Blog Post

3 Free Ways to Get More Eyes on Your Local Business Website

Amber Blevins • Aug 28, 2020

In a perfect world, the mere presence of your local business’s website would draw traffic. Your site would see so much traffic it might even crash from time to time.

In the real world though, this just doesn’t happen. The fact is, you have to work – and keep working – to drive traffic to your website.

There are many ways to entice people to visit your site. Some are simple, some are complicated. Some cost money, others are free. In the end, the method(s) you choose will depend largely on your business model, your budget, and your marketing savvy.

But let’s take a step back for a minute and answer the questions that are probably on your mind right now: “Does it really matter how many people visit my site? My website is just a digital business card, right?”

Wrong.

Why Should I Care About Site Visits?

Your website is not just a digital business card. Sure, it does what a business card does by offering up your contact details to prospective customers. But your local business website should do much more than that.

Your site is actually a member of your sales team. In fact, it's is probably the most valuable member of your sales team because it never complains about leads, works 24/7, and never takes a day off. Your site acts as a lead magnet. It funnels in customers and helps weed out people who wouldn’t be your ideal customer or otherwise don’t need your services in the first place.

Your website helps you attract new customers.

Your website is also part of your customer service department. It provides site visitors with information about your company and services. It reinforces your brand, your company’s values, and helps you build trust. Your site also (hopefully) provides various ways potential or current customers can reach you.

Your website helps you create a positive customer experience.

Getting More Eyes on Your Website

Driving more traffic to your site doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Let’s take a look at a handful of no-cost, simple things you can do to increase the number of visitors on your website.

Online Engagement

One of the easiest ways to get the word out about your website (and your business, in general) is simply by engaging with others online.

If you have social media accounts, use them. Post helpful and likable content. Add comments on others’ posts. And be sure to interact with comments on your own posts.

Get active in online groups relevant to your industry and community. Add comments on blogs, share your knowledge and answer questions.

Remember, engagement is about getting your name out there and establishing your expertise, not about touting your business every change you get.

Guest Blogging

Maintaining a blog on your website is a effective way to attract visitors. Guest blogging is also a fantastic option, particularly if you don’t have the time or inclination to have a blog of your own.

Publishing guest posts on a well-known industry blog or a popular local site gives possible customers a direct path back to your own site. Like online engagement, guest blogging allows you to share your knowledge, interact with those in your industry, and potentially reach a lot of prospective customers.

If your blog post is interesting and helpful, readers are likely to click through to your business’s site.

Email Marketing

Many local business owners shudder at the thought of email marketing. They’re worried it takes a lot of time, a degree in Marketing, or a ton of money. But that’s doesn’t have to be the case. You can take the easy route and keep it simple and free.

Building an email list is fairly straightforward. Ask existing customers and visitors on your website if they’d like to be part of your list. Be sure to tell them you only send out helpful content and you’ll never spam them. If they opt in, great, there’s another name of your list. If they don’t opt in, that’s too bad – just be sure you don’t send them messages anyway.

Send emails to your list when you have something important to share, like a new service you’re offering or a sale you’re running. Send out a regular newsletter that provides updates on your industry, links to blogs you may have posted, and content that’s relevant to your business and community.

Like online engagement and guest blogging, email marketing can increase your site traffic by simply getting your name and expertise in front of potential customers.

Driving Traffic to Your Site is an Ongoing Job

Growing the number of visitors to your site isn’t a one-and-done type of job. It requires your ongoing effort. You'll achieve the best results when you stick with it, get your name out there, and establish yourself as the go-to expert in your community.

Need advice on getting more visitors to your website? Locallogy can help! We're experts in local internet marketing and increasing site traffic.

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