5 Simple Strategies To Instantly Increase Website Traffic
There are times in life when you need to put the pedal to the metal. In the world of SEO, that time is all the time. Capitalize on the benefits of search engine optimization by identifying opportunities to instantly increase website traffic. Implement the fundamentals of web design and SEO and use the following five simple strategies to instantly drive more traffic to your website.
Add Structured Data Markup
The world as we know it is changing. Users are not searching Google the same way they were 5 and 10 years ago.
The shift in search patterns is largely due to the fact that the search engine result page consists of a dynamic layout.
The features that appear depend on the query being used in a search. Users are now presented with a variety of options that are well integrated to serve most forms of user intent.
There are local results, related questions, images, videos, ads and the list goes on.
The ten blue links that once were the main feature of a search result are often left untouched. This phenomenon has led to zero-click searches as well as a need for enhanced marketing within the SERP.
This type of markup is excellent for drawing additional attention from the SERP. The use of Schema in one of the three recommended formats makes it easier for search engines to understand the context of your page.
As a reward from the search engines, your page may be graced with a rich result.
Rich Results
A rich result is essentially an enhanced search result. It’s not a guarantee, but implementing structured data markup makes your page eligible to appear as a rich result. There are 30 types of rich results that Google currently offers.
One of the most commonly seen rich results is the use of structured data to display reviews:
Using one of these options on an appropriate page can earn you a higher click-through and additional traffic.
Here is an example of what the FAQ rich results look like.
Clicking on any of the questions reveals the answer. As you can see the listing takes up much more space and attracts more attention than your traditional search result.
Improve Your Headline
If you didn’t know before, it’s time you found out that you’ve probably got a few headlines that need some more thought. Rethinking, renaming or re-optimizing your headline can land you some extra visitors almost instantly.
The headline is arguably the most important advertising feature of a page or article. It’s typically the first thing a user will see in a search result.
Create headlines that are descriptive and stand out to attract more clicks.
There’s a reason Coschedule invested time and resources into creating a tool that analyzes headlines. The return on a catchy headline is worth its weight in gold-or in this case traffic.
Headlines should be optimized for both users and search engines. Some headline optimization tips include:
- Place your keyword towards the front end of your headline.
- Keep your headline under 60 characters.
- Be descriptive in your title.
- Use interesting words when you have the opportunity.
- Using numbers can increase your click-through rate.
Use headline strategies to generate interest and excitement in the topic you’ve published. Optimize for users and search engines to attract more clicks directly from the SERP.
Re-write Your Meta Description
Your meta description has the power to attract or repel users from clicking on your site. As the second most influential aspect of marketing your page in the SERP, make sure you take full advantage of this valuable SERP real estate.
Write an enticing description that gives users a clear understanding of what they will get from clicking on your page.
Google has stated that they don’t count using the keywords in the meta description as an on-page optimization factor. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use your keyword in the meta description, because including it still has a few worthwhile benefits.
Using your keyword in your meta description optimizes your text for users. If a user is searching a keyword, they are more likely to be drawn to your description when they see their keyword in the description of your page.
Use your keyword towards the beginning of your meta to ensure it isn’t cut off or truncated on smaller screen sizes.
Explore the full word count limit that Google offers. You don’t have space to write a persuasive essay, so get your description between 150-160 characters (160 being the maximum).
Publish a High-Ranking Video
Video has made its way to the top of the charts as the most popular form of content. Not only can you connect with users on a deeper, more personal level but you can leverage additional traffic from YouTube.
The search algorithm is different for ranking a video on YouTube. There is much more significance weighted towards on-page optimization. Assuming low to medium competition, you can rank a video overnight with the right optimization.
With the right keywords, you can drive a lot of traffic from your video to your site. Embedding a video on your webpage is also said to have some impact on how Google views your page for ranking in Google’s search engine.
Here are some video optimization tips:
- Use your keyword in the title.
- Use your keyword in the filename.
- Place a link to your site within the first two sentences of your description.
- Include a transcript in the video description.
- Link to other videos in your channel within your description.
- Use timestamps within your video.
- Tag with keywords and related videos.
- Make sure people will watch your video content to the end.
Link From a High Traffic Website
Imagine Google didn’t exist. How would you get your traffic to your website? This perspective is uniquely valuable because it forces you to think of where your ideal visitors are frequenting regularly.
Linking from websites has become a cautionary practice because of its influence over ranking. Linking to websites that have high traffic forces you to think of websites with a similar audience that would also be interested in your content.
Links like these would not only refer relevant website traffic to your site but also be considered relevant links that improve the authority of your page in search results.
The most popular method of linking from high traffic websites is to ask site owners to link to your content or ask the person managing content to publish an article of yours( in which you link to your content).
Find websites that would be ideal prospects by performing searches for keywords similar to your own. The sites that appear will obviously have a very similar audience.
Alternatively, you can find guest posting sites to pitch and submit articles. One of the easiest ways to find guest posting opportunities is to use the search operative inurl where you can search for your keyword plus a keyword that is found within the URL.
For example, type the following or any variation to find guest posting opportunities:
[your keyword] + inurl:write for us
Choose sites with decent authority and high traffic to pitch your article ideas.
The link from a site with high traffic will be worth a boost in search visibility as well as a boost in referral traffic (assuming people like what you wrote).
Strategize and Implement Traffic Generation Tactics
There aren’t a lot of secrets when it comes to driving more traffic to your website. There are a finite number of established tactics to learn. Establish a custom SEO strategy in order to make informed decisions on which options to implement on your site.
Choose the options that suit your site best and stick to your selected strategy until you see some results and capitalize on the benefits of search engine optimization. As your skills improve using various tactics, so will your ability to drive more traffic to your website.