40 ways to Increase Your Website Traffic (31 free, 9 paid methods)
As someone who’s built a successful multi-million dollar online business (i.e. the site you’re on right now), I definitely know the value of having consistent traffic to your website.
This post lays out 40 different methods you can try to boost your own website traffic. Feel free to use the table of contents to jump around.
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Table of Contents
Free Ways to Increase Your Website Traffic:
1. Write Remarkable Content on Your Blog
Nailing your content strategy should be priority #1, no discussion! I’m talking about creating blogs, videos, podcasts, or whatever format works for your audience – but making sure it over – delivers on quality. Don’t just rehash the same bland tips everyone else is putting out there. Get specific with unique, in-depth perspectives and examples that make your readers say “WOW, this is game-changing stuff!” The more you pack each piece of content with insights and value, the more it will get shared, rank in Google, and bring in your ideal leads. Trust me, after over two decades of creating content, I can tell you it makes all the difference. For more in-depth strategies on creating top-notch content, check out our Ultimate Guide to Remarkable Content.
2. Leverage On-Page SEO
Creating great content is important, but you also need to optimize that content for search engines to maximize your organic traffic. This is where on-page SEO comes in.
On-page SEO refers to all the elements on your website pages that you can tweak to increase your rankings in Google for relevant keywords. You’ll want to make sure you’re hitting all the right technical marks, like:
- Optimizing your images with descriptive alt text provides context for search engines and increases accessibility for visually impaired users.
- Using header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) properly to structure your content creates a logical hierarchy that makes your content easier to scan and understand.
- Creating compelling, keyword-rich meta descriptions and title tags optimizes the snippets that show up on search engine results pages, improving click-through rates.
- Strategically placing your target keywords in places like the URL, image alt text, and body copy allows search engines to use these placements as relevancy signals when ranking content.
3. Place Your Keywords Strategically
Picking the right keywords is half the battle when it comes to SEO. But even if you nail your keyword research, you won’t get far if you don’t actually use those keywords properly on your pages.
You can’t just throw your target keyword onto the page a few times and call it a day. Google looks for context and relevance. You need to place your keywords in the right strategic locations to reinforce topical relevance and make it crystal clear what your content is about.
Here’s where you’ll want to naturally work in your focus keyword and related terms:
Title tags – Having the main keyword in your page’s title tells Google (and visitors) exactly what the content covers.
Meta descriptions – While not a direct ranking factor, compelling meta descriptions with your keyword can boost click-through rates from SERPs.
Body introduction – Get your keyword worked into the first 100 words to quickly establish high relevance.
H2/H3 subheaders – Strategic use of keywords in your subheads creates a clear content hierarchy.
Body copy – Sprinkle that keyword and synonyms throughout in a natural, reader-friendly way.
Image alt text – Optimizing your images with keyword-rich alt text reinforces relevance.
The key is to make your keyword implementation look natural, not forced. Stuffing keywords haphazardly is a rookie SEO mistake that’ll get you penalized. Stick to a density of around 0.5-2% for your main keyword and work in related terms and synonyms.
4. Target Long-Tail Keywords
When it comes to SEO keyword strategy, don’t just go after the most popular head terms. Those competitive, high-volume keywords are incredibly difficult to rank for as a smaller website or business. Instead, you’ll see much better results by targeting more specific, long-tail keyword phrases. These have lower search volumes but also way less competition from big brands.
For example, rather than trying to rank for “online marketing” (good luck with that!), you’d be better off targeting something like “Facebook ads for online coaches” or “email marketing tips for ecommerce stores”.
These long-tail gems allow you to get on page one much more easily by going after relevant niches. And despite the lower search volumes, these super-targeted queries often convert better since they attract people further along in the buying cycle.
When doing keyword research, think about the specific language and phrases your ideal customers would actually use when searching. Get in their mindset and brainstorm all the long-tail variations related to your products/services.
5. Write Irresistible Blog Titles
You can have the best content in the world, but if your blog titles don’t grab attention, no one’s going to click and read it. Believe it or not, your blog titles are the most vital ranking factor. Just optimizing your titles can boost your website traffic by 500%.
Think about it from the reader’s perspective. When you’re scanning search results or your social feeds, you likely skim a dozen titles before one really pops out and compels you to click. That’s why crafting irresistible titles is so crucial.
Some title techniques that work well:
- Use clear, compelling, benefit-driven language (“Get Paid to Write Online: 7 Sites Hiring“)
- Instill curiosity with some mystery (“The Unusual Morning Ritual That Quadrupled My Energy“)
- Leverage trendy phrases or pop culture references (“3 Squid Game Money Lessons“)
- Identify a common pain point or desire (“How to Finally Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done“)
You get the idea—zero in on your audience’s wants, interests, and pain points. Then package your solution in an attention-grabbing title that’s simply too good to ignore.
And don’t obsess over perfectly optimizing titles for SEO at the expense of virality. While keywords are still important, user data shows that strong curiosity > keyword optimization. Master the art of writing titles that get clicks, shares, and traffiC.
6. Answer Questions on Google's "People Also Ask"
You know that box that appears on Google with additional questions related to your original search? That’s the “People Also Ask” section, and it’s an SEO goldmine.
Here’s how to take advantage of “People Also Ask”:
First, do a Google search for one of your target keywords. See what related questions pop up in that box. Those are content ideas you should absolutely cover. When you click on a question, even more suggested questions appear below it. Keep clicking through to unearth as many relevant questions as possible around that topic.
Then, create detailed, optimized content pages that comprehensively answer those questions better than anything else out there. Make sure to use the question phrase as a header and give in-depth, actionable answers.
Google wants to provide the best resource to satisfy each query. If your content truly answers those questions thoroughly and authoritatively, you have a great chance to earn a top spot.
Don’t just stop at one piece of content either. Continuously mine “People Also Ask” to map out months of content ideas targeting the most common questions in your niche. Consistently delivering quality answers will steadily increase your visibility and traffic over time.
7. Link Internally
Internal linking is a simple but powerful tactic. By strategically linking between related pages and posts on your site, you accomplish two key things:
- Improve the user experience by helping visitors discover more of your relevant content. This keeps them engaged and consuming more of your material.
- Send stronger signals to Google about the topic hierarchy and relationships between your pages. This reinforces what your content covers and can elevate rankings.
The key is to naturally incorporate 1-3 contextual internal links in each new piece of content you publish. Use descriptive anchor text linking to other valuable pages, posts, or content pillars on your site.
Don’t overdo it—stick to linking only when it adds value for the reader. But consistent internal linking provides a better experience for humans and clearer architecture for Google’s crawlers. It’s a win-win for driving more engaged traffic.
8. Build Backlinks
Backlinks are a great way to juice your Google rankings. But we’re not talking about any random link grabs here. You need relevant, natural links from legit sites that make Google see you as an authority.
Guest post aggressively across your niche. Give them great content and slip in a link back to your site. Make sure to provide real value.
Find broken links on sites and hit them up offering to replace those dead links with links to your awesome content. You solve their problem and earn a solid backlink.
Drop proprietary case studies packed with unique data and insights no one else has. That link-worthy material forces other sites to reference and link to you.
The goal is earning links through exceptional work, not buying them or using shady private blog networks that’ll get you penalized. Create linkable assets that authoritative sites can’t resist citing.
9. Improve Your Page Speed
With shortening attention spans, a slow-loading website is a surefire way to tank your traffic numbers. People simply won’t wait around for a sluggish page to render.
That’s why optimizing for lightning-fast load times is so crucial from both a user experience and SEO perspective. Google even uses page speed as a ranking factor, prioritizing faster sites over sluggish ones.
Start by running your site through Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool to get a performance score and list of recommended fixes. It analyzes multiple site speed metrics and provides technical optimization tips.
Some common areas to address:
- Image Optimization – Compress and resize images to reduce bloat while maintaining quality.
- Caching – Implement browser caching to temporarily store files locally for faster repeat loads.
- Code Minification – Minify your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code by removing unnecessary formatting to slim file sizes.
- Browser Rendering – Optimize how your pages render in the browser by prioritizing visible content.
- Plugin Pruning – Deactivate or remove any unnecessary plugins that could be dragging down performance.
You’ll also want to consider upgrading to better web hosting, enabling compression, leveraging a CDN, and various other techniques depending on your site’s setup.
10 Regularly Refresh Old Content
Don’t let your older blog posts go stale. Periodically revisit and revamp outdated content to give it new life:
- Update stats, images, and timely info
- Fix broken links
- Add new relevant keywords
- Enhance thin sections
A simple refresh makes posts look fresh again. This improved content signals Google to bump it up in rankings, driving more renewed traffic over time. Maintain a regular auditing schedule to identify which oldies need a polish.
11. Add Social Share Buttons
Embed clean share buttons for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. across your site and within posts themselves. Eliminate friction so readers can quickly beam your content to their feeds with minimal effort.
Those share buttons turn readers into virtual Internet megaphones, exposing each piece of content to exponentially more potential visitors. It’s a simple way to unlock a steady stream of new traffic from people who may have never found you otherwise.
12. Become a Guest Blogger
Seek out opportunities to contribute guest posts on authority blogs within your niche. This allows you to leverage their established audience to drive referral traffic, earn backlinks that boost SEO, increase brand exposure, and build relationships with influencers.
When guest posting, craft exceptional, in-depth content that provides immense value rather than being overly self-promotional. Once published, be sure to cross-promote the guest post heavily through your own email lists and social channels. And negotiate getting a 1-2 sentence bio with links back to your site.
13. Invite Others to Guest Blog on Your Site
Flip the guest blogging script by hosting quality contributors on your own site. You both benefit from fresh, authoritative content, incoming links/promotion from each other’s platforms, and potential to convert some of their followers into new subscribers.
Just be selective about who you collaborate with. Their content should align with your brand’s tone and quality standards. Provide clear guidelines upfront.
14. Create Video Content on YouTube
You can blog all you want, but if you’re not creating videos, you’re leaving a massive amount of traffic and money on the table. YouTube is the world’s second-biggest search engine and you need to be there.
Turn your static blog posts into engaging video breakdowns that people actually want to watch. Or launch a YouTube Shorts series giving away your best tips and advice in snackable, attention-grabbing bites.
Get over your fear of the camera and start creating a prolific video presence on YouTube today. It’s one of the highest-leverage ways to attract more eyeballs, generate more leads, and ultimately make more money online. Period.
15. Appear as a Guest on Podcasts
Want to drive massive traffic to your website? Then you need to start appearing as a guest expert on podcasts in your industry. Podcast listeners are highly engaged audiences starving for value. When you drop tactics and insights during interviews, fans can’t help but want to learn more from you.
Smart podcast guesting puts you in front of tons of potential new customers who’ve never heard of you before. And good hosts will gladly promote your site and offerings to their loyal following.
…but you don’t have to take the same path as everyone else. How would it look if you designed a Rich Life on your own terms? Take our quiz and find out:
16. Post to Relevant Social Platforms
Stop treating social media—Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and all other major platforms your audience is active on—like an afterthought. You should be aggressively promoting your latest blog posts and creating engagement-worthy original content made specifically for each platform.
Why? Because that’s how you turn your existing followers into consistent website visitors. And even better—their shares and engagement exposes your brand to their entire network of potential new fans and customers.
17. Engage Your Social Media Followers
Having a massive social following is meaningless if you can’t actually activate those people. You need to spark real interest and interaction.
Don’t just mindlessly broadcast. Create videos, do fun collabs, ask thought-provoking questions—anything to get your audience fired up and participating. Make it a two-way dialogue.
Look how I tapped into a current trend to ignite over 500 comments on this one post.
18. Create Engaging Videos
You need dedicated website videos – separate from YouTube.
I’m talking product demos, case studies, testimonials—videos tailored to overcome objections and push prospects through your funnel.
Sprinkle these video assets strategically across key pages like your homepage, product/service pages, pricing page and more. Show visitors exactly how your offering works and the results they can expect. Let happy customers sell them through authentic testimonial clips. The more video content you provide explaining your solution, the fewer questions and hesitations prospects will have about purchasing.
19. Add Hashtags
Hashtagging is key for getting your social posts discovered by the right people. But using a bunch of random #hashtags is a rookie mistake. You need to research and lock onto the specific hashtags your ideal audience is already following and engaging with.
On Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn—wherever your people hang out—those precisely targeted niche hashtags are how you cut through the noise and position your content front-and-center for the customers and subscribers you actually want.
20. Post at the Right Time
Timing is important on social media. Don’t just post whenever. Do your research. Analyze your account’s stats to pinpoint the peak times when your specific audience is most active online.
Then, schedule your posts to go live during those optimal windows. That’s how you maximize visibility in their feeds and get way more interaction.
21. Keep Your Eye on the Competition
Scope out what your competition is doing on social and their blogs. Reverse engineer their top-performing, traffic-driving content to understand what’s resonating with your shared audience.
But don’t just copy what they’re doing. Look for gaps to differentiate yourself with fresher angles and deeper expertise they’re missing. Get into the psyche of your target buyers by dissecting what motivates engagement.
You can then create ultra-relevant content tailored to attract those same people to your site. Constantly study and out-execute rivals—those delivering the most value win market share.
22. Host Webinars
Webinars are one of the most direct ways to build an audience list and drive audiences back to your website. Host live virtual trainings or workshops packed with tactical advice your audience craves.
During the webinar, show off your expertise but leave some key insights untapped. Then directly promote a content upgrade, lead magnet, or other gated material on your website as the next step.
23. Start an Email Newsletter
Use an email newsletter to share must-read insights and link to your latest posts, offers, and product pages. But don’t spam people into unsubscribing. Provide real value on a sustainable schedule they look forward to.
Nurture those relationships and you’ll own prime inbox real estate filled with warm prospects ready to consume everything on your site. The goal is to create an exceptional newsletter that pumps qualified traffic nonstop.
24. Create Targeted Landing Pages
A killer landing page is clutter-free and zeros in on a single irresistible offer—a discount code, free trial, or must-have lead magnet. Strip out all distractions and give people exactly what they need to take action.
When you nail the copy, design, and singular focus, your conversion rates will skyrocket.
25. Optimize Your Google Business Profile
First, make sure you’re using the real name of your business. Don’t try to stuff keywords in there. Google’s too smart for that and it just looks spammy to potential customers.
Second, list a local phone number, not some generic 1-800 line. People want to know they’re dealing with a legit local business they can actually get in touch with.
Third, double-check that your business hours are accurate. The last thing you want is someone showing up to a closed store because your profile info is outdated.
Fourth, photos matter big time. Upload high-quality, eye-catching images that showcase your business in the best light. Blurry or amateurish pics will turn people off fast.
Finally, spend time writing a compelling description that highlights what makes your business uniquely awesome. Don’t just regurgitate a generic list of services. Tell people why you’re the best at what you do and how you can solve their specific pain points.
The goal is to make your Google Business Profile as informative, engaging, and persuasive as possible. When someone finds you on Google, you want to make it a no-brainer for them to visit your website or storefront.
Nail your profile and you’ll see a serious uptick in high-quality traffic and leads. It’s some of the highest-ROI effort you can invest in your local online presence.
It’s one of the best things I’ve published (and 100% free), just tell me where to send it:
26. Get Listed in Online Directories
Solely relying on Google traffic is limiting. Expand your reach by getting listed in relevant online directories. However, don’t simply submit your information—take the time to fully optimize those listings.
Include a link to your website, keep your contact details updated, and actively encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your profiles. The more glowing feedback you accumulate, the more credible and appealing your business appears to potential customers.
When someone searches for your services in a directory, you want your listing to stand out as the obvious choice. Robust, actively managed profiles with stellar reviews will attract attention and drive users to click through to your site.
27. Learn From Your Analytics
Google Analytics and Search Console give you a goldmine of insights on what’s actually working to drive traffic. It lets you know the top content bringing people in, the juiciest keywords you’re ranking for, and detailed breakdowns of your audience.
Check those reports regularly. Find your biggest traffic winners, then double down on creating more of that good stuff people are devouring. At the same time, look for gaps and opportunities. Ask: Am I missing whole audience segments? Are there certain keyword topics I should own?
28. Start an Online Community
Creating a hub on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn allows you to build a tight-knit group around your brand’s specific niche and expertise. Instead of renting attention from social media’s broader feeds, you’re now in the center of YOUR captive audience eager for your insights.
An active community gives you a direct line to understand your market’s burning questions and pain points on the deepest level. Keep in mind that community connection nurtures real know-like-and-trust equity with your loyal members. When you eventually promote a new lead magnet, webinar, or paid offering, you already have their undivided attention.
29. Be Active in Social Media Forums
Don’t just promote into a vacuum—get active in the online communities your audience inhabits. Join relevant forums and groups, and consistently provide value through insightful commentary and answers. Make yourself a visible, authoritative voice.
The more you contribute upfront in these spaces, the more you elevate your credibility and exposure. Members will naturally start viewing you as a go-to expert, driving more profile and website visits as they seek out more of your premium insights. It’s a high-leverage way to build awareness and traffic for free.
30. Stay on Top of Industry Trends
Stay plugged into the current trends and conversations energizing your industry. What are the new hot topics and audience pain points right now? What’s on the horizon that you can prepare for?
Having your finger on the pulse ensures your content stays hyper-relevant and valuable to people’s latest needs and interests. Getting ahead of trends also allows you to attract early adopters who amplify your fresh perspectives. Staying dialed into the cutting edge is what keeps people coming back.
31. Leverage QR Codes to Increase Website Traffic
Use QR codes to instantly send people to your website from the real world. Plaster those scannable codes on everything—ads, mailings, product packaging, signs, business cards. With a quick phone scan, an interested person goes straight to your targeted website content. It bridges your offline and online marketing seamlessly
You can read the first chapter for free – just tell me where to send it:
Paid Ways to Increase Your Website Traffic:
32. Google Ads
Google Ads is one of the most powerful paid advertising platforms if you don’t know how to increase website traffic. You get to place your website at the very top of search results for keywords related to your business. When someone searches those terms, your clickable ad is the first thing they see and can send them straight to your site with a single click.
The key is mastering Google’s automated bidding system, where ad ranks are determined by weighing factors like relevance, quality, and the size of your bid amount. With strategic keyword research, compelling ad copy, and optimized landing pages, you can often “win” premium ad spots without having to wildly outbid competitors.
33. Google Maps Advertising
Wanna go fully omnichannel and extend your Google Ads beyond just search? Maps is where it’s at for reaching motivated prospects in “buy now” mode.
It works like this: when someone searches for “[your service] near me” on their phone, that sniper-focused intent should be setting off alarms. These are hot leads already in the consideration phase and looking to pull the trigger on a nearby option.
By setting up Google Maps ads, you can quite literally have your business listing pop up as the first option, with your clickable website link RIGHT THERE when they need it most.
34. Create a Free Tool
Want an endless internet traffic hack? Build a free tool that’s so valuable and remarkable it starts organically ranking and driving hoards of perfect prospects directly to your website’s digital doorstep for years.
I’m talking idea generators, hardcore assessments, addictive quizzes, or useful-as-hell calculators that both collect emails and AMAZE your audience with intense value and usefulness.
It requires putting in real work upfront to craft something extraordinary people will genuinely appreciate. But pull it off, and you essentially have a 24/7 automated marketing employee working relentlessly to expand your online empire’s reach.
35. Find the Right Partners
Scoring the right partnerships is an underrated traffic gold mine. Identify brands operating in complementary niches with similar audience overlaps. Work out mutually beneficial cross-promotions, co-branded offers, or affiliate arrangements to tap directly into their existing customer bases. With true partnership synergies, you’re unlocking a surge of primed, ready-to-convert visitors almost overnight through leveraged reach.
36. Consider Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a powerful channel for expanding your brand’s reach to an ideal audience. Identify creators with highly engaged communities aligned with your niche, and structure mutually beneficial partnerships like sponsored content, discount codes, or giveaways.
Their authentic influence and trusted voice accelerates credibility for your offering among a pre-qualified, primed audience. It’s a modern way to drive targeted traffic through the power of community-driven influence.
If you’re curious about the financial side of being an influencer, check out our post on How Much Money Do Influencers Make? 2024 Salaries Revealed.
37. Promote Your Content on Social Media
Social media advertising puts your content directly in the feeds of your perfect target audience. With hyper-specific targeting capabilities, you can laser in on serving your ads exclusively to users matching the precise demographics, interests, behaviors and other criteria that fit your ideal customer profile—from single moms making over $75K in Atlanta to CrossFit enthusiasts who are into keto. Deploy retargeting campaigns to focus on warm leads if possible.
38. Hire a UGC Creator
Influencer marketing gets all the hype. But lately, I’ve been even more impressed with the authentic selling power of UGC creators. They are the new marketing gem: micro-influencers with small but ferociously loyal followings who hang on to their every authentic recommendation.
Seed them with your products and sweet incentives, and these niche pioneers effortlessly unlock pipelines pumping eager buyers straight to your site through their stamp of trusted, virtual word-of-mouth referrals.
39. Display Advertising
Deploy display ads on relevant websites frequented by your target audience. Use eye-catching creatives and clear calls-to-action driving clicks. Retarget past visitors and find look-alike prospects. Continuously test and optimize highest performing ads. Calculate ROI before scaling budgets systematically on winners.
40. Retargeting Ads
Retargeting ads can show up on websites or social media feeds, targeting people who have previously visited your site. This strategy aims to boost your rate of returning visitors.
These ads keep your brand top-of-mind by displaying relevant offers and messaging to past website visitors as they browse other sites. It’s a way to re-engage interested prospects who may have gotten distracted before converting.
Final Thoughts
The online space is too competitive for half-measures. Organic efforts build long-term credibility, but paid advertising allows you to quickly capitalize on demand. Use them together to create a unified brand experience that dominates from the first touchpoint to the final conversion.
With a combined strategy, you gain the visibility to attract prospects and the stellar user experience to turn them into customers. That’s how you achieve powerful growth and returns. Master the complete playbook, not just part of it.
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Ramit Sethi
Host of Netflix's "How to Get Rich", NYT Bestselling Author & host of the hit I Will Teach You To Be Rich Podcast. For over 20 years, Ramit has been sharing proven strategies to help people like you take control of their money and live a Rich Life.
