We all want more traffic to our websites.
More traffic means more sales. Well, almost. It does need to be the “right kind” of traffic. We want people who are potentially going to become clients (Aunty Nora and her friends visiting your website every day is not going to help you – except possibly by spotting typos and incorrect grammar).
Whilst there are other ways of making sales in your business, people are more likely to choose to work with you if they visit your website. Especially if it is strategically built to convert visitors to clients. There’s another benefit to website visits too – you can retarget them through ads or email. There is no downside to getting more website visitors so it is definitely something we want to encourage as much as possible.
But it can be hard to get people to visit your website. Whilst SEO (search engine optimisation aka ranking more highly on Google) is a great tool, sometimes a simpler solution can be effective and we don’t all have the knowledge or the time to SEO our website.
So how do you get more people to your website?
1. Write social media posts directing your audience to your website
Let’s start with the most obvious. When you write a social media post use a “Call to Action” to direct people to your website. This could be a link to a blog you have written, it could be to “find out more” about a service you offer (linking to your website) or of course “click here to buy”. People who already follow you on social media are a relatively “warm” audience and more likely to bite than a cold audience that has never heard of you before. They just need the right prompt. Make it easy for them to go to your website by providing the link in your post.
Some social media platforms (like Facebook and LinkedIn) aren’t keen on sending traffic off their platforms and don’t appear to show your posts to as many people if they contain a link. But these kind of posts are still worth doing from time to time, because people will see them and act on them.
2. Link to your website in Facebook Groups
Facebook groups can be full of your “ideal client” and therefore getting more of these people to your website is really valuable.
Whilst many facebook groups don’t allow you to promote your services, many do have a “promo” day and you should use this to link to your website. It is really quick and easy to do (you just need to look out for these posts) – even better if you comment on other member’s promo posts as they’re more likely to look at yours.
Now you shouldn’t just use the groups to sell your services, you should also engage with people and be active members of their community, but including your website link where you can and it is appropriate is something we would definitely recommend…
3. Include your website link in your social media bios
How many times do you see someone on social media and want to check them out a bit more? Maybe they have commented on someone else’s post and you have wanted to know more. So you might look at some of their posts and then go to their bio, only to find no website link (or if it is a person on facebook no mention of their business at all) and you give up.
Adding your website link to your social media bios is a really quick process and very effective too.
I have probably spent more money with people who I have found through their social media bios than I have with anyone who has ever advertised. I wouldn’t have spent that money if they didn’t have their link in their bio. It is a real quick and easy win.
Check all social media platforms that you’re on. It’s not just Facebook and Instagram that allow you to do this.
4. Post on your personal profile
I believe personal social media is for your personal stuff and your business page/profile is for business (I know some people mix the two and that is fine). But if you are like me, it is worth occasionally posting about your business on your personal profile and including a website link.
In fact, when business could do with a boost I recommend a very direct (and shareable) post explaining what you do and asking if anyone knows someone looking for that if they could forward your details.
You need to get over the worry that nosey parkers who you would rather keep away from your business will see it. Because it will also be seen by many people who have forgotten (or maybe aren’t sure) what you do and when one of their friends is looking for the kind of thing you do they will promote your business for you. Have you gotten business from friends of friends? I have. It is a great recommendation because it comes from a trusted source. So this is not just about driving traffic, but also about driving traffic that is far more likely to buy from you.
5. Include your link on your social media cover image
This is a favourite of the mega stars like Amy Porterfield (usually the page of whatever they are promoting at the time). Again it is quick and easy to do and it must work otherwise they wouldn’t keep on doing it… Right?
6. Add it to your email signature
Do you have an email signature? One that is set up to be automatically included in all your emails? Add your website address (as the full address rather than an icon) – it saves people having to hunt about for it. You can add your favourite social media addresses too. Again it makes it easy for people who want to find out more.
And if you don’t have an email signature (you really should!!) then add what you would include in a clipboard and copy and paste each time
7. Email your list
Do you have an email list? Use it to drive traffic to your website. As well as including your website address in your signature you should also include a link to one of your website pages somewhere in your email. It could be to “find out more”, “buy here”, “read the blog post” or whatever. This is a really good way to drive potential clients who have been following you for a while and know you, back to your website where they can see how you may be able to help them.
8. PR
Guest blogging and articles in the press about you are great ways to drive more traffic to your website. Because both have the benefit of getting you in front of a “cold” audience that may not have come across you before. When I appear in articles I always ask if they’ll include a link back to my website. It doesn’t always happen (and even a mention of your business name is helpful). These links can also be good for SEO (search engine optimisation aka getting found through Google/other search engines) too
9. Use Pinterest
This is a tactic we are just starting with because we have been persuaded of the benefits of Pinterest in terms of driving traffic to our website. People use Pinterest to search for things (both products and services) A LOT. Things which they then go on to buy. Rather than using it to pin pretty pictures (or sharing other people’s pretty pictures) you can pin images with links to your website – blog posts and products are particularly good for this.
How to find out how many people visit your website
How do you know if it is working? Google Analytics is a great FREE tool to check how many people visit your website, which pages they visit, where they come from, etc. If you don’t want to use Google Analytics then there are alternatives like Plausible. Measuring your traffic means that you can see what is working.
These tools allow you to see how much website traffic comes from each source. So you can see which forms of social media are best at driving traffic to your website (and do more of this)
Conclusion
Getting traffic to your website is hard. People are busy and they’re not going to spend time trying to find you. You need to make it obvious and easy to find your website.
Using social media, emails, PR and Pinterest you can drive more people to your website and it is easy to do. Just remember to keep referencing your website (home page or another link) in your posts, bio, cover image, emails, guest blogs and articles. And check out using Pinterest too.
Of course when they get there you need to make sure your website is set up to keep them on there, building the “know, like and trust” factors so they become paying customers. And if you need someone to help with a website that will improve your conversion when they’re there, then book a call to speak to us.