The pandemic has disrupted many industries and has forced companies to do business in ways they would have never imagined possible. One of the most important trends being observed is how companies and individuals are going online in record amounts.
According to a recent study from the PEW Research Center, 87 percent of Americans believe the internet has been important to them during the pandemic. This has created an extraordinary opportunity for businesses to capitalize on and capture a new web audience to engage with.
Increasing web traffic is possible with the right digital marketing strategy. Keep reading this guide to discover the best tactics for increasing organic web traffic and learn how it can help grow your business today.
1. Create Valuable Content
The single most important factor business leaders need to realize is that consumers are attracted to value. The perceived value can come in a few different forms, such as:
- Better prices
- Superior knowledge
- Improved experiences
It may be impossible for some to improve monetary value (better prices). However, you can always improve the customer experience as well as provide first-in-class knowledge to users.
The best way to go about this is by building a blog and creating content that visitors will find value in. Companies are seeing impressive returns on their investments regarding blogging, as 55 percent of marketing professionals are now saying that blogging is their top marketing priority.
It can be a challenge for companies to produce consistent, high-quality articles for users, with the demands of running a business taking priority. If you’re looking to increase web traffic but don’t have the time to create the content your consumers deserve, consider using an SEO company to help get you started with SEO services.
2. Optimize Content for Search
Creating a blog is only half the battle. You’ll also need to make the blog visible and accessible to users who will be viewing it. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a significant factor when it comes to increasing organic web traffic.
What do most people do when they are looking for information? They google it. According to several studies, at least 90 percent of adults online will utilize search engines when looking for information. Basically, if your company isn’t visible on the internet, consumers won’t be able to find you and will go elsewhere with their business.
Keywords are a critical factor for search engine optimization (SEO) as they will be what connects your business to the consumer. It’s best to consider what keywords people will be using when searching for things that relate to your business.
For example, if you own a local hardware store, what would people be looking for when going to your business?
They would most likely be looking for parts, tools, or other accessories to build projects or fix something. If you’re looking to increase web traffic, you can create engaging content around these products. To engage users, consider writing articles like “how to build a patio.”
How-to videos are a great way to engage users and capture additional web traffic. You can also consider writing articles explaining different products and how they work to increase your web visibility.
3. Promote Content on Social Media
If you’re not using social media for your business yet, you’re missing out on a massive opportunity to promote your content and create lasting relationships with potential consumers. Social media has grown into a marketplace for businesses to connect with users and promote themselves.
However, the challenging part is relating to consumers and sparking their interest to connect with them. Social media marketing is a beast all in itself and is unique compared to other forms of marketing. It takes the right mix of creativity, engagement, and value to spark the user’s interest and get them involved with the brand. You don’t want to come off as a salesman on social media, or nobody will follow you.
It’s best to find a good mix of selling and engaging, as users can be skeptical of businesses on social media. The problem doesn’t necessarily lie with social media itself, but more to do with the information shared on the platform. According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, social media is the least trusted source of information, especially in the United States and European Union.
4. Enhance Website Performance
Your business’s website’s performance can play a significant role in how well your website ranks in search engines. Google regularly updates its algorithm to produce the most relevant search results for its users, and recently they have focused on site speed as a ranking factor.
Website performance also plays a vital role in the user experience. Visitors don’t want to wait any longer than they have to for a website to load. Google mentions how over half of visitors will abandon a website if the site takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
Luckily, there are a few basic adjustments you can make to improve the performance of your website, including:
- Optimizing images
- Using a CDN
- Minimizing Java usage
- Compress images & files
- Enable caching
- Utilize lazy loading
Images and java files are known to slow down websites and cause delays in loading times. Compressing them and making sure they are optimized is one of the quickest ways to improve site speed. There are several free tools and resources online to help you get started.
Another thing to keep in mind is your website’s design, as it can also play a critical role in website speed. Implementing a responsive web design can result in increased web traffic arising from an improved search engine ranking. The responsive design will ensure the content on your website loads correctly on any device, no matter the screen size.
Thinking About Increasing Web Traffic for Your Business?
The benefits of increasing web traffic to your business’s website are second to none. As the world is turning more digital every day, the importance of having an internet presence cannot be overstated. Building a website and optimizing it for search can provide companies with much more than just a place to sell – it’s like building a digital highway to your business.
If you’re serious about increasing web traffic to your business, check out our website for free tools and resources to help you start!