More than 2 million blog posts go live every day….
That little fact right there, tells us the internet is a super competitive space!
So the question is how do you get your blog noticed?
First things first, don’t obsess about your blog traffic. I know firsthand how easy it is to feel disappointed when you’re creating content and hardly anyone’s reading it.
I used to check Google analytics about five times a day. It’s as if I hoped a magical blog traffic fairy would sprinkle traffic dust and all of a sudden my blog’s traffic would quadruple. After a while, I decided I couldn’t do that anymore.
If you do find yourself doing the same thing, it’s best to use that time and energy elsewhere. Put in place different traffic growth strategies. And don’t rely on just one traffic source like Google, Pinterest, or Facebook.
Do these two things and in time you’ll start to see your traffic grow.
But what strategies should you use?
Worry, not….that’s what I’m gonna discuss in this post. I’ve got 49 easy ways for you to increase your blog traffic.
How to get traffic to your blog
1. Create high-quality content
You don’t have to be an award-winning writer, I mean no one’s looking for you to be Shakespeare or anything.
But you should write well. Use Grammarly to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. It’s completely free. You can use this link (AF) to sign up.
I love Grammarly and I use the premium version which I couldn’t live without. Grammarly is pretty much an automated proof-reader.
With the paid version I can make sure my sentences aren’t lengthy, that my writing is engaging, inclusive, and so much more. If you aren’t using Grammarly (AF) already, I really encourage you to get started.
2. Solve your reader’s problems
To write quality content that turns your audience into loyal fans, you’ll need to solve their problems. Get into the habit of asking yourself what your reader’s pain points are.
What problems keep them awake at night? Zach Browman calls this the glass of wine test. So basically, if your target reader was out with a friend having a glass of wine, and their friend said to them so what’s going on with you?
And they replied…”Well, I just wish I had……” – whatever comes after the ‘had’ will be their problem. And that’s the problem you should go about solving.
For a more in-depth explanation of the glass of wine test, watch this video.
3. Blog consistently
Google likes fresh content. Readers like blogs that are updated regularly. Produce fresh content on a regular basis and everyone’s happy.
Google will send readers your way and they’ll be happy knowing every time they visit your blog, they’re gonna get amazing content consistently.
4. Add related posts to blog post
Use the Related Posts plugin to keep your readers on your blog for longer. This plugin does exactly what it says on the tin. After each post the plugin generates a list of similar posts.
Your readers will click one post, then click another and another. This is an effective way to increase your page views. You can also manually add related posts into your blog posts.
5. Write catchy headlines
Remember all that competition I talked about at the beginning of this post. Well, the number one way you can stand out is by using catchy headlines.
Your headline will be the deciding factor on whether readers click through to read your blog posts or not. Coschedule Headline analyzer and OptinMonster Headline analyzer are both pretty good.
Check out sites like BuzzFeed, Cosmopolitan and Medium for inspiration. Also, pay attention to headlines when reading your favourite magazine.
Make a note of the headlines that stand out and find ways to recreate similar headlines on your blog.
6. Create long-form content
Posts that are 1000 to 2000 words long tend to rank better in Google’s search results than short-form content. They’re also more likely to be shared and linked to. But that doesn’t mean you should write long fluffy articles just to make up the word count. For the best results make your blog posts relevant and include topics that competing articles haven’t thought about.
7. Link your blog posts together
What does this mean? Basically you insert a link in one of your blog posts to another one of your blog posts. The post you link to should be relevant.
Linking blog posts together in this way is necessary for SEO. It also reduces your bounce rate i.e how quickly your readers leave your blog.
Ideally you want your readers to stay on your blog as long as possible, going from one blog post to the next.
8. Write a series for your blog
To get traffic to your blog traffic, write a series of posts (at least 5) based on a particular topic in your niche. Each post can be anywhere between 750 to 1000 words.
At the end of each post, let your readers know what you’ll be covering in the next instalment of the series. Be sure, to interlink between all the posts in the series to give your SEO a boost.
9. Write a round-up post
A round-up post is an article where lots of different people share their opinion about a particular subject like, “12 Foodie Experts Share their tips for Healthy Eating”. Ask other bloggers in your niche to participate in a round-up post and chances are they’ll share the post with their readers meaning you get lots of lovely traffic and an SEO boost. I love reading a good round-up and many other people do too.
10. Write a list post
Just like round-up posts, list posts are a winner too. For example, this is a list post. It’s a list of different ways to grow your blog traffic.
List posts are easy to skim read and readers can easily pick up where they left off. That’s why list posts are so popular. People also like to share list posts and if you’re lucky your list post could go viral.
11. Interview other bloggers in your niche
You can do an email, video or a podcast interview with other bloggers and influencers in your niche. Interviews are an excellent way to get traffic from your interviewees readership.
Interviews with people trusted in your niche will also give you trust worthiness too.
‘Cause the way your readers will see it – if you’ve been able to interview an influencer in your niche, then you’ve been trusted by that particular influencer.
I personally love this way of growing traffic simply because I like interviewing and getting tips from fellow bloggers in my niche. It’s something I really enjoy.
12. Ask your readers what they really, really want…
Alright, we’ve established that your content should cater to your audience. So, who best to ask what you should blog about than your readers?
Email a survey to your newsletter, send out a tweet, or host a poll on Instagram. You could also write a blog or Facebook post asking readers to leave a comment with any topics they’d like you to cover.
Not only will this give you lots of material, but it’ll show your readers you care what they think, in turn, they’ll keep coming back.
13. Update old blog posts
It’s good practice to regularly review your old content and refresh posts that can be updated.
Why? Firstly, like I said earlier, Google likes fresh content and prioritizes content that’s been recently updated.
Secondly, this is a brilliant opportunity to generate traffic to your site without having to write a post from scratch.
14. Check what other blogs in your niche are writing about
Another way to find out what topics your readers want to read? Check which posts are most popular on other blogs in your niche.
Use a tool like SEMRush to make a list of the top posts on competing blogs. Write posts covering the same topics but don’t plagiarize their content. Talk about the topic from your point of view and improve on what’s already been written. Include information that’s not already been covered in the posts you’ve read.
15. Use high-quality images
Images make blog posts easier to read, by breaking up your content. So it’s important to use attention-grabbing images in your posts. This can be anything from illustrations to infographics or relevant stock photos. To make your content easier to share, you can use a tool like Canva to include images that are ready for social media like the one below. Images like this make it easier for your readers to share your post on Pinterest, making it more likely to be shared.
16. Use Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a treasure chest filled with gems of information. It tells you how many people visit your blog, how long they stay for, and which posts they visit the most and SO much more. Review your data in Google Analytics to find out which posts are the most popular, to get a better idea of what content your readers want. You can also discover which social media channel generates the most traffic for your blog, so you can focus more of your efforts on the most effective social media platform.
17. Keyword research
Keywords are terms or phrases that people enter in Google to find articles to solve their problems. By researching keywords you make sure from the start that your readers are searching Google for the topic you want to write about. And by using these keywords in your post you’ll also ensure that they’ll find your blog.
I like to use Keywords Everywhere. Keywords Everywhere provides information on how much traffic a keyword gets and how difficult it is to rank for that keyword. I use Ahrefs alongside Keywords Everywhere because Ahrefs gives more in-depth information like which keywords competing blogs rank for.
If a blog with a similar or less domain ranking than yours is positioned highly in Google for a keyword, you can rank for that keyword too, especially if your content is better. Try using Ahrefs to find keywords that your competitors rank for and write content using those keywords. For $7 you can use Ahrefs for 7 days and get a lot of useful information.
Be well prepared. Have a list of your competitors ready, before you start your trial, to make the most of those 7 days. You can also use SEMRush to find keywords your competitors rank for.
18. Add related keywords to Your Content
Okay so…you’ve done your keyword research and you have the main keyword you’d like to use. You can also use keywords that are related to your main keyword, in your blog post. This helps Google know exactly what your post is all about and it means you can rank for these related keywords too AND get more traffic to your blog. For example, let’s say your main keyword is french fashion. A related keyword would be french fashion designers. You can use Keywords Everywhere to find related keywords. Use keywords sensibly in your posts, and avoid overstuffing your content with your keywords.
19. Target long-tail keywords
Firstly let’s tackle what a long-tail keyword is. Beauty or french fashion is called a short-tail keyword. It’s made up of 1 or 2 words that people search for. But there are LOTS of blogs all fighting for short-tail keywords. And any website that ranks for these terms usually has a high domain authority. So while they may be lots of people searching for these terms, it’s also pretty competitive.
Long-tail keywords on the other hand like ‘beauty salon near me’, which have 3 or more words are easier (especially for newer blogs) to rank for. Yes, long-tail keywords have a lower search volume but targeting them is a good way to get more organic traffic to your blog.
You can use Keywords Everywhere to find long-tail keywords for your blog posts. Keywords Everywhere will also tell you how competitive your chosen long-tail keyword is. You want the competition to be below 1. So anything as close to 0 is perfect.
20. Build an email list
Alright, so you’ve probably heard the ‘money’ is in your email list. That’s because ‘traffic’ is in your email list too. By having an email list, you’ll always have direct access to your readers. If Google or any social media platform you use, changes its algorithm, it doesn’t matter, you can still get in touch with your tribe. And you can update them whenever you have a new post and generate lots of lovely traffic. If you don’t already have an email list, you can start one now for free using my favourite tool, ConvertKit.
21. Create lead magnets
So, the more subscribers you have the more traffic you can generate right? To grow your email list fast, you can use lead magnets. A lead magnet is a freebie that solves a problem for your readers. It can be anything from a ‘checklist’ to a ‘step by step guide’. Your readers can get access to your freebie once they’ve signed up to your email list. Promote your lead magnet, in relevant blog posts, on your home page and on social media.
22. Put content upgrades in your popular posts
Use Google Analytics to find out which post is the most popular on your blog and create a freebie specifically for this post. Place a sign-up form to access this freebie in the middle of your popular post. You can use Convertkit to do this. This strategy is called a content upgrade and has the potential to skyrocket your email list.
23. Include a link to your lead magnet (or your blog) in your email signature
Don’t reserve your email signature for your contact info only. Also, include a link back to either your blog or one of your lead magnets in your signature. You’d be surprised how many people click through to visit your blog using the link in your signature.
24. Create an online quiz
Quizzes are fun. I mean I love taking quizzes. They’re a nice escape. They’re also a strategic method of getting readers to your blog because the majority of people love quizzes too. Create your own online quiz and promote it on social media. Want to grow your email list too? Create a freebie related to your quiz and have your readers sign up to your email list to download the freebie.
25. Get to your know your readers
Respond to comments and social media messages. Have a contact page in which your readers can get in touch with you and reply to their emails. Work towards building a community of engaged readers who feel like you’re their friend. Readers will keep coming back to your blog if they feel like they have a relationship with you.
26. Do a podcast interview
Interviews are a fantastic way to reach a whole new audience and have them get to know you in a short space of time. If they like what they hear they’ll visit your blog. Reach out to relevant podcasters, tell them who you are, what you do and why you’d be a fab guest on their podcast.
27. Become a source on Haro
Backlinks (links from other websites) are super important for your blog. They help increase your domain authority because Google figures if many sites are linking to this blog, it must have some authority. And an increase in authority results in your blog posts ranking higher in Google’s search results. This means, yep you guessed it – more traffic! Getting backlinks isn’t a walk in the park but there are ways to get links to your blog. One of them is becoming a source of Haro. Haro is a website that connects journalists with sources who provide quotes for their articles. Alongside your quote will be a link to your website and subsequently a nice backlink. Submit yourself as a source on Haro and snap up any relevant opportunities.
28. Start a Facebook group
Starting a Facebook group takes work to maintain but it’s a good way of building a community and as well as getting traffic back to your blog. It’s also a nice way to get to know your readers better and communicate with them directly.
29. Focus on the social media channel your audience uses the most
As a busy mum it’s impossible to put your efforts into all the social media platforms out there. Instead, do a bit of research to find out where your target audience spends most of their time and go hard promoting your content there. It’ll save you time and you’ll get a better return on your investment.
30. Answer questions on Quora
I’ve discovered some amazing blogs on Quora and I’ve been using it quite a bit lately. If you like answering questions, Quora is a good place to build your authority. Sign up to Quora and answer questions related to your niche. If you provide a valuable answer, chances are readers will check out your blog, especially if you include a link to a relevant blog post of yours in your answer.
31. Write on Medium
Medium is an online publishing platform and it has over 60 million active users (myself included). The quality of articles on Medium is stellar and it’s one of the few publishing platforms I pay for to read content. You can write for Medium and drive traffic back to your blog for free by linking to other posts on your blog in your article. You can also promote yourself with an author box explaining who you are and what you write about.
32. Promote your content on Pinterest
Hands down, Pinterest is one of the best places to get traffic to your blog right now. You don’t need to have a huge domain authority to get all that traffic either. Pinterest is a separate search engine to Google and domain authority doesn’t determine if your pins rank highly in Pinterest. Just create quality, eye-catching pins, with a keyworded title and description, add some hashtags and post regularly. That’s the basics. There’s a bit more to it, but it’s not complicated and very easy to learn. If you want to grow your traffic using Pinterest, I really recommend Elna Cain’s Pinterest course – Pinterest Perfection Masterclass (AF).
33. Launch a YouTube Channel
If you’re comfortable in front of the camera, then YouTube is an ideal way to promote you and your blog. It’s also a search engine so, like Pinterest, it doesn’t matter if your blog hasn’t gained enough authority to rank in Google. People will still find your videos and visit your blog to read your posts especially if you put links back to your blog in your video descriptions.
34. Add social sharing buttons
Make it easier for your audience to share your content on social media by using social sharing buttons. It’s easy to do, just install a plugin like Social Warfare. Try to keep the sharing options to a minimum because the more social buttons you add the less likely your readers will share your article. I like to use just Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
35. Use the click to tweet plugin
Another social sharing button, I like is Click To Tweet. Use Click To Tweet to prepare a tweet, place it in your blog post, and when a reader clicks the text, it’ll be shared automatically to Twitter. Easy peasy! Like an image, Click To Tweet also breaks up your post making it easier to read. So you kill two birds with one stone, as they say.
36. Share your posts on social media
Keep your blog posts alive and still driving traffic to your blog by regularly resharing them on social media. You can do this automatically and for free using a plugin like Revive Old Posts.
37. Use Tailwind
Okay, so you’ve got the hang of Pinterest but you don’t have the time to constantly pin to Pinterest. I highly recommend using Tailwind to automate sharing your content on Pinterest. Tailwind was a complete game-changer for me. I use Tailwind to batch schedule my pins, and it saves me SO much time. Tailwind offers a free trial, so you can schedule 100 pins completely free. Batch schedule your pins and watch your traffic grow with less time and effort!
38. Guest post for other blogs
A guest post is a blog post that you write for another blog preferably in your niche. It can be time-consuming but it’s worth it especially if the other blog has a higher domain rating than yours. The backlink you get from the guest post as well as the traffic back to your blog will do wonders for your SEO.
Make a list of potential blogs that have a strong following and an engaged audience. Send them an email with a bit about yourself, your blog and include the possible titles you could write for their blog. In your guest post, include a link to a post with a lead magnet in the content so you can collect email addresses from the traffic you get. Respond to comments on your guest post, to build further engagement.
39. Invest in paid ads
If you have some money to invest in your blog, then consider paid advertising. Experiment with Google Adsense, Facebook and Pinterest to see which platform converts best. Advertise a popular post on your blog with a lead magnet included in the content to convert visitors to subscribers. Once you know which advertising platform works well for your blog, run regular ads in the future with the intention of growing your email list.
40. Comment on other blogs
Leave comments on other blogs in your niche. This helps to build a relationship with the blog owner as well as connect with other bloggers who read the post. It won’t immediately generate traffic but it will in the future when you’ve made connections. This is a strategy that’s as old as time, and one that’s very effective. I know, I personally look at the comments section of blog posts I’ve really enjoyed and I’ve also clicked through to check out the blogs from comments that I’ve found helpful too. To be honest, I’ve discovered some of my favourite blogs doing this.
41. Join Facebook groups
Facebook groups are filled with opportunities. They’re not only an excellent way to network but they’re a great place to get help and find content ideas. Join Facebook groups related to your niche as well as groups focused on blogging. Ask and answer questions. Pay attention to what other people are asking and see if you can create a blog post solving the problem in question. Some groups that I recommend are Mom to Mompreneur, Blogging for New Bloggers and Becoming a blogger.
42. Start a Podcast
Let your audience get to know you better, while attracting a new audience via a podcast. A podcast is pretty much an audio format of a blog post. So why not get started by repurposing some of your old content into podcasts. You can use the opportunity to dig a little deeper into the subject matter.
43. Participate in Facebook Lives
Facebook Lives is a perfect way to cement your authority in your niche and engage with your readers, which in turn drives traffic to your blog. Connect with your audience by answering their questions during your Facebook Live.
44. Host a giveaway
Giveaways are one of the main ways I generated traffic to my blog My Fashion Life in the early days and it proved to be very successful in building up my social media channels and email list too. If you haven’t got the budget to buy a prize for your giveaway, then why not partner with a brand? I partnered with brands and in return we shared the email addresses we’d collected from the competition. Or you could split the cost and host a competition with another blogger in your niche.
45. Join conversations on Forums
Find forums in your niche that have a decent-sized community and get involved in conversations. Link to relevant posts on your blog and anyone who’s interested will click through and read what you’ve got to say.
46. Network with Other Bloggers
Like with most other careers, networking is key in blogging. Other bloggers in your niche can give you some useful tips and tricks and vice versa. They’ll also be more inclined to link to your content if you’ve already got a relationship. So be proactive in connecting with other bloggers. As I mentioned earlier, join Facebook groups and don’t be afraid to email your favourite bloggers. Let them know how much you like their content. But, don’t expect an instant friendship. The relationship may take a while to build but it’ll be worth it.
47. Improve your page speed
If your blog takes a long time to load, you’ll lose visitors. We live in a fast-paced world and if a reader can’t access your site within 2 to 3 seconds they’ll head on over somewhere else. Plus a slow website negatively affects your SEO. Click here to check how fast your blog loads. Also, ditch any unnecessary plugins and use a cache plugin like WP Rocket to improve the speed of your site.
48. Use the Yoast SEO plugin
Optimize your posts for SEO with the Yoast SEO plugin. Yoast SEO makes sure you’ve used your keywords correctly, inserted alt tags in your images and have a meta description with your keyword included. All of this is important because it makes it easier for Google to understand what your blog post is about.
49. Have a responsive website design
Around 2 billion people use only their smartphones to access the internet. Have a look at Google Analytics to see exactly how many of your readers visit your blog using their mobile phones. I’ll bet it’s a lot. Give your users the best experience by ensuring your website is responsive. This means it responds to whatever gadget your reader is using, whether that’s a tablet or smartphone. If your website breaks or doesn’t look good, chances are the user will be gone and that’s lost traffic. Also an unresponsive website will hurt your SEO. A responsive website design is one of the factors Google takes into consideration when ranking your blog.
To Conclude
Phew, that was a long post! To sum up, getting traffic to your blog isn’t hard, but it takes effort. Implement as many of these strategies as you can and in time your traffic will get to where you want it to be. Remember the aim is to get your content seen first and foremost, then get your audience to come back by building a relationship with the