How to get people to your new website
Jack Ogston 25th of May 2021
So you’ve got a new website… But how do you get people there? It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of having a new site, especially if you’re used to running your business through a Facebook page or it’s a real upgrade from your last setup.
We’ve put together a few tips and ideas on how you can make sure you’re doing the most to get yourself out there and drive people to your website.
Local press promotion
If you want people to find out about you, you need to tell them! Local press coverage can be a great way of shouting about your business, all you need is to find a newsworthy hook, so whether you’re planning a launch party to kick start your new business, or there’s something that sets you apart from the rest, get in touch with your local papers and magazines.
There are other options aside from news stories as well. Maybe you’re a chef with your own restaurant – how about approaching your local lifestyle magazine with a view to writing a regular recipe column? Or maybe you’re a yoga teacher; perhaps the sports section of your local paper might come and write about your studio?
Trade press promotion
You don’t just have to limit yourself to local press. Are there any trade publications that might be interested in your news? Contact details aren’t hard to find via Google or in print, so if you’re confident that they will be interested in your business or product, get in touch to let them know.
Again, think about the hook for your story. What makes you stand out from the competition? Tailoring your approach to each outlet will give you the angle to pitch to each publication.
Blogging
Whilst blogging may seem a bit daunting, it can be a really useful platform to promote your business. Blogging doesn’t mean you have to churn out daily posts, but creating a plan is an easy way to make sure it doesn’t seem too overwhelming. Whether it’s one post a month or an ad-hoc update plan, make sure your blog posts also reflect the quality of your business.
Collaborating with other businesses on blogs can be a great way to get your website in front of more people as well as generating new content for your site. Perhaps you could do an interview with one of your suppliers and ask them to share across their website and social media channels, or get in touch with a travel blogger if they will blog for you in return for a free night’s stay.
Could you use your blog to reach customers further afield? Going back to our yoga teacher example; as well as putting on classes for local people, you could create a plan for people to download and do at home so they can follow along without being there in person.
Backlinks
Getting links to your website from other websites (known as backlinks), particularly those that are already well established, is not only a great way to send people to your site, but it’s useful for SEO as well.
It’s worth looking into websites that might showcase businesses like yours and allow you to add backlinks. Try Googling larger competitors to see where their website is being featured. Depending on what your business does, there are different sites you could consider. If you’re a local tourist attraction for example, then getting your business listed on VisitScotland is a great way to drive traffic to your site whilst also building your site authority on Google too. On the other hand, you might be a restaurant owner – is there a local or national directory that you could sign up to be included in?
Going back to our local and trade press promotion advice above, if media outlets will link to your site, this will help direct people there from articles.
If you’re new to the world of SEO and you’re wondering where to start, we’ve got a blog post that might come in handy. It’s a really useful overview of some SEO activities for start-ups and small businesses to consider.
Social media
If you’re not already using social media to promote your business, it can be a useful tool for you to get your business out there in front of even more people. Searching for key terms, hashtags, getting involved in conversations, and showing people what you do can encourage traffic to your website.
If you’re posting to social media, try to encourage people to visit your website. Sharing a picture of your recipe? Direct people to your site to find out how you made it. Maybe you’ve got a great offer on Easter weekend getaways; share these on social media to let people know.
Use your mailing list
Do you have a newsletter or a database of customers? This is another way to target existing customers, as well as sign new people up to be part of your community. Platforms like MailChimp and TinyLetter make it really easy to set up a newsletter and mailing list, just remember to ensure that you’re complying with GDPR rules.
Google My Business listing
A Google My Business listing will help your business, including your website, appear in local search results. Check out our post on Google My Business ranking factors for more information on the most important factors that you should be focusing on.
So there you have it. Some handy tips that can help you drive traffic to your website. If you’re here because you’re wondering why your new website isn’t being found on Google yet, we’ve got a whole post about that too. Don’t say we’re not good to you.
