Web traffic is the lifeblood of the Internet. With it, your website will thrive and your customer base will grow; without it, both your website and your business may stagnate. How, then, can you increase that all-important traffic flow? One way is to seduce the big search engines. Hire a copywriter to create intriguing, SEO friendly content for your website. Another way is to increase your social media presence.
Why “likes” matter
You may think getting people to “like” your company Facebook page is like a popularity contest. You’re just proving to the world that your business has lots of friends, right? Actually, that’s not the case. Likes are a way to connect with potential customers and let them spread the word about your business and your products. Here’s how it works: When someone “likes” your company Facebook page, it’s not just a statement of personal taste. As soon as that customer hits your like button, an announcement with a link back to your webpage appears on the news feeds of all the other Facebook users that person has befriended. That’s big. All those people now have the opportunity to go straight to your website. If they like what they see and hit that like button themselves, your link will be broadcast to more potential customers who may “like” you as well. Traffic to your site can literally grow exponentially.
How to start that snowball rolling
Okay, you’re convinced. You’ve set up your Facebook account and you’ve got your like button installed. Now it’s time to just sit back and wait for a curious user to wander by, right? Wrong. Time is money in any business, and you never want to waste it. Take a proactive approach to building your Facebook following. Here’s how:
- Set the bait – Offer a giveaway to customers who “like” you; a cents-off coupon, a free product, a chance to win a gift card, almost anything will do.
- Make it easy – Use a program like Rafflecopter. This giveaway widget will automate the whole process for you, making it easy for people to enter your contest.
- Get the word out – Find places to announce your giveaway. Mention it on your blog, if you have one, or in the comment section of other, industry-specific blogs. You can even list your giveaway on a site where people go looking for offers like yours, GiveAwayScoop, for example.
Don’t rest on your laurels
You wouldn’t give away dance tickets without booking a band, would you? Well, the same thing applies here. Before all your new fans start showing up, hire a copywriter to make sure that your website content is professional and appealing. All the traffic in the world won’t help your business grow if those eager new browsers show up expecting a party but only find a vacant hall.
Kate C is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
