What good is a website if you only get 10 visitors a month to it?
You need a steady flow of visitors if you want your website to work for you, whatever the ultimate goal for it is: getting more sales, supporting a cause, or building a brand.
Of course you can advertise to get people to your website, using Google AdWords or Facebook ads. But there are many (almost) free ways to get traffic.
I will mention a few of them in this column.
Write articles
You can write articles and then post them on other people’s blogs (many welcome guest posts), in social media (ask people to share), or article directories.
Make videos
You can create a short recording of yourself, create a screen capture video (using a free tool like Jing), or create a hangout. There are also many free or inexpensive tools out there that allow you to create slide show-type videos. Don’t know what to put in such a video? You could, for instance, turn one of your guest post articles into a slide show based video!
Join forums
By joining forums, Facebook or Linkedin groups (to name but a few options) you can establish yourself as an authority. And people will check out websites from authorities. Just be helpful in your contributions – don’t try to sell.
Include your URL in your email signature
Adding your website address to your email signature is a great way to get people to visit your online pages. Don’t use email signatures? It’s probably a good idea to start implementing them, especially with the new anti-spam laws (add your address and a way for people to opt out)
Social media
Be active in groups, or on your own social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.). Give tips, ask questions and yes – promote your own website every now and then. Not too often, though – again, it is about being helpful, not about selling from your social media pages.
There are so many ways to get free traffic; these are but a few examples. Hopefully they will get you started in no time at all.
For more information: contact your web developer, or website optimizer Nardo Kuitert at www.asknardo.com or 519-787-7612. Nardo has written the On The Web column on behalf of the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce since 2006.
