Drive More Traffic: The 7 Essential Methods You Need to Know

Let’s face it, you need traffic to your website. Whether you’re selling handmade jewelry on Etsy, running a local bakery, or offering online coaching, getting eyes on your site is essential. But how do you actually get that traffic? You’ve probably heard a million different things, but really there are seven major channels for driving traffic.

Pick one of these channels, get really good at it, and you could see a huge jump in visitors. Let’s dive into the world of driving traffic to your website, exploring these seven channels: social media, referral sites, paid search, organic search, email, display ads, and direct traffic.

I. Social Media

If you want to get traffic to your website, social media is growing more and more important. Think of the countless hours people spend scrolling through their feeds. You need to be there! Luckily, there are two ways you can generate that traffic, through Paid and Organic methods

Paid Social Media

Need traffic and need it now? Paid social media ads are your fast track. It’s like flipping a switch, one minute you’re launching your ad, the next you’re getting views and clicks. It’s pretty awesome for instant visibility! I remember when I first set up paid ads for my friend, he went from a handful of site visitors to a few hundred, and he was so excited!

Organic Social Media

This is the long game, but trust me, the payoff can be huge. With organic social media, think snowball effect. It might start small, but as more people engage with your content, more will see it, then more will share it, and so on. Plus, it’s basically free traffic—who doesn’t love that? It leads to a higher return on investment.

The key with either method is making content that is good for your audience, right? Think of the three “E’s”: Engage, Entertain, Educate. If your content hits those marks, people are more likely to click through to your website.

But where to start? Facebook? YouTube? LinkedIn? Instagram? TikTok? X (formerly Twitter!)? Don’t try to be everywhere at once. Pick one or two platforms where your people hang out. Do some digging: Where does your target audience spend their time online? Focus your energy there, and you’ll see better results.

II. Referral Sites

Ever been reading an article online and clicked a link to another website? That’s referral traffic in action! Referral sites are simply websites that send visitors your way through links. Think of a magazine featuring your handmade soaps and including a link to your Etsy shop – that’s a referral. It’s like getting a shout-out from a friend, but that “friend” is another website.

There are three main sources of referral traffic you should know about:

• Business Directories:
  These are like the Yellow Pages of the internet. Getting listed in relevant directories – think Yelp for local businesses, or specialized directories for your industry – can send a steady stream of visitors. Many even offer options to pay to sponsor your listing, giving you even more visibility.
• Public Forums:
  Sites like Reddit and Quora are goldmines of questions from people looking for answers. If you can provide helpful, insightful responses and your website offers even more in-depth information, include a link! Just make sure it’s relevant and genuinely helpful, no one likes feeling like they’re being spammed. It’s a great way to get some traffic, build up trust, and establish yourself as a “go-to” person.
• Guest Blogging:
  This is where you write an article for another website in your niche or industry. It’s a win-win: they get great content, and you get exposure to their audience (plus a link back to your site!). Those links are also valuable for another reason, which we’ll talk about next.

III. Organic Search

This is the holy grail of website traffic. Organic search is what happens when someone types something into Google (or another search engine), and your website pops up in the results – without you paying for an ad. It’s basically free traffic from people actively searching for what you offer.

The trick, of course, is getting your website to rank high in those search results. And that takes a lot of work, patience, and playing by Google’s rules (or whatever major search engine that you want to get ranked on). Google has a whole set of best practices and guidelines, and you need to do a lot of optimization to get ranked.

You need to send the right signals to Google so it knows your site is valuable and relevant. These signals include things like:

• Backlinks: When other websites link to yours, especially reputable ones, Google sees that as a vote of confidence. It’s like the popular kid nodding your way in the school cafeteria.
• Time on Site: If people land on your site and stick around to read, watch, or explore, that tells Google your content is engaging.
• Bounce Rate: This is the opposite of time on site. If people click to your site and immediately leave, that’s a bad sign. It’s like walking into a store and immediately walking back out.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): A high CTR shows Google that your result is relevant to the user’s search, increasing your chances of ranking higher.

Be aware, getting to the top of Google’s search results takes time – we’re talking 5-12 months, maybe even longer, of consistent effort. But once you’re there, the rewards are substantial: a consistent stream of free, targeted traffic. I have this set up for 3 of my side blogs which all get organic traffic from Google and Pinterest on a daily basis.

IV. Paid Search (PPC)

We talked about organic search being the “holy grail” – well, paid search is the express lane. If you want traffic from search engines fast, this is your go-to. Instead of waiting months to rank organically, you pay to have your website show up at the very top of the search results, as an ad. It’s all based on a “pay-per-click” (PPC) system.

Here’s how it works: You bid on keywords related to your business. When someone searches for those keywords, your ad might appear. You only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad. The cost per click can vary wildly, though. It can be cheap, or it can be expensive! It all depends on how competitive those keywords are. If lots of businesses are bidding on the same terms, the price goes up.

To get started with paid search, you’ll need a Google Ads account. And I really do suggest that if you’re going to take on paid search, you need to get certified in Google Ads. It’s not terribly difficult, and you’ll be glad you did. Getting certified helps you understand the ins and outs of the platform.

V. Display Ads

You know those banner ads you see on websites, the ones that might feature a product you recently looked at, or something related to the site you’re visiting? Those are display ads. They’re basically the billboards of the internet, and they can be a surprisingly effective way to drive traffic.

One of the most powerful uses of display ads is something called remarketing. Here’s how it works: Someone visits your website, maybe browses a specific product, but doesn’t buy anything. Later, as they’re browsing other websites, they see a display ad for that exact product from your site. It’s a gentle nudge, reminding them of their interest and bringing them back to your site. Creepy? A little bit. Effective? Absolutely.

Display ads can also be beneficial in staying “top of mind.” Someone might not click on the first time, the third, or even the fifth, but the visual nature of these ads build up recognition over time. Then, when they are ready to buy, your brand is the first one they think of.

And while it’s not always immediate, all of this helps drive traffic, and sometimes even drives sales!

VI. Email and SMS Marketing

These two might seem a little old-school in the age of social media, but trust me, email and SMS (text message) marketing is still incredibly powerful, cost-effective ways to keep people coming back to your website. These are optimal if you’re selling services or products.

• Email Marketing:
  Think of your email list as your inner circle. These are people who have actively chosen to hear from you. They’re interested in what you offer. Sending regular emails – newsletters, special offers, new product announcements – keeps your business top-of-mind and drives traffic back to your site. And the return on investment (ROI) for email marketing can be surprisingly high. There are lots of great email marketing software options out there, and many even let you automate campaigns, making it even easier to stay in touch.
• SMS Marketing:
  This is like email marketing’s younger, more immediate sibling. Instead of sending emails, you send text messages. It’s a great way to reach people directly, with things like flash sale notifications, appointment reminders, or exclusive content. Many of the same platforms that offer email marketing also include SMS capabilities, so you can manage both from one place. I know of a local boutique that uses SMS to alert customers about new arrivals, and they say it causes a noticeable increase in foot traffic within hours.

VII. Direct Traffic

This one is a little different from the others. Direct traffic is what happens when someone types your website address directly into their browser. There’s no clicking from a search result, no referral from another site – they just know your URL and go straight there.

Direct traffic is often a result of your other marketing efforts. Someone might see your ad on social media, remember your brand name, and then type your URL later. Or, it could be a returning customer who already knows and loves your site.

A high level of direct traffic is a sign of strong brand awareness. It means people know who you are and what you offer. Direct traffic can be influenced by all of your marketing efforts, and it can even be used as a good measure of those marketing efforts.

Putting It All Together: Your Multi-Faceted Traffic Strategy

We’ve covered a lot of ground: social media (both paid and organic), referral sites, the power of search (both paid and the long-game of organic), the often-overlooked effectiveness of display ads, and the direct connection of email and SMS marketing, and finally, the indicator of brand strength that is direct traffic. These are the seven major channels for driving traffic to your website.

But remember, getting traffic is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s part of a larger marketing strategy. You also need a website that’s easy to navigate, compelling content that keeps people engaged, and a clear path to whatever you want visitors to do (buy a product, sign up for a service, etc.).

I suggest furthering your knowledge in these different channels to give your site an even bigger boost.