You’ve come up with a great business idea, thought-up a plan and got a domain name that fits with your brand’s message. You even went out and found an awesome cheap hosting company, did some vital research on your market and set-up some social media accounts. But, you’re just not bringing in the amount of traffic that you want, or expected.
There’s a chance that you’re not doing anything wrong. In fact, you could have been doing everything by the book. But, that doesn’t mean you should sit back and wait for visitors to come to your site. Instead, get proactive and start driving some traffic.
Here are 100 ways to build up your website online – which have been broken up into 10 different categories to make life just a bit easier for you.
Online Advertising
The following ten resources can be used to advertise your site.
1. Google Adwords
The concept behind AdWords is pretty simple. People search Google for a specific product or service, they spot your ad and click on it if that’s what they’re looking for. After people click on your ad, they’ll head over to your website. The only catch is that it’s a paid service known as cost-per-click. The higher the bid, the higher your ad will appear will in search results. However, you can set a budget.
2. Facebook Ads
Advertising your website is similar to Google AdWords in that it’s also a cost-per-click bidding service. You can also set up a cost per thousand impressions bid (CPM). The only difference is that you’ll be pushing your site on Facebook’s extensive social network as opposed to Google.
3. Twitter Ads
Twitter also offers a bidding system to help your website reach its intended audience. Through Promoted tweets you’ll be able to increase brand advocacy and awareness. You can also make non-followers aware of your site and you’ll have access to analytics so that you can track how effective your Twitter Ads are performing.
4. Stumbleupon Paid Discovery
If ads aren’t really your thing, you can skip that step and let individuals directly find your website via Stumbleupon’s Paid Discovery. The process is fairly easy to do as well. Just submit your URL, select your target audience and interested visitors can discover your site through the awesome content you’ve submitted. Stumbleupon claims that “180,000 average monthly visits to their site come from StumbleUpon (Only 44% are paid).”
5. Adroll Retargeting
It’s been found that only 2% of customers convert during their first visit to an online store. You can bring back that other 98% by using retargeting. This means that if a visitor comes to your site and doesn’t make a purchase, Adroll will display ads for your website on any other sites that they visit.
6. Youtube Ads
YouTube offers more than just wasting time watching animals, and people, at their finest. All you have to do to use the power of YouTube is sign up for an AdWords account, upload your video and select the audience you want to reach out based on gender, age, location or interests.
7. Display Ad Networks (Double Click)
The best way to explain Display Ad Networks is from DoubleClick by Google: “DoubleClick Ad Exchange is a real-time digital ad marketplace that connects publishers with agencies, ad networks and third-party technology providers.” Besides Google, other recommended networks are AdBlade,Advertising.com,Chitika,Infolinks,Media.net,PulsePoint,Tribal Fusion and Vibrant Media.
8. Sponsorship
Another way to grow your website is by having a company, or several, purchase all of the ad inventory on your site for a certain period of time. One of the best ways to find the right sponsor for your website is by approaching companies that are relevant to your niche. Darren Rowse from ProBlogger gives some excellent advice on how to approach and find sponsors.
9. LinkedIn Ads
Reach your intended audience through LinkedIn ads based on location and job function. A great option if you’re website is designed for professionals.
10. Content Networks
Connect with your audience by having your text, video, audio or ads appear on a collection of sites that are known for containing highly engaged customers, such asOutbrain or Zemanta. Larry Kim from Wordstream provides some useful tips on content networks.
Content Marketing / Free Content
Here are ten effective techniques in enticing your audience back to your website.
1. Blogging – News, Commentary (short form)
Perhaps one of the best ways to grow your website is by blogging. You should do this everyday to keep your audience informed on news, upcoming events/promotions, commentary or just sharing something that your audience will find enjoyable. There are a number of great blogging platforms to choose from such as WordPress, Blogger, Medium, Squarespace, Svbtle and Tumblr. You can check out some more suggestions from Dear Blogger.
2. How-To-Guides & Other Articles (Education – long form)
Long form content differs from short form content (blogging) because, well, it’s much longer that an average blog post. In other words, long form content would be the meaty pieces of content that establishes you as an authority in your field. Examples include How-To-Guides, White Papers, eBooks or any other sort of articles that are over usually over 1,200 words and are educational/informational for your audience. WordStreamhas found that long form content can also triple the average amount of time spent on a website.
3. Industry Surveys / Research
Continue to illustrate that you’re an industry leader by conducting a survey or research that’s relevant to you niche. This can help grow your website because your findings will be shared among the industry and can evoke a discussion. You can also use surveys for customer feedback, which will continue to establish a community within your website.
4. Free Themes / Icons / Designs / Stock Photos
Make sure that your website is aesthetically pleasing, loads quickly, easy to navigate and contains images and icons to make your site appear complete and professional. If not, you can expect a huge drop-off in visitors. WordPress, for example, has a number of excellent free themes. You could also visit Free Website Templates. Buffer has over53 locations for free images.
5. Weekly Podcast / Radio
Hosting a weekly Podcast is a clever way to reach new mobile users, announce the launch of a product/service/event or to provide your audience with something useful and entertaining.
6. Video Series
A video series can accomplish the same results as a Podcast, in addition to proving that you’re an authority figure by hosting a video tutorial. It’s been found that 74% of all internet traffic in 2017 will be video.
7. Free Embeddable Tools & Widgets
When you use a free embeddable tool or widget, you’ll be able to increase the reach of your campaign. For example, having social media buttons make it easy for visitors to share your page with their contacts. You could also embed video or audio snippets or even widgets that have the current weather.
8. Free Trials
Offer a free trial to your membership site with something like a “share this great resource” button or provide free articles.
9. Software
If you’ve created software, then don’t hesitate to give your audience freeware, shareware, or demos. Also make sure that your site gets included on a free software directory.
10. Creative Commons Licensed Content
You may have created some stellar content, but you should also pair that content with images or additional content from Creative Commons licensed sites. This will make sure that your content can be more easily shared. You could also license your work so that others can distribute your content while still receiving credit.
User Generated Content & Crowdsourcing
Have your fans spread the word about your site themselves by having them contribute.
1. Free Membership
Typically people like freebies. If you’re offering a service you could provide free membership for a limited time to entice visitors in joining your site. If they like what you have to offer, they’ll spread the word to friends, family, colleagues, etc.
2. User Profiles & Social Networking (add friends)
When you allow user profiles to be connected to social networking sites you can easily encourage visitors to interact. Through this interaction all of their contacts can also participate.
3. User Q & A Forums (interact with experts)
Many people are seeking for advice online. Why not include a forum where visitors could ask an expert to assist them with their query?
4. User / Guest Blogs & Articles
Google may be cracking down on poor quality blogs that rely on guest bloggers, but if there is a trusted expert that you can vouch for, then your site can continue to build-upon its reputation as an authority in your field. You’ll also draw in their contacts.
5. Crowdsourced Funding
If you have an awesome idea that you want to share with the world than ask for the online community for assistance in funding the project. You can attract interested parties through Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Crowdfunder to receive funding. For more information, make sure that there’s a link back to your site.
6. Contests
Contests are a great way to build and engage your audience. You audience will even do some marketing for you since they’ll spread the word on the contest you’re running. Also, contests are a great way to learn more about your audience so participants are likely to share information in order to enter.
7. Hashtags
Hashtags can do a lot for your website’s growth when used properly. By featuring trending hashtags they’re more likely to be shared. Hashtags can also be used to anchor text, present special offers, promote an event, spark a discussion and distribute breaking news. Here are the Top 100 Hashtags on Instagram.
8. Blog Comments
Commenting on other blogs that are relevant to your industry is a simple way to gain backlinks and spread brand awareness. Search Engine Journal posted a nifty guide on how to to do this correctly.
9. Surveys
As previously mentioned, surveys can be used as a part of research to establish that you’re an authority figure. However, surveys can also be used to gain valuable feedback that you can use to enhance your site and campaign – think of customer satisfaction surveys following a sale.
10. Reviews
Have customers review your product and service. Post these on your website or have the reviews posted to social networks. These testimonials can be seen by the contacts of your visitors, which can build trust.
Social Media Outlets
Social media is one of the best ways for others to become aware of your site.
1. Facebook Fan Page
Instead of just another Facebook profile, create a Fan Page so that you can establish a relationship with your intended audience.
2. Twitter
Twitter is a fantastic platform to handle customer service concerns and to provide the latest happenings on your website.
3. Google +
Being on Google + can almost instantly increase your search rankings, as well as updating your Circles. And, unlike other social media outlets, you can use Google + as a blogging platform.
4. Pinterest
Pinterest is one of the hottest social media outlets currently available. You can bring Pinterest users back to your site by making sure that your web address is in descriptions, mentioned in ALT Tags, your profile and a link uploaded in the actual image.
5. Tumblr
Tumblr is free, cool and incredibly easy to use. But the most important benefit of Tumblr is because of all the sharing going. No matter which niche you fall in, like-minded Tumblr users will discover you and your site.
6. StumbleUpon
Having fresh, quality content that you create on your site or blog, which is then shared on StumbleUpon, can guarantee a consistent stream of interested visitors discovering your site.
7. Reddit
The Reddit community can also ensure that there are new visitors discovering your site, much like StumbleUpon. However, Reddit has a very dedicated user base that is known for interacting with each other. Give it a shot. You never know how influential some Redditors can be.
8. Quora
Quora is a great resource in continuing to prove that you actually know what you’re talking about via its great question and answer format. It’s always a great place to meet people who have similar interests.
9. Industry-specific networks
When you’re featured a network that is specific to your industry, you have the opportunity to interact with people and professionals within your field who are seeking news and advice. LinkedIn is one example of an industry-specific network.
10. Industry-specific blogs
An industry-specific blog can accomplish the same effect as an industry-specific network. It’s all about interacting with individuals who want to learn more or discuss the industry. Both blogs and networks that are specific to an industry can help establish trust and comfort. Both can also get your foot in the door with your intended audience.
Traditional Media
You can still use traditional media to drive traffic back to your website. Examples include the following.
1. TV
Even if you don’t have the funds to pay for television spots, you can still create commercials and share them on social media outlets. It did wonders for Dollar Shave Club.
2. Radio
Radio still offers value in spreading your brand’s website. You can pay local stations to plug your website or even pay for ads during streaming.
3. Direct Mail
Sending out brochures, pamphlets or being included in any local circular is a time tested method in making others aware of your site.
4. Billboards
If you have the budget, then why not spend the money on a billboard where thousands of daily commuters can see your website address.
5. Newspaper / Magazines
Here’s another tried and true method to catch the attention of a wide range of people. Make sure to also purchase ad space for online publications as well.
6. Events
Head out to an event that is in your niche and network with the people who are also in your industry.
7. Interviews & Press
Don’t be shy in being the subject of an interview. It’s a great way to build trust with your audience since they can associate a face with the website.
8. Non-Profit Work
This will help your site gain more exposure since it shows that you have a caring and charitable side.
9. Sponsorships
Continue to reach out to the community by sponsoring something like a little league baseball team.
10. Think Outside of the Box
Do something unique, fun and crazy in your area, like dressing up in a cookie costume on a street corner. This will definitely get people talking. And you may even get some free press out of it.
SEO / Search Engine Optimization
SEO ensures that people searching online will discover your site though keywords.
1. Proper research
One of the most effective and proven ways in growing your website is through SEO. This means doing research on your audience, such as where do they spend most of their times online, and using the right keywords to help you rank higher in search engines.
2. On-site optimization
There’s a lot to consider here, which is why you should read what Rand Fishkin from Moz has to say on this matter, but here’s a quick overview. Your page should provide value to your audience, load quickly, target keywords and is crawler/bot accessible.
3. Google Local, Webmaster, & Authorship tools
Google has a number of incredible tools to help build-up your website, such as Local,Webmaster and Authorship.
4. Guest Blog Posting / Relationship Blogging
Use these methods to build-upon the following three areas, according to Kissmetrics: positions yourself as an authority, getting traffic back to your site and building backlinks.
5. Old-school link building
This has changed over the years, but if you can submit your blog to quality directories, forums or have a respected guest blogger appear on your site are all old-school link building tactics that can still be used.
6. Google Alerts
Be up-to-date on the latest happenings in your industry through Google Alerts, which you can use to create content.
7. Linkbait
Attract valuable links back to your site by creating some really awesome content so that it can go viral. Here’s a great guide on how to effectively create linkbait content.
8. Analytics / Ranking Reports
You should keep tabs on how well your website is performing and where it ranks on search engine. Google Analytics is a reliable place to start.
9. Industry resource / microsites
Microsites are separate from the main page and are perfect when launching a promotion, showcasing a product or increasing marketing campaigns. Here are 5 “brilliant” examples.
10. Press & Co-Citation opportunities (HARO)
Basically, this is sharing your expertise with relevant industry sites, much like HARO. Also look in co-citation and co-occurrence.
Tools
Here is a collection of tools that can assist in making sure that people are drawn to your website.
1. Gmail
Email can be a powerful marketing and networking tool, so why go with the best, and most popular, server? While Gmail has some awesome features, like Chat and practically unlimited storage, the most useful tool for growing your site is Rapportive. You can use this tool to learn everything possible about your contacts.
2. Evernote
Sometimes you have a great blog post idea while on the go. Instead of trying to remember your moment of genius, save your thoughts onto Evernote. It’s also pretty handy in creating do-lists.
3. Feedly (RSS)
RSS subscriptions didn’t die with Google Reader. In fact, news feeds can still help ensure that the latest content and news is seen by your audience. Feedly is a great example of RSS feeds being alive and well.
4. Hootsuite
Managing all of your social media accounts can be a handful. You can easily manage all of your accounts through one dashboard. A tool like Hootsuite just makes life easier, as well as making sure that your followers are never left out in the cold. You can also use Hootsuite to see what others are saying about your brand.
5. Mailchimp / Aweber
We already briefly mentioned that email marketing is effective in bringing in traffic to your website. You can do this by offering subscribers a little teaser on an article for example. When you use tools like Mailchimp or Aweber you can send that important email to all of you subscribers in one swift move.
6. Google Analytics
Want to make sure that your campaign isn’t in vain? Use Google Analytics to track and monitor your advertising efforts to see what’s working and what’s not.
7. Crazy Egg
Crazy Egg gives you the ability to see what visitors are doing on your site. When you have this information, you can make adjustments if needed.
8. Olark
Olark is a tool that allows you to talk with customers in real-time and monitor activity on your website. When you learn how to make customers happy, they’re more likely to return.
9. Audacity
If you’re going to Podcast every week, then you’ll need a tool to edit the audio. This is a free tool that is a must-have.
10. Inboundwriter
While quality and original content, along with keywords, are incredibly important, there’s also making certain that it blends with your priorities – which will drive traffic. Inboundwriter can help you achieve that.
Research Tools / Audience Discovery
Use the following research tools and audience discovery networks to your extend your website.
1. AllTop
Basically, AllTop is an “online magazine rack.” Visitors can get the latest updates from sources that they’re already familiar with or discover new sources.
2. Technorati
In a nutshell, Technorati is a search engine that indexes blogs and social media mentions. This helps visitors easily find relevant content, which means increasing your visibility. It also helps improves your chances of being seen as an authority figure.
3. Reddit Search
Make sure that you properly use Reddit Search so that the “front door of the internet” can easily discover you and your site. Just with any search engine, this comes down to using appropriate keywords.
4. Delicious
Whether it’s scoping out the competition or searching for relevant blogs to connect with, make sure you don’t lose those links with a tool like Delicious.
5. Twitter Search / Hashtag Search
Use these to discover popular keywords and influencers in your industry. This can help build relationships with relevant Twitter users.
6. Competitor Analysis
See what your the competition is doing and what makes your brand and site different. You can learn from both their successes and failures.
7. Google Trends
See what the most popular trends are by using Google Trends. This will help with keywords.
8. Wordtracker
Discover which keywords are the top performers with Wordtracker’s real-time research tool.
9. Trellian’s Keyword Discovery
Another popular keyword discovery tool is offered from Trellian’s Keyword Discovery.
10. Advanced Google Search Functions (+ guest post, + other)
This can help you narrow down web results for more complex searches.
Monetization
While there are an endless amount of free tools and resources, you still need some sort of income to make sure that your site continues to grow. Use the following systems to make some additional revenue.
1. Google Adsense
Display ads for your website on other relevant and engaging websites. This gains more exposure and you can make some additional revenue.
2. Affiliate Ads
Earn some additional money by teaming up with affiliate networks. Some of the top networks are ShareASale, CJ/Conversant, Amazon, ClickBank and Linkshare. I personally like Viglink for content publishers to monetize their site.
3. Display Networks
Another product from Google that allows you to create and display ads on related websites.
4. E-Books
Write and sell an electronic book that you can sell on your website. Again, this illustrates that you’re an expert in your industry.
5. Membership Sites
Create a membership site where customers pay for your informational content. This not only shows you are an expert, but it creates a loyal fanbase and provides you with a steady income. Here are 7 tips from Copyblogger.
6. E-Commerce (Physical Products)
If you’re selling an actual product, make sure that your site is ready to handle business transactions. Here are 100 examples for inspiration.
7. Donation Buttons
Ask your loyal visitors for some assistance in keeping your site up and running. PayPal has a donation button that is a popular and easy to implement option.
8. Lead Generation
Have visitors to your site become paying customers, or gain subscribers to your newsletter. HubSpot as an excellent beginners guide to lead generation.
9. Software
If you’ve developed a piece of software that people can not live without, such as an app, you should be able to make money off of your product. Oliver Rupp suggests using the “freemium” model, partnering with affiliates or using in-app purchasing. Also consider using the services offered by SafeNet.
10. Optimize Your Landing Page
Forget sending visitors to just your homepage, make use of landing pages instead. These grab your visitors attention and keep them around long enough so that you can make sure that they make a purchase, fill out a form or sign-up for a newsletter. Moz has a very cool guide on landing page optimization.
Industry Resources
Tap into the endless and invaluable resources from some of the most trusted and respected sites online.
1. Moz
Moz has been one of the leaders in the SEO space for years. Originally SEOMoz and switched to just Moz. Great actionable information that everyone could use.
2. Search Engine Land/Search Engine Journal
Keep up with the latest news involving SEO, online marketing and advice from the experts at Search Engine Land and Search Engine Journal. disclosure: I am the Editor at Large of SEJ so I may be a little biased.
3. Quick Sprout
Neil Patel and his priceless advice are a go-to resource if you want to discover how to drive more traffic to your website.
4. Occam’s Razor
This is the blog of Avinash Kaushik, a best-selling author and Digital Marketing Evangelist for Google. He provides advice on the analytical and metric sides of marketing. He’s very passionate about analytics and knows what he’s talking about.
5. Marketing Pilgrim
Launched by Andy Beal, Marketing Pilgrim will deliver breaking news, analysis if marketing trends and in-depth reviews of products and services.
6. Copyblogger
Copyblogger offers advice and tips for bloggers through articles, ebooks and webinars. The best resource for bloggers looking to expand their brand online.
7. Buffer Blog
Bluffer Blog can assist you in writing the perfect blog. It also provides updates and tidbits on how to improve your social media campaigns. They have very detailed posts on how to do everything online. Actionable insights.
8. HubSpot Blog: Inbound Hub
HubSpot was previously mentioned because it’s a great software program that can help you attract visitors and convert leads. There’s also a blog that compliments the software and provides useful tips for inbound marketing.
9. Audience Bloom
I personally like the content here so this is a must on my must read list. I learn detailed information on how to push my business through SEO, PPC and other marketing techniques.
10. The Proofreader’s Parlour
Making sure that your text is spelled correctly and free of grammatical errors shouldn’t be overlooked. If you don’t have the budget to hire a proofreader or editor, then make sure you get some much-appreciated advice from an experienced proofreader.
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