Welcome to ReferralHero, the most breathtaking marketing club around. Tee up your referrals and get ready to hit an eagle. We’ll have the caddy bring you a refreshment.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, referral programs are ultra-powerful, and a surefire way to get people talking about your business. However, their impact is only as big as your referral traffic numbers.
Referral traffic - that’s how many people are coming to your site or business from external sources - is the lifeblood of a strong referral campaign. It can come from someone clicking on a link their friend shared, from a recommendation on another site, and more.
If you want to be visible online and bag more sales, you can’t rely on one form of referral traffic. The important thing is diversity! Maybe your driving range game is through the roof, but a great golfer will also play a good mid and short game.
So pull out your clubs and let’s take a look at some of the most successful ways to get your referral traffic numbers up.
How To Generate Referral Traffic
How you get the attention of new customers is going to depend a lot on the type of business you’re running. Here are a few of my favorite ways to draw fresh people in.
Get Your Website on Online Directories
Online directories get you a lot of referral traffic for minimal effort. The people using these directories are already on the hunt for your kind of product or service, so you can be sure the leads will, well, lead somewhere.
There are countless directories that you can submit to, each with its own unique user base. Take some time to investigate which ones your target demographic might be using, and do what you can to make the list.
These links will also count towards your website’s SEO, meaning that search engines will be more likely to boost it when the time is right.
Build Backlinks
A backlink is a powerful tool. Not only does it boost your SEO, but curious browsers are likely to follow it and end up on your site.
A strong backlink will have another reputable site referencing your content. It’s difficult to influence this organically, but you can start by making content that is interesting enough to warrant a reference.
Make sure your site is filled with facts and well-written articles for people to point back to. You may even want to invest in some fun and informative infographics. If people use them in their own content, you’ll have a boost in traffic in no time.
Score a Guest Blog
Writing an article for another website is a stellar way to establish your company as a leader in your field. You’ll be able to build some backlinks for yourself and reach a wider audience.
If you bring someone with a following along to write a guest post for your own site, that’s also a huge plus. With an expert backing you and value-rich content on your website, people are far more likely to trust that you know what you’re doing.
Work with Influencers
It may sound like a big ask, but nowadays, it’s relatively easy to reach out to influencers in your niche. As long as you offer them something unique or valuable, they’ll likely consider helping you promote your site.
Many influencers have a system in place for companies to reach out, so take the time to find someone who fits your niche and reach out to see what they offer.
Once you’ve established a good relationship with an influencer, there’s a world of opportunities for referrals. They can tweet links, Instagram your brand, or even make videos dedicated to discussing the benefits of using the product.
Partner With Other Brands
The great thing about bolstering referral traffic is that you aren’t the only brand trying to do it. Look for other companies that have a similar user base to you and touch base with them about partnering.
You can cross-promote each other’s services, plan a collaboration, or even promote each other’s products for a commission.
Chances are, they have customers who would be thrilled to learn about you and vice versa.
It's a win-win situation; you get referral traffic and a new audience, and they get the same!
Get Published on a Review Site
People trust review sites to give them the down-low on what products and companies are worth their time. I’d be lying if I said these sites didn’t help me make a few purchases in my time.
Getting featured in a top ten list gains you instant trust from potential customers, and gets your company credibility.
So how do you snag a spot in a review site list? You’ve got to make sure your company is one of the best out there.
Show off your credentials, have plenty of good testimonials, and try and get backing from industry experts. When your company is looking good, contact the review sites and ask for a spot.
Utilize Social Media
Social media can feel a bit like the final frontier of marketing, but with the right approach and enough patience, it can be a great way to steer traffic your way.
Depending on the time and money you’re willing to invest, you can start up sponsored campaigns, or just use your profiles to post regularly. If you’re going for the latter, make sure you’re posting things that are targeted to your core demographic and that showcase your brand in the best possible light.
Not to mention that the right post can go viral in no time – you never know when you’re going to hit a nerve and get that bang for your buck.
Engage With Local Events
If your business has a physical location, you can engage with nearby events to give your referral traffic an extra boost. Not only are you getting your name out there, you’re also creating trust with your target demographic by being associated with something local.
If you want to take it a step further, you can even sponsor an event. This shows that your company is invested in the community and that your products are worth checking out.
Optimize Word of Mouth Referrals
Word-of-mouth referrals are one of the most powerful tools when it comes to boosting your referral traffic. Go figure!
Encourage current customers to spread the word about your website or business by rewarding customers for referring their friends.
Remember, though, that this should be a two-way street. If you want people to spread the word, you need to reward them for it.
This could look like lots of things, from discounts on future purchases to free shipping or samples of products. Be creative and think about what your customers will appreciate.
Keeping Track of Referral Traffic
As you work to optimize your referral traffic, it’s important to measure your results. This lets you know what's working, what needs more attention, and when you can get to celebrating.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is like a super-sleuth for website owners. It's like your very own private investigator to help uncover the sources of your referral traffic.
By understanding and monitoring referral sources, you can improve your website's traffic and performance. It can show you which networks are driving the most traffic and guide your decisions on which content to optimize for the best results.
With Google Analytics, you can maximize the hours you're putting into creating the best content and deliver the returns from the hard work you have invested.
UTM Parameters
UTM parameters are a great way to boost your marketing strategy and measure your campaigns’ success.
By adding unique codes to the end of your URLs, you can see where your clicks are coming from, how successful a piece of content was, and even the type of ads or links that are generating the most traffic.
Knowing this information means you can tailor your campaigns to generate better results in the future and track all of your metrics in one place!
Other Analytics Platforms
Using multiple analytics platforms guarantees you the most accurate insights. Google Analytics is an exceptional platform, but other platforms offer advanced metrics like estimated visits, revenue estimation, and more.
For superior data accuracy, be sure to utilize social media analytics as well. For example, keep track of which of your posts get the most engagement. Consider which posts correspond to a spike in traffic; these insights will help you create more effective content in the future.
Each platform provides a unique insight that quickly gives you an idea of what’s working and what needs improvement.
The Bottom Line
There’s a magical feeling when you stumble upon a website or business that feels like it was made for you. Boosting your organic referral traffic is a stellar way to give that experience to your future customers.
Utilizing the right techniques and tracking your progress will ensure you are activating the right channels and consistently achieving your goals. So get out there, get your referrals and make your customers feel like they are experiencing the perfect fit.
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