How Do I Increase Traffic On My Website?
February 29, 2008
(This is a reprint of the eletter, Cordelia’s Tech Tips from Cordelia Blake Web Design that went out on Feb 15, 2008)
Tell People About It – Tell people about your website electronically, in print and in person. You can send out press releases regarding your online presence as well as including information and links on brochures, business cards, alumni websites, business organization sites, sales presentations, emails, etc…
Put Resource Material On The Site - any information or articles that are useful to your visitors will increase your hits and may improve your search engine ranking. When people view your site as a source of information that will help them, they will be repeat visitors and send others there as well.
Search Engine Listing – There are two types, paid and unpaid. With a paid listing you use a service such as Google Sponsored Links to drive traffic to your site. Depending on how narrow your niche is, this can be very effective. In addition, having your site listed as a top response to search engine inquiries is useful. Optimizing your site for search engines involves such activities as including content that is rich in key words, updating your site regularly, and having as much related content as possible.
Eletter – If you have something valuable to say – something that is not sales oriented then you may be ready for an eletter. It is important that this be mostly informational. People sniff out self-serving drivel and do not like it-a little information about your product or services is ok, but the majority of the content must be relevant and interesting on its own. If your situation merits it or if you are in particular popular industries, you can pay for a newsletter service or hire someone to write it for you.
Blogging – Blogging is a two-way street. You can increase traffic to your website by making pertinent comments on other people’s blogs with a link back to your site or your blog in the signature line. Having your own blog can be a fabulous way to increase traffic to your site, but only if you are interested in writing one, keeping it updated regularly and promoting it. If not, it is better just to comment on other blogs and link back to your website.
Increase Your Internet Presence – It’s all about googling yourself. Prospective and current customers are googling your company name and your personal name regularly. Tricks for increasing your internet presence include commenting on blogs, writing book reviews on Amazon or keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date. Leave links back to your website every time you comment on anything online. If you have a common name, consider altering it a little by using your middle initial or name and then change your business cards and website accordingly. Do not comment on anything or do anything online in your name that will reflect badly on your business identity or that you do not want your clients to know. It is all searchable.
Summary – When planning your strategy for increasing traffic to your website, it is important to keep in mind your natural talents, the ways that customers choose someone in your field, and the amount of time that you have to invest. Once you have looked at all of these, you will be better able to pick and choose the right marketing options for you. As part of your total marketing plan, increasing your visibility online will increase the number of people who know about you and are likely to think of you when the time comes to purchase your service or product.
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Additional Resources
Ted Demopolous is an expert on internet presence and blogging. He has a useful, easy to read, and free ebook called, “Effective Internet Presence” which will teach you tons. Some of his sites:
Effective Internet Presence
Blogging For Business
Michael Katz is the owner of Blue Penguin Development and is an expert on eletters. He will give you free advice in his own eletter or you can hire him to help you create yours.
Blue Penguin Development
Blog Sites (Free or low cost)
Typepad
Wordpress
Internet Presence
Amazon – View Cordelia’s Amazon Profile
LinkedIn – View Cordelia’s LinkedIn Profile
Sponsored Search Engine Results
Google
Yahoo
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