Four Ways To Increase Traffic To Your Website Posted May 16, 2011 by Lisa Strickland | Marketing, Social Media | 0 Comments

Want to increase traffic to your website?

Of course you do. But if you think a website is all you need to create a “traffic jam,” then it’s time to get your head out of the sand.

An electronic billboard alone won’t attract search engines and visitors to your site.

You have to develop a Web presence.

Start with a quick Web presence analysis. In other words, go online and pretend you’re a customer searching for your company.

• Is your website easy to find or is it hidden at the bottom of the search engine heap? Note: entering your company name as a search term doesn’t count.

• Next, compare your website to the competition. Would a customer perceive your company as more (or less?) credible than others in your field?

Chances are, there are aspects of your online marketing in need of improvement.

Here’s how you can increase traffic to your website and begin to develop a Web presence.

Make friends with the search engines

• Register your business with online directories and/or create online profiles with Google, Yahoo! and MSN.  This helps you get noticed by the Big 3.
• Never underestimate the long arm of a press release. Issue one through a service like PRWEB. That is, assuming you have something newsworthy to announce.

Power-up your copy

• Make sure your copy is keyword-rich. But don’t go overboard. Copy that’s too keyword-dense reads like an infomercial. Plus, search engines view that as keyword spamming. Not a good credibility-builder.
• Copy should emphasize the benefits of doing business with you, not just the features of your product or company. Successful online marketing demands fresh, persuasive writing. Hire a copywriter. DIY copy doesn’t get results.

Write a blog

• Most blogs feature relevant content that’s frequently updated. Or cheeky comments like you’ll find on BRAVA Rules. Search engines like blogs because of the regular influx of new content.
• BLOG stands for “Better Listings On Google.” Not sure who first came up with that acronym, but it’s worth remembering.
• A blog facilitates conversation, link building and re-posting of your content by others. Unfortunately, it also invites spammers and content thieves.
• Leave comments on other blogs. This enhances your Web presence.
• Share your expertise. Learn something new from bloggers in your industry. But don’t leave comments just so you can include a link back to your site. That’s one of the oldest tricks in the book. And the fastest way to attain the status of online pariah.

Be sociable

• Start building relationships with customers and others in your industry via social media. Be supportive, conversational and find ways to add value to the community.
• Call attention to your website/blog through social networking sites. You can auto-submit to a gazillion sites at once through a service such as onlywire.com.

Want to start making your company more competitive online? Contact us at bizdev@bravacreativegroup.com.

What techniques have you used to increase site traffic? Please – share your thoughts with the rest of the class.