To increasing traffic After you’ve launched your site, it’s time to get out there and market. It doesn’t matter how awesome your website is if nobody knows it exists, so learning how to promote your website is crucial.
There are various options to promote a website however some practices like advertisement and influencer marketing, for example, can hit your pocket. But, happily, there are ways to market a site without spending any money.
In this post we round up 9 ways you can drive traffic to your site without spending a penny, from blogging and emailing to using social media. And we’ll include actionable website promotion suggestions and tips with each method.
9 free way to promote your website
In this section you’ll discover how to advertise your website for free, using 9 different techniques. But for all their freeness, getting them to work acceptably is another thing entirely.
Remember – the time we spend is valuable even when marketing. So we’ve added some quick tips to help ensure things go smoothly with each one.
Every one of the website promotion methods below should not be applied to all sites. Discern and pick the strategies that will work.
1. Blogging
There are many benefits to starting a blog and publishing helpful, useful content for your target audience—from driving more traffic to your site to not only generating leads but also making money from your blog. Blogging is just one format of content marketing that works.
Content marketing is the practice of planning, creating, publishing and promoting content to create a closer relationship with your audience. Great content marketing gets people to do what they want (and in the authors best interest).
One of the most important quality in a good blog is relevant. If nothing you’re saying has anything to do with the lives of your readers, they aren’t going to read what you have to say. E.g., if your target audience is pet owners, writing content related to pet care will tend to attract them.
Another consideration is also what is the purpose of your blog. Ensure that there is a mission behind the blog prior to creating it. It might be to entertain, educate or inspire – whatever the aim is, the ultimate goal is to encourage people to buy into a product or service.
Once you have a defined purpose, coming up with blog post ideas that contribute to it is more simple. Your blog is all about informing pet owners on how to care for their pets. Thus, blog posts can be about how to take care of pet or how to feed it well and increasing traffic
If you point us to something that’s good and we like it, then we’ll stick around to learn more about you.If people think that your blog posts are fun or informative, then they will be more likely to share with others who are also interested in the same sorts of things. This builds chains-off-chains effect that promotes other users to your site.
But high-quality content and digital word of mouth will not guarantee enough traffic to your site.
Today, most organic traffic is derived from search engine users. Applying a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy to your blog helps you rank higher on search engine results pages when people Google your topic.
Now, include SEO from planning to writing and then publishing stages of your articles on your blog. For example, keyword research for idea brainstorming. Keyword research tools such as Google Search Console or Ahrefs can help you determine which topics you might have a shot at ranking for.
When you’re new to blogging seo, focus on using low-competition niche keywords in search engines. Keywords with smaller search volumes can be more obtainable than the ones with a gazillion searches.
There you go.On-page optimization is also part of a blogging SEO strategy. For instance, ensure that the title of your page, slug (URL), and meta description for every blog post are SEO-friendly.
There are many tools out there which can assist on-page SEO for sites constructed via content management systems or online website creators. One of them is, for example, Yoast SEO.
Another form of blogging worth trying out is guest blogging. The gig is writing blog posts for other sites.
Guest posting with established high-traffic bloggers can help you get you in front of a wider audience. Its a reason to have them, in fact you’ll be able to subtly promote your blog and place backlinks on other sites – which are really valuable.
Content is king, and guest blogging can help you churn some serious quality content. Just be careful where you decide to blog as a guest poster. Choose one blog that is related to your business or brand. If you don’t do this – your guest posting will end up in front of the wrong audience that are not interested in your site.
Another method of reaching new listeners is to write for other platforms, such as Medium. Medium is a website that allows you to read, write and interact with the stories that matter most to you. Write pieces that’ll appeal to your audience on Medium and throw links back to your main blog.
2. Email Marketing
It is an easy way to shoot direct messages straight into your audiences’ inboxes. It’s an extremely effective form of content marketing that offers one of the highest returns on investment (ROI). You’re probably going to have quite a bit of success even with a modest if not small contribution.
Email marketing is great for developing an audience that’s loyal. Content Sharing Let your audience keep abreast of new content on your website with the ability to add exclusive content or custom messages via email.
Email is one of the best lead generation tools out there. It can also be used to send incentives such as a coupon code or freebies – something that could easily turn your leads into customers.
But before you can start sending emails, you need to build an email list. Little more than a list of email marketing subscribers, you have names tied to emails that content will go out to.
Create an email list; make a form on your website where customers can sign up for emails. If your website is built on WordPress, a number of the contact form plugins like WPForms will enable you to do this.
Beside the form, give a brief description of the kind of content you’ll be sending to your subscribers. Make it interesting – e.g. if you are a business, offer to send them a free eBook or promotional offers.
After you get subscribers, the process of making an email with Hostinger Reach is pretty easy. In a matter of minutes this AI technology turns your campaign ideas into polished emails from start to finish. Just tell it what you want to accomplish (e.g., “announce our latest blog post on website security” or “share a special discount with subscribers”), and Reach creates ready-to-go emails – including a catchy subject line, content that’ll engage your audience, and clear call-taction buttons. New subscribers will automatically be placed on your Website forms so they won’t miss out!
When developing emails, ensure that each and every email serves a purpose, reflects your branding and meets the subscriber’s expectations. After a couple of false moves, you’d make your audience unsubscribe.
And if you’re sending the email with the intention of informing your subscribers about new content, then provide a strong call to action (CTA) to said content. If your brand voice is playful, steer clear of writing overly formal emails. Lastly, if you did promise exclusive content, make sure to deliver.
Don’t forget to attach an email signature that makes it easy for your recipient to reach you, and includes links to your website, social media pages, signature branding etc.
It’s essential to avoid spamming. It is best to send a few regular high-quality content pieces instead of flooding the inboxes of your subscribers with emails they won’t read.
Because Reach takes care of the technical work from design to content so you can build relationships with subscribers and create great website content, while it ensures your emails look good and they’re driving people back to your site.
3. Online Listing
Add your site or business to online directories so your customers/clients can easily find you. They are, after all, free ad spaces to advertise your website.
Maximize gain Get more rewards by submiting your site to popular search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. If they have indexed your website and it showed up in their results, you will receive traffic to your site.
Search engines like to see new content which is current shown at the top of results. You will need to consistently be on search engines if you want that for example to occur. A blog is also a great way to keep your content “fresh” for search engines.
It costs you nothing to get your website listed in the search engine directories such as Google Search Console.
Other internet directories can also help to get you found online. Brick and mortar companies will do well to submit to bricks such as Google my Business, Local.com, Yelp and Yellow Page
4. Giveaways
Drive traffic to your website by hosting giveaways. It is a kind of lead magnet which can help bring in focused visitors and introduce the website to the world.
This approach is commonly applied to send large traffic in an instant to the website. An example would be saying you’re offering a free eBook LANDING PAGE Announce that you are giving something away on your website. Those that want it will come to your website for it. For V valuable item, expect many hits.
It’s up to you how you will retain all the attention, that grew enormously once the giveaway was announced and published.
Keep their interest by providing your site with lots of good, and enticing content. If planned accordingly for your giveaway, you can get quite a few leads from this.
5. Facebook
Facebook’s largest user demographic is the 25 to 34 age group. And this is what makes Facebook a lucrative marketing channel for every company or brand.
Facebook has a ton of bells and whistles that allow you to connect with your fans.
Facebook Groups contain a group of people who have something in common or share values. In those groups, members exchange content and chat with one another about something they love. You can go ahead to join an existing group in your niche or create a new group entirely.
You’re better off establishing a strong rapport with group members before you engage. Begin conversations by commenting on other members’ posts, offering positive and/or interesting feedback. Once you have proven yourself as a helpful member, promote your website subtly when appropriate.
Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. Create engaging content and post updates about your brand/company. Leverage the social features and create a “nation” with your viewers.
Post featured blog links from minute website to your page. Include a tantalizing tidbit in the post and why it is worth reading. This is one of the best strategies to bring traffic on your website.
Facebook Shops let businesses add a storefront and conduct transactions. It includes a number of features you would normally find in an eCommerce solution, such as catalog management and flexible store design. Sad to say, this is not for all region.
6. Instagram
Gen Z and millennials are on Instagram in a huge way. So many companies use Instagram to reach young people.
Instagram is a platform built around pictures, and in order to direct more traffic to your website it becomes important for you to generate visually appealing content. For instance, if you are an online store, share great photos of your products. Aesthetic photo feed makes your profile look professional.
Among gen Z and millennials, Instagram is particularly popular. And so many brands take to Instagram to reach the young folks.
Captions on Instagram posts are crucial. Craft clever, compelling copy that complements the images. Tag your posts with relevant hashtags so that they are easier for others to find.
The secret to winning on Instagram is consistency. Pre-program posts in advance, so they fly at the right time of day or week. Do it This increases interaction, and thusly, the more exposure you’ll gain on your posts.
In addition to posting on the regular feed, post material on Instagram Stories as well. Though they disappear after 24 hours, they can be effective for boosting engagement. Engage with followers by running polls and doing Q&As on your stories.
Instagram Live is another possibility that promotes interaction. Go live by yourself or with others and speak directly to your audience. If you are looking to promote a website with longer video content, then use IGTV.
In a world where images reign supreme, showcasing your website in Instagram seems attractive enough, because creating visual content is what we are going to do.
One successful Instagram campaign example is Starbucks’s #RedCupContest. Starbucks also urged its fans to share photos of their Christmas cups. The best photos are rewarded with prize money.
7. Youtube
Where people watch YouTube is getting older YouTube’s appeal comes across all age groups in the US – roughly 73% of teens, ages 12-17 (soon to be teen also show a strong preference) use the website.
YouTube can be a great source of traffic to your main website. Consider turning some of the articles and content you write into a video.
For instance, if you have a how-to article about caring for pets, post a video that shows the process. Acknowledge the original article and post a link to it in the description box of your video.
Work with other creators to reach more followers — especially those who have a following that coincides with your niche. But when you’re actually contacting someone to work with them, be sure to build some connection first and then give them something useful.
If you’re considering paid options, influencer marketing is big on the site. You can have them talk about your website or product on a video if you sponsor a creator.
8. Online Forums
Online Communities are places where people can discuss things of a common interest. There are forum communities centered around particular subjects: TheCatSite for cat lovers; Vinyl Collective for vinyl record collectors.
Some platforms, such as Reddit, are hosting multiple communities’ spaces.
Reddit is a place to discuss and share content on just about anything. Before becoming part of Reddit know its ins and out, where to find your relevant niche.
Public advertising, as we all know, is usually frowned upon in online communities such as Reddit. You will have rules and moderation in every subreddit you must play by. You’ll be banned if you don’t.
Make sure to play it cool in the sub you’re targeting. First, join as a member of the community by posting relevant shares and engaging with our fans.
Once you have a good approval rating from upvotes, start working your site into appropriate conversations. But be sure to do so in compliance with the subreddit’s rules.
OR, if you are an actress or a famous brand, you can host Ask Me Anything. During these sessions, the users of Reddit can engage with you and ask questions about issues that are important to them.
9. Pinterest
Pinterest is a social curation service that enables users to find and save several images or videos, which are known as “pins,” into different “boards.”
In all, women are the platform’s most frequent users; as of January 2021, 77.1% of all worldwide users were female. More than half (50%) of all Pinterest users are in the US, so it’s a good platform to use for targeting an audience while being based in the US.
Pinterest, is showing itself to be a great new platform for […] Its users are three times more likely to access a brand website than people on other platforms.
In order to promote your site create pins and boards with images which reflect its content. E.g., turn your blogs into blog snippets and infographics! And don’t forget to ensure that the titles link back to the original articles on your site.
To get discovered more, be part of similar group boards in your niche. Apply to lots of group boards, especially the larger ones. To encourage participation, make your own group board and invite people to it.
IKEA does a bang up job executing a winning Pinterest campaign.
