Did you know that around seven of 10 small businesses have their own website and that 85% of consumers use the internet to locate local companies?
But one question you need to ponder is if people who want the types of products and services your company sells can find you online. Simply having a website isn’t enough. There are approximately 2 billion — that’s a billion with a “b” — websites on the internet.
So, simply building a website doesn’t necessarily mean consumers will come. You need a way to attract a critical mass of people and then convince them to patronize your online store.
How do you go about accomplishing this? Here are five recommendations.
- Post on Social Media
One way to attract more traffic to your website is by posting on social media. What social media platforms are popular among your target demographic? Once you research and get the answer to that question, you’ll want to set up accounts on those platforms. Focus on connecting with people who fit your target market, invest the time and effort to become a thought leader, and post interesting and useful content. You can include links in your social media posts to direct people to your website.
- Focus On Search Engine Optimization and Marketing
Search engine optimization (SEO) is another essential strategy if your goal is to attract people to your website. SEO is about getting your business a favorable search engine ranking whenever people looking for what your company sells type in queries. A related service is search engine marketing, which will bring in consumers.
It’ll help if you find a service provider that specializes in helping businesses in your neck of the woods. So, for instance, if you live in Long Island, New York look for a digital marketing agency there. You can look online for a Long Island search engine optimization firm or a Long Island search engine marketing firm that helps businesses in the area to find local customers.
- Engage Online
Another way to attract more people to your website is by engaging with prospective customers who fit your target demographic online. You can do so on social media, for instance. Join online groups and forums, connect with people who fit the user personas within your target market, comment on blogs, and participate in discussions about your sector. The goal is to provide information that people find useful. Over time, you’ll build trust. And the people you connect with, engage with, and provide useful information to will form a positive opinion of your business and possibly go on to visit your website.
- Look at the Analytics
Don’t forget to check out the analytics. Google Analytics, a free tool, makes doing so easy. You can look at the data and use what you learn to drive more traffic to your website. If you launch an online marketing campaign, you need to monitor it to see what works and what doesn’t work. Combing over the analytics will give you the ability to do just that. You’ll be able to tweak or overhaul your online marketing efforts as needed.
- Google Ads
Online advertising is also a good idea. Set up a Google Ads account and leverage the power of this online advertising platform. Using Google Ads, you can ensure your website climbs to the top of search results for specific keywords. The good news is that you’ll only end up paying when an online user clicks on your ads.
Are you looking for ways to drive more traffic to your website? With billions of websites in existence, you can’t afford to simply build a website, get it hosted online, and wait for a critical mass of consumers to overwhelm you with sales. Consider the five tips above to reach out to your target demographic and get them to visit your website.
