bonus: 20 Tools to Help You Increase Traffic To Your Website
Here's a list of tools to help you increase traffic to your website, both free and paid. You can get a lot of valuable information to help guide you to improve your website's performance, search engine optimization, social media engagement, and more.
Analytics / Reporting Tools
-
Google Analytics - Free
Track visitors, bounce rates, traffic sources and so much more.
-
Google Search Console - Free
Google Search Console (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is a free service that allows you to monitor, manage, and optimize your website's presence in Google search results.
-
Matomo - Paid
Google Analytics alternative that protects your data and your customers' privacy
Web Page Speed & Testing Tools
-
Google Page Speed Insights - Free
Website load times matter for your Google rankings and Google PageSpeed Insights is a great tool that analyzes your website's performance and provides suggestions to improve the speed and user experience of the site.
-
GT Metrix - Free
See how your site performs, reveal why it's slow, and discover optimization opportunities.
-
Pingdom - Free
Analyze your website load speed and make your site faster by identifying what is fast, slow, too big, and more.
-
Google Mobile Friendly Test - Free
Test how easily a visitor can use your page on a mobile device.
SEO Tools
-
Google Search Console - Free
Google Search Console (formerly Google Webmaster Tools) is a free service that allows you to monitor, manage, and optimize your website's presence in Google search results.
-
Bing Webmaster Tools - Free
Get your site's performance data, take advantage of free SEO tools, and analyze insights to improve your page rankings on Bing search results.
-
Google Optimize - Free
Google Optimize is a free website optimization tool that allows you to create and run A/B tests, experiments, and personalize website content for better user engagement and conversion.
-
SEMRush - Paid
All-in-one collection of 55 tools to help you improve your SEO and rankings plus many other tools.
-
AHREFs - Paid
Ahrefs is an all-in-one SEO toolset for growing search traffic and optimizing websites. Ahrefs crawls the web, stores tons of data and makes it accessible via a simple user interface.
User Testing & Experience Tools
-
Microsoft Clarity - Free
Microsoft Clarity is a free web analytics tool that gives you insights into how users interact with your site through click tracking, scroll tracking, and heatmaps to optimize the user experience and website performance.
-
HotJar - Paid
Hotjar is a behavior analytics and user feedback tool that provides website owners with insights into how users interact with their site, allowing them to optimize user experience and increase conversions.
-
Crazy Egg - Paid
Understand the customer journey with snapshots, heatmaps and recordings.
-
User Testing - Paid
Get real feedback on your website and user experiences
-
VWO - Paid
An experimentation platform to run A/B tests on your website, apps and products.
-
Optimizely - Paid
Create content that wows, run experiments at scale, and power your commerce business — all with the world’s leading and fully-composable Digital Experience Platform.
Accessibility Testing Tools & Features
Conclusion
Let's kickstart your website's traffic today! These are the steps and tools we've successfully used with our own clients time and time again. By following these tips, you'll definitely see an increase in traffic over time. So, don't give up!
Keep pushing forward and try experimenting with different strategies to see what works best for your site.
Remember, analysis is key - track your progress and adjust your approach accordingly. With persistence and determination, you're sure to see the results you're after.