Simple and Free Way to Attract Website Traffic (and not everyone's doing it)

Wait, what? Are websites still a thing?

Hell yeah.

I am lucky (old) enough to have been at university studying marketing when websites were the Next Big Thing. It was revolutionary and the implications it would have for advertising, promotion and selling was really exciting. The problem at the time? Only about 9% of the UK were online and those who were, it was (shudder) dial up*.

Fast forward 25 years and 96% of UK consumers are online but their search behaviours are quite different. Consumers tend not to set out looking for a company website and instead rely on search engine results to guide them.

Google is still by far the most popular search engine used to find companies/services and will present users with a range of what it think are best match results. By optimising your own website and keeping the content fresh, you can help pull yourself up the Google rankings meaning more people find you from their search.

Consumers may type "Roofers in Glasgow" into Google and results could show anything relevant from social media platforms to results that take the consumer away and potentially on a different search path like 'Checkatrade' (unless of course you're a roofer in Glasgow on Checkatrade in which case, great!).

Websites still play a really important role in customers finding you and with a little work, allow you to increase your visibility in search engines. Your aim is to be on the first page of search results, preferably at the top.

One really easy way to boost your ranking is to update your website content regularly.

Updated content shows the search engine robots (called 'crawlers') that your website is active and as a result of this, you'll be punted up the google rankings. An easy way to look at it is that Google likes to present users with the latest, freshest info rather than stagnant content that's been sitting there unchanged for years.

'But my website says everything it needs to say, no more no less!'

I hear you. It's not the general content you need to change regularly so don't worry. The

easiest way to show an 'active' website is to add a blog or a news section and commit to updating it once a week.

Make it industry relevant (remember the Google-bots crawling around your site looking for new and relevant words to link you in searches?) and make it cool, funny, educational or useful and you're onto a winner. Unfortunately you can't just pepper it with random keywords, Google-bots have cottoned onto that old trick.

One last tip, choose a kick-ass headline for each entry. The more people who click to actually read your articles, the more wonderous things will happen for your search engine optimisation.

Some great blogs/news pages to take inspiration from:

• #EstherPerel is a Belgian psychotherapist who explores the tension in relationships. She's an amazing woman and her blog is equally brilliant. It's packed full of key words and incredibly well written. Check it out here.

• Scare tactics work and #Greenpeace have plenty to shout about. They make great use of shocking headlines, have a look at their news area here.

• You'll find a delicious piece of escapism if you search for 'restoration VW split screen'. The guest blog on #LoveCampers by Emma Croman is brilliantly written, has great tips and stunning photographs. You'll find it here.

Keeping your website content fresh and new is just one way to start seeing an increase in traffic but there are many other ways to increase your ratings. If you'd like some help in this area, or you don't have time to write a blog every week, get in touch with Aye Media. We're a boutique marketing agency with low operating costs so we pass the savings onto you.

Be the first to read our words of wisdom (along with the odd giveaway and incentive of course) by subscribing to the Aye Media Friends list on our website. #marketing #SEO #webtraffic

*As you waited for the internet to load, you'd have time to go whip up a small batch of pâte à choux. Depending on your dial up speed you might have had time to hand deliver your pastry gifts to friends and family.