Once you’ve developed a website, the next step is to generate traffic and build an online presence. However, this is often easier said than done, as it requires knowledge of digital marketing to be accomplished effectively. Of course, you can probably guess where this is going…
You’re in the right place! This article discusses seven effective ways to drive traffic to your small business website. After reading this post, you’ll be ready to get started with your digital marketing strategies.
1. Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimizing your website to appease search engine algorithms. SEO is a long-term strategy that tends not to yield tangible growth in the short term; however, when persistently executed correctly, SEO strategy for business can lead to many valuable web visitors and leads.
There are many facets of SEO that can be accomplished on your own or through a marketing agency, which is recommended for best results. For example, keyword research and implementation help search engines connect you with users searching appropriate terms, while backlinking offers you a way to increase domain authority and build a presence on third-party websites.
By increasing domain authority and satisfying the parameters outlined by search engines, such as low bounce rate and fast page load, you increase the chances of your website appearing in front of web users.
Related Page: Search Engine Optimization Services
2. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing (SMM) is the practice of leveraging social media platforms, their algorithms, and their user base to generate interest in your website. There are two types of SMM to consider: paid and organic, both of which have benefits and drawbacks.
Organic SMM relies on word of mouth. Generally, marketers generate attention to their social media posts using relevant hashtags, creating trend-based content, and manipulating algorithms. If executed correctly, organic SMM marketing is a highly effective marketing method that doesn’t break the bank.
On the other hand, as the name suggests, paid SMM tends to involve pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, which we’ll discuss more in the next point.
3. Pay-Per-Click Advertising
As the name suggests, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is where you pay a small fee whenever people click on your advertisement. PPC ads are targeted based on demographics like age and gender, and interests. As a result, targeting options vary depending on which platform you’re using.
For example, Reddit Ads allow you to target specialist communities, while Meta Business lets you target broader interests such as books or reading. This means that PPC ads are great for finding the right kind of people. However, they often yield more impressions than conversions.
This is because PPC ads are very clearly promotional and inorganic. In terms of social media, users tend to engage more with organic and user-generated content. Nevertheless, PPC ads are an excellent way to build brand awareness.
Related Article: Is PPC Dead? + 10 Best Alternatives to Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
4. Build a Mailing List
When you think of mailing lists, your mind is likely cast back to the early days of the internet, before the eruption of social media. However, mailing list marketing is just as prominent today, if not more, than it was previously, with 89% of marketers using it as their primary channel of lead generation.
It’s no wonder that mailing lists are such an effective tool for lead generation, as they require users to actively sign up and choose to receive emails. Each newsletter that you send can link back to your website. For example, you might offer your newsletter subscribers an exclusive discount, incentivizing them to visit your website.
Mailing lists have evolved from template emails offering little aesthetic enjoyment to a vibrant form of digital marketing. In fact, there are several platforms that allow users to create a blog and mailing list in one, such as Substack and Medium. This enables content to be recycled without losing its efficacy.
Related Article: How to Use an SMTP Mail Server to Send Emails in WordPress
5. Guest Posting
As the name suggests, guest posting is where you post an article to a third-party website to generate a link that points to your own website. Not only does that link help to generate more traffic to your website, but it also signals to search engines that your site is credible, which helps it to appear higher in search results. As a result, guest posting is a highly beneficial marketing tool.
There are a few things to consider when guest posting, however. For example, there’s little point in posting to a website with low domain authority and poor standing with search engines. Doing so will yield few results and possibly reduce your own credibility.
What’s more, guest post websites tend to charge fees that aren’t necessarily worth the reward. Consequently, it’s spending some time networking with blog and website owners to find yourself some free placements.
6. Blog Posts
Not a far cry from guest posting, creating blog posts is an excellent way to drive organic traffic to your website by leveraging search engine optimization (SEO) tactics. For example, if you write a blog post that contains a frequently searched keyword, it’s likely to find an audience among those who search that term.
In order to appear in search engine algorithms and appear in front of web users, there are several things to consider when writing blog articles. As well as including relevant keywords, you should ensure that you use H1, H2, and H3 tags; you must also be sure to write high-quality and valuable content; otherwise, your bounce rate will increase.
Making these considerations is often easier said than done. Thankfully, there are several SEO-focused blog writing tools available, such as Surfer SEO, Jasper.ai, and SEMrush. We recommend that you investigate these tools, as they can drastically improve your output.
Related Article: 7 Free Keyword Research Tools for SEO in 2023
7. Traditional Advertising
Nowadays, traditional advertising might seem like a fruitless venture reserved for big corporations. However, traditional advertising can still be an extremely effective method of driving traffic to your website. In fact, there are several avenues of traditional advertising you can use, from print to broadcast.
The obvious drawback of traditional advertising is that there are no links for people to click, which means they have to go out of their way to access your website. As a result, you must ensure that your message is clear and enticing while your website domain is easily memorable.
If, however, you are able to get people to visit your website, they’re more likely to dwell and potentially convert, as they’ve had to invest their time in exploring your business. Of course, traditional advertising isn’t for every company. For example, if you’re a digital marketing agency, your best bet is to keep it online.
Digital Marketing From Idea Maker
If you’re looking to drive traffic to your website but don’t want the hassle that comes with marketing, look no further than Idea Maker. At Idea Maker, we have a team of digital marketing experts ready to optimize your website and increase its exposure. Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn more.
