Want More Website Traffic? Tend to Your Garden…

I received a Facebook message from an old colleague today asking me how to get more hits on a Website.  She already tried using Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Buzz and consumer reports, but was curious if I had any ideas to quickly increase traffic.

[Excuse while I press pause.]  Sure, there are some ways to get a spike in traffic to your Website.  Why is this important?  Social networking is a great way to build your credibility, increase awareness and get found in searches because you are producing more content, which all lead to more traffic to your site.  And the visitors will be more qualified leads that are familiar with what you offer. Then, if your Website is good, and you know how to convert leads into sales, you can Twitter your way to the bank.  Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen overnight.  It takes time and consistency (I am tempted to use a garden metaphor – like how you have to sow the seeds, water, hoe and weed, then it will sprout and grow into a giving tree – but I’ll spare you the cheese and save myself from being labeled as cliché).

[Ok, un-pause.]  This is not the first time someone has asked me about how to increase website traffic; in fact, I am often asking the same question and testing new ideas.  While there is not a one-size-fits-all answer, here are a few strategies we implement at Bolt that consistently produce results for our clients:

1. Blogging and micro-blogging.  The search engine crawlers are more likely to find you when update content on your Website.  A company blog not only keep your content fresh, it also allows your customers or prospects to get to know you.  Pair the blog with Twitter (a micro-blog) to let others know about your blog by posting links to it.  Just make sure you utilize Twitter to engage with others and share helpful information to establish your credibility.  Each tweet is searchable; so incorporate your key words in tweets to be found by your target audience.
2. Public Relations.  The more articles and blogs that mention your business’ name, the more likely it is that you will be found.  Plus editorial coverage lends third party credibility.  People are more likely to believe someone else saying how great you are, than when you toot your own horn.  Through Twitter, you can let your followers know about the article.  If you are a brand new business, launching a new product, or relatively unknown, public relations is the solution to credible exposure.
3. E-zines, wikis, Squidoo. By publishing your own content that is informative and of some value to your audience, you can be a respected resource.  Sharing your knowledge ultimately helps sell your business.  Good previews always make me want to pay the $12 to see the whole movie.  Readers will want to click on your Website to find out more.  Also, the more content you produce, increases the amount of positive information available online about you.
4. YouTube.  Video is highly searchable and more entertaining than an article (depending on the quality and content).  If you are targeting Generation Y or anyone with Y-like tendencies, YouTube videos are a must.  The site, now owned by Google, is the go-to search engine for many.  Need ideas for videos? Interview your customers (testimonials), give a quick tip (portrays expertise) or do a virtual tour of your company and let employees say their favorite parts of their jobs (show positive work environment).

There are, of course, many other ways to bolster Website visitors (I’ve discussed a few in previous posts), but these are four strategies that I have experience implementing and feel confident recommending.  If you are hungry for more information or want to share your best practices, feel free to leave a comment here, send me an email to anne@boltpr.com, or tweet me @boltbuzz108.