Welcome to ReferralHero, where we have all the pieces to complete your marketing puzzle. With our creative strategies and out-of-the-box thinking, we’ll help you put all the pieces together to find the referrals you need!
There are three new websites created every second. When you start to conceptualize that fact out to the number of websites created every day (252,000), month (7,560,000), or even year (91,980,000!!) it can start to feel like an avalanche of content that your own website can get engulfed in pretty quick.
It doesn't have to be that way, though. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective strategies for attracting people to your website, and keeping them engaged so that clicks turn into sales.
Organic Traffic Techniques
Before we jump into paid techniques, I want to zoom in on organic traffic. 53.3% of website traffic comes from organic search, compared to a mere 15% from paid. Here are a few ways you can bring in organic traffic to your site.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal customer. Think about the kinds of words and phrases they are most likely to search online. Maybe it’s a common problem they’re trying to solve or a product they’re looking to purchase. These are keywords.
Keywords are what search engines use to find the information people are searching for. If the algorithm doesn't see enough of them on your site, it won’t know that you have relevant content.
You can use tools to find common keywords and incorporate them strategically into your site’s content, titles, and meta descriptions.
There are several ways you can optimize your site for search engines beyond keywords, including
- Adding Descriptive Alt Text to Images
- Utilizing Meta Descriptions and Title Tags
- Building High-Quality Backlinks
- Ensuring Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
The search engine algorithm will take all these factors into account when deciding what to show on the first page of search results.
Try Guest Blogging
An excellent way to build up your online presence and get people following links to your site is by writing guest blogs. This is when you create content for someone else’s website, and include links back to your own page.
Finding people within your niche and working with them in this way allows you to expand your reach to their network of followers, as well as build up a reputation for thought leadership. Ensure that the guest blog you write is a unique and high-quality piece of content that will engage readers and leave them wanting more.
Offer Something Instantly Valuable
People are always going to be attracted by freebies, so consider offering something for free that will benefit your audience and promote your business at the same time. This could be a free tutorial, a discount code, or a free trial of your product.
People will be attracted by the chance to learn from you or try out your product before committing to a purchase. If you're really smart, you can find a way to get people to check out your site, and share it with friends to get more of the goodness.
Utilize Social Media
Out of all the time people spend online, 38% of it is spent on social media. This means your ideal customer is probably spending a lot more time checking their Instagram than browsing for new companies to buy from.
The good news is, there are lots of opportunities to turn social media into a funnel for organic traffic to your website. By crafting a memorable and engaging social media presence, you can become a part of your users' lives.
Make sure you’re taking the time to regularly share content, connect with your audience, and use hashtags. Once you have investment from people, you can easily share a link to your site.
Craft a Referral Program
You may think of a referral marketing program as something just to drive sales, but it can also drum up interest in your website and brand as a whole. By offering incentives for people to share your company with their friends and family, you’re revving up to double or triple your site visits.
Some other huge benefits of a referral program include
- Customer Advocacy - Building up social proof gives people more reason to check out your site. After all, all their friends already have!
- Incentives for Referrals - If you offer things like discounts or free merch for referrals, that’s yet another reason to return to your website
- Viral Reach - With so many people talking and creating buzz around your company, there’s always a chance to go viral and see a wave of interest in you and your site
A referral program is one of the most powerful tools in any marketer’s arsenal, no matter what your ultimate goal is.
Email Marketing
If someone is already invested enough in your company to sign up for an email blast, they are far more likely to visit your website organically through a link within said email. Setting up an email marketing funnel allows you to have tons more touchpoints with customers, and gives more opportunities to point them towards your site.
Some options for types of email blasts include
- Promotional Content - Offering discounts and talking about new products will encourage readers to hop over to your website and make a purchase
- Newsletter - Staying in contact with your users and linking from newsletters to other pages on your website boosts chances to visit
Make sure your emails are engaging and only give relevant information, otherwise, you’re likely to end up in spam.
Targeted Traffic Techniques
While paid ads may not bring in the numbers that organic techniques do, they are far more effective. Google says that businesses can double their investment with Google Ads, bringing in $2 for every $1 spent on average. Here are some great places to get started.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
PPC ads are the most common form of paid advertising. This is because they’re relatively low risk, as you only pay when someone clicks the link and makes their way to your site.
Usually, you’ll see these types of ads on search engines, but they can also show up on other websites or on apps. They’re super effective because they guarantee your place at the top of search results, and they ensure people seeing your ads are people who will be invested in your site.
This strategy drives targeted traffic to your site with
- Specific Keywords - Your ad is only displayed to the people who fit your company’s ideal customer profile
- Geographic Controls - You can ensure your ad is shown to people in your area, or who regularly visit similar sites
The full control these ads give you over who sees your site and when is extremely powerful.
Social Media Advertising
Similar to both social media marketing and PPC ads, social media advertising gives you complete control over who sees your posts. All you need then is a link embedded, and you’re on your way to a wave of website traffic.
With the sheer amount of data collected by social media platforms, it’s easy to see how they can pinpoint the people you want to visit your website. You can set up your ads to be shown to people based on
- Age
- Location
- Hobbies
- Gender
- Language
- Education Level
- Marital Status
- Occupation
- Device Used (mobile, tablet, desktop)
- Time of Day
- Etc.
The more specific you get, the more successful your campaign is likely to be. Just make sure you use something visually striking and fun.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a form of marketing that harnesses the power of influencers (popular figures in a specific industry or niche) to promote a product or service. This is usually done through sponsored social media posts, blog posts, or YouTube videos. Influencers have a loyal following and can use their influence to drive traffic to your website.
The key to a successful influencer marketing campaign is finding the right influencer for your brand. You want someone who aligns with your values and has a similar target audience. They should also have a significant following and high engagement rates. The more authentic and genuine the collaboration, the more likely their followers will trust and engage with your brand.
Retargeting Ads
Retargeting ads, also known as remarketing ads, target people who have already visited your website or engaged with your brand in some way. These ads follow them around the internet, reminding them of your brand and encouraging them to come back and take action.
Retargeting works by placing a piece of code, known as a cookie, on your website. This cookie tracks visitors and allows you to serve them ads on platforms like Facebook, Google, and other websites they visit. Retargeting ads can be highly effective as they focus on people who have already shown interest in your brand.
The Bottom Line
Your website deserves all the attention it can get, and using these techniques will ensure that people see that. Simply leaving it up to chance isn’t enough.
Whether you’re optimizing your SEO, setting up a referral program, or pouring energy into social media, the more people you get your brand in front of, the more your name will spread. Get out there and share the word!
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