Updated in October 2024
You might believe that making money requires spending money, but that’s not always the case. Driving traffic doesn’t have to be as costly as it seems. In fact, you can generate traffic for free. It may take some time to grow, but by carefully considering what your audience wants to hear and how to deliver it, you can craft valuable content that, over time, attracts solid organic traffic.
We like to call it free traffic, but that’s not entirely accurate. Hate to break it to you! Building an organic traffic strategy does require time and effort, but it doesn’t always mean spending money. There are plenty of fresh techniques companies are using to bring visitors to their site in a smart way.
We’ve explored 11 of these strategies for you to consider. Since the ultimate aim is to create high-quality content, choosing the tactics that align best with your strategy is important. True quality comes from dedication, and it’s hard to give your best when you’re trying to do too much at once.
1. Craft outstanding content that performs well on Google
Aiming for a high ranking in Google search results is a great goal. It’s easy to overcomplicate things, but the key to ranking well is simple: your content needs to resonate with your potential customers.
Google is smart enough to understand how people think, which means you need to understand your audience. What information are they searching for? What content is working well for your competitors? What type of content do they engage with the most? Focus on answering their questions! Once you figure out what your content should cover, make sure it’s enjoyable to consume.
Keep in mind that your audience’s attention is being pulled in many directions, so the more your content flows logically with clear headings and subheadings, the easier it’ll be to read. Adding visuals will definitely help, too!
2. Optimize for readers and rankings
Building on the previous point, it’s not just the content itself that matters—it’s also the experience of consuming it. People are accessing your site from all kinds of devices, many of them small and handheld.
Your content needs to be optimized with responsive design, ensuring that icons and layouts adjust seamlessly to any screen size. This has become even more crucial since Google switched to mobile-first indexing in July 2019. Essentially, Google now evaluates the mobile version of your site first when determining where it ranks in search results. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re likely to appear further down the rankings—and no one wants to end up on page two of Google.
Beyond responsiveness, Google also values how long users stay on your site. The more time they spend, the more relevant your site appears in search results. Creating a smooth, user-friendly experience, like easy navigation, can help keep visitors engaged. Another way to boost time spent on your site is by including internal links in your posts. When it fits naturally, link to other related blog posts you’ve written. And don’t forget the importance of external links—if other websites are linking back to your content, it strengthens your credibility in Google’s eyes.
Finally, remember that your readers are searching for very specific, long-tail keywords. While more general terms return thousands of results that don’t always meet their needs, long-tail queries lead to more targeted and relevant content. Although these keywords might have a lower search volume, they tend to attract more qualified leads to your site.
3. Use influencer marketing
Who are influencers? They’re people with a following, influence, and engagement, and they’ve earned the respect of their audience. Influencers are well-connected and can spread your message to the right people, driving traffic to your site.
However, you don’t just want any influencer promoting your product or website. Each one has a specific niche, so finding the right fit is important. If they aren’t aligned with your brand, they’ll likely not respond; worse, their promotion won’t deliver any meaningful results for you.
That’s why partnering with a relevant influencer is key. Once you’ve identified a good match, they can collaborate with you in many ways, from sharing your links and offering promos to speaking at events or even co-creating content.
4. Write guest articles with links to your site
While writing guest articles does not offer immediate financial gain, it can bring the right audience to your site—people who may not have discovered it otherwise. Their time is valuable, so it is important they feel they are spending it wisely.
When looking for guest posting opportunities, consider the site’s authority, its traffic levels, how engaged the readers are, and whether they’re the audience you want to reach. Once you’ve determined the site’s value and built a relationship with the platform, focus on creating engaging content.
This will likely be the first time readers hear from you, so make a strong first impression! And don’t forget to link back to your site when guest posting—missing that step means missing out on driving valuable free traffic.
Q&A sites and forums are excellent platforms to demonstrate your expertise. These spaces let you share your knowledge where it’s most relevant. The best part? 1) They’re free, and 2) the people on these platforms are already showing interest, so you’re reaching a targeted audience. Engaging at this level is a great way to show that your brand is both knowledgeable and accessible.
User questions on public forums present opportunities to interact with your audience and guide them to your site. With so many questions out there, it’s important to be strategic about where you spend your time. Consider whether you can provide a better answer than what’s already there, how many people are following the question, and how much visibility it has. There’s no point in spending 20 minutes on a response if it’s only going to be seen by one person.
And, of course, don’t forget to link back to your site—either in your profile, your answer, or both!
6. Find partners for co-marketing
Maximize your results with minimal effort by teaming up with someone who has an audience that aligns with your goals. Apply a similar approach as you would for choosing guest blogging opportunities or influencers to work with (see #3 and #4). By sharing the workload for an event or new content, you can split the effort 50/50 and enjoy twice the rewards!
7. Be active on social media
Almost everyone is active on some social media platform these days. To connect with your audience, identify where they hang out—whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or YouTube—and make your presence felt there.
Start by pinpointing the social channels where your target audience is most active. There are various types of content you can share, such as blog posts, questions, addressing comments or complaints, and sharing engaging content related to your customers. Understand what your audience prefers and focus on those content types. Visuals, like pictures, get top engagement and help you stand out, especially for those with short attention spans. Be sure to include links to your site and landing pages in your social shares but avoid being spammy or repetitive.
Once you’ve found the right platforms and content strategies for your brand, consider using tools to automate your posts. This frees up time for you to stay on top of industry trends and participate in relevant conversations.
8. Submit your site to review platforms
This is an easy win that boosts your backlinks, and did you know that 90% of people read online reviews before visiting a business? There are numerous review sites and product directories where you should be listed. Start by identifying which sites are relevant to your industry and category and find out what they require to list your site.
Typically, you’ll need to provide a brief and more detailed description of your site, along with some contact information and your URL. Once your listing is approved, encourage your mailing list to upvote your listing or leave comments about the features they appreciate or how they’ve used your tool.
Popular directories include G2, GetApp, Capterra, TrustRadius, and Software Advice, but be sure to find the ones that best fit your niche.
9. Run a contest
There’s no denying it—people love contests, and even more, they love winning. Hosting a high-value, relevant giveaway can motivate people to provide you with valuable information. A well-targeted, short-term contest can drive more traffic to your site and spark engaging conversations with potential clients.
Giveaways are a great way to attract visitors to your website. Before promoting your contest, set a clear goal so you can measure its success. Then, share the contest with your email list and encourage users to visit your site and take action to enter. Don’t forget to leverage social media to spread the word and maximize your reach for the contest, ensuring you attract as much new traffic as possible.
10. Share Your Content on LinkedIn or Medium
Reposting your blog content on your personal LinkedIn or Medium can help expand your reach, especially since these platforms often have higher authority than your own site.
When you repost, make sure to tweak your content slightly. Consider sharing a shortened version with a link to the full post on your site to drive referral traffic.
Check out other successful posts on these platforms to see what made them stand out. Are there common patterns in titles or use of images? Keep in mind that while your content is valuable, it’s not being read on your site. Aim to attract these readers back to your site—perhaps by linking to a pop-up form that gathers their information.
11. Start a podcast
Lastly, starting a podcast is a brilliant way to drive traffic to your site, especially if writing isn’t your strong suit.
If you’re more engaging and effective through speaking, a podcast might be a great fit for you. Podcast listenership has been growing at a rate of 7.85% year over year, with 47% of the U.S. population listening to podcasts monthly. Bringing your dynamic personality to audio content can help you connect more deeply with your audience.
Podcasts are easy to consume and can be listened to almost anywhere, allowing you to reach a new audience that might not engage with written content. Does this sound like the right approach for you?
Conclusion
How does it feel to have 11 fantastic ideas right at your fingertips? No matter which ones you choose, you’ll find success if you approach your options strategically and commit fully to executing them with high quality.
You don’t need to spend thousands on ads to drive traffic to your site, but you do need to understand your field, create top-notch content, and practice patience. Good luck! We’d love to hear about your experiences with these methods. Once you’ve mastered driving organic traffic, focus on optimizing your landing pages to boost conversions.