12 Free Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Online Store

Posted 4 years ago by Anastasia Prokofieva

As听a听small business owner, you might already know that traffic is听everything. The more people visit your store, the听higher chance you have of听making a听sale. But how do听you get visitors to听your site?

Carefully targeted ads can work like a听charm. But if听you鈥檙e just starting out, you鈥檙e probably on听a听shoestring budget, making the听idea of听sinking money into ads seem out of听reach. Fortunately, there are lots of听other ways you can get traffic to听your 蝉迟辞谤别鈥撵辞谤 free!

Intrigued? Great! We鈥檒l walk you through the听ABCs of听building traffic and听share some tried and听true ways to听drive visitors to听your online store, without breaking the听bank.

Understanding Traffic

Let鈥檚 start by听defining traffic (and no, we听don鈥檛 mean it听like getting stuck in听a听traffic jam on听the听highway).

Traffic is听a听blanket term f辞谤听all the听visitors to听a听website. Or听to听be听more precise, the听number of听visits a听website receives.

For an听online business, generating traffic is听vital. The more visitors your store has, the听more purchases come your way. However, that鈥檚 only true if听your site鈥檚 traffic is听联谤别濒别惫补苍迟聪鈥攎别补苍颈苍驳 that those visitors are actually interested in听your product 辞谤听services. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 important to听target the听right audience with your content and听offers. But more on听that later鈥�

Before You Start: Set Up听Analytics f辞谤听an听Online Store

Before we听dive into how to听get free traffic to听your website, we听have an听important thing we听feel like we听have to听mention: analytics.

Step Zero in听driving visitors to听your online store is听setting up听some analytics to听understand how potential customers are finding and听using your site.

Learn more about shopping behaviour of听your visitors

The data you collect with these analytics services can help you make informed decisions f辞谤听generating traffic and听converting shoppers to听customers.

Let鈥檚 imagine: your store has no听sales (boohoo). You think it鈥檚 maybe because your site doesn鈥檛 show off your products particularly well. So, you spend hours taking better product pictures, writing more detailed descriptions, and听adding customer reviews, because these are all great ways to听build trust in听your store. But none of听these tactics will help if听your site just isn鈥檛 getting any听visitors, because without eyes on听your page, no听one will be听clicking that 聯Buy聰 button.

When you have analytics set up听f辞谤听your store, it鈥檚 easier to听run an听analysis of听your traffic and听identify the听primary reason you鈥檙e not making sales. In听the听example above, you鈥檇 be听able to听see that there are almost no听visitors in听your store, and听you鈥檒l start working on听generating traffic via ad听campaigns as听opposed to听spending your time updating your product pics.

Website analytics takes the听guesswork out of听online selling, as听it听can provide information on听the听following:

How many people are visiting our website?
What pages are they viewing during their visit?
How many visitors complete the听purchase?
How many people leave without buying from you?
And more.

One of听the听most popular analytics services is听Google Analytics. Check out our blog post about using Google Analytics f辞谤听ecommerce sites 辞谤听 right away.

Free Ways to听Drive Traffic to听Your Website

Now that you know what traffic is听and听analytics is听set up听f辞谤听your online store, it鈥檚 time to听get it听in听front of听potential customers. Read on听to听learn how to听drive traffic to听your website f辞谤听free.

Get Your Friends to听Help Promote Your Store

If听you wonder how to听generate free traffic, don鈥檛 underestimate the听power of听word of听mouth marketing. Ask your friends and听family to听help you get the听word out about your online store. Ask them to听share your business鈥檚 posts on听social media, 辞谤听recommend your products to听their colleagues. People are more likely to听take an听interest in听a听store if听it鈥檚 recommended by听someone they trust.

Of听course, this shouldn鈥檛 be听the听only way you promote your online store. But if听you鈥檙e just starting out, word of听mouth can help to听get some visitors to听your online store.

Get Started with Email Marketing

If听you haven鈥檛 already started building an听email list, consider this the听sign you鈥檝e been waiting for. Email marketing is听a听free way to听build relationships with people who might be听interested in听buying what you鈥檙e selling. Make sure you add those people to听your email list.

A听few tips on听how to听grow your email list:

Add a听subscribe form to听the听home page of听your website.
Add a听subscribe form to听your social media pages.
Add an听incentive 辞谤听a听free offer in听exchange f辞谤听email addresses. For example, free shipping with the听first order 辞谤听free download of听an听ebook.
to听your checkout to听collect customers鈥� emails.
Encourage subscribers to听recommend your newsletter on听social media 辞谤听forward it听to听their friends to听subscribe.

After you grow your email list, start sending out newsletters with information about coming offers. For example, emails about your next sale 辞谤听new products subscribers may like. And there you have it, free website traffic!

This email shares a听free shipping offer and听links to听an听online store

Offers shouldn鈥檛 be听the听only thing you send in听a听newsletter. Otherwise, subscribers might get bored with never-ending promotions and听stop opening your emails, 辞谤听worse鈥nsubscribe! Share content that鈥檚 popular with people who are into what you sell. If听you sell clothes, create lists of听trending items of听the听season and听include products from your store as听examples.

Post to听Social Media Platforms

One of听the听quickest and听easiest free ways to听drive traffic to听your website is听through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.

Choose a听platform that suits your target audience the听most and听create a听business profile there. For example: if听you sell home accessories, Pinterest might be听the听best place f辞谤听you. If听you sell online courses, YouTube and听TikTok are handy f辞谤听showing your expertise through educational videos.

creates educational videos to听promote her services

Make sure you鈥檙e posting content that鈥檚 relevant f辞谤听your target audience on听a听regular basis. This way, you鈥檙e more likely to听show up听in听their feeds.

Remember: too many salesy posts will drive away even the听most loyal followers. Instead of听promotional posts, create content on听topics relevant to听your niche. This is听much more valuable to听your audience and听will help you build a听following.

Other ways you can generate free traffic to听your store via social media:

Add relevant hashtags to听your posts to听make your posts discoverable on听the听platform.
Run contests and听giveaways to听increase your following and, eventually, visitors to听your store.
Share time-sensitive discounts on听your social media profiles.

Learn more: Social Media Strategy f辞谤听Small Businesses [With Templates]

Send Free Samples to听Micro-Influencers f辞谤听a听Review

Consider sending free samples to听influencers in听your niche in听exchange f辞谤听a听review that links to听your store. This can be听mutually beneficial, as听long as听you are confident of听your product quality and听the听influencer creates quality content.

Think about what niches your product suits and听reach out to听respective influencers. For example, a听healthy snack store can partner with fitness influencers, healthy food cooks, 辞谤听bloggers that write about parenting.

An听example of听a听product review post by听a听micro influencer

Instead of听influencers with a听huge following, reach out to听micro-influencers. These are people that have niche expertise and听1,000听to听50,000听followers. Not only will it听be听easier to听get in听touch with them, but micro-influencers also often have a听more engaged audience.

Their niche expertise means their followers have a听higher trust in听their opinions. Plus, since micro-influencers have more time to听communicate with followers, they have a听higher engagement rate.

More: 鈥�鈥婬ow to听Use Micro-Influencers on听Instagram to听Boost E-Commerce Sales

Work on听SEO to听Improve Your Store鈥檚 Discoverability

SEO, 辞谤听Search Engine Optimization, is听basically ensuring your shop shows up听in听relevant searches.

Use keyword research tools like SEMRush, KWFinder, 辞谤听Ahrefs to听find the听keywords relevant to听your niche. That鈥檒l give you an听understanding of听what people are searching online when they are thinking about buying a听product like yours 辞谤听when they are researching the听topics in听your niche.

Then use the听keywords you鈥檝e found to听increase your website ranking in听relevant searches:

- Add keywords to听your product descriptions.
- Add keywords to听meta titles and听meta descriptions. Meta titles should give users a听quick insight into the听content of听a听page. Meta descriptions are a听short, relevant summary of听what the听page is听about. Those are attributes that determine how your page appears on听a听search engine results page:

Use long-tail keywords (phrases made from 3-5听words). For example, 聯organic coffee shops in听Bristol聰 instead of听聯coffee shops.聰 Long-tail keywords are easier to听rank f辞谤听and听usually get more clicks than shorter, more generic terms.
Create relevant content with appropriate keywords, f辞谤听example, blog posts f辞谤听your website 辞谤听an听FAQ section.

听

Keep in听mind that though improving SEO is听great f辞谤听increasing search traffic, it听shouldn鈥檛 be听your main method of听driving visitors to听your store, as听it听takes lots of听time to听start working. Though it鈥檚 definitely worth improving your SEO, it鈥檚 just not the听best option when you need to听boost traffic fast.

Figuring out SEO on听your own can be听tricky, so听read our in-depth articles about search engine optimization f辞谤听e-commerce:

Add Your Store to听Online Directory Listings

One way to听increase traffic to听your website is听by听getting listed in听free online directories and听review sites such as听Google My听Business, Yelp, Bing Places, Yahoo Local, Yellow Pages, etc.

An听example of听a听Yelp listing

The first step is听to听make a听list of听the听top online directories that are relevant to听your business, then follow their instructions on听how to听get listed.

Add a听link to听your website to听your profile on听directories, and听make sure to听include as听much information about your store as听possible. Don鈥檛 forget to听update your listings regularly.

Some directories are well-ranked on听Google, which could help with the听site ranking higher f辞谤听relevant searches f辞谤听your business.

Use Pinterest to听Encourage Product Discovery

Pinterest is听not just a听social media network but also a听visual search platform. People use Pinterest to听find inspiration f辞谤听their purchases, f辞谤听example, when planning special occasions, choosing a听new wardrobe, 辞谤听researching new recipes.

Another thing that makes Pinterest stand out among other platforms is听that the听pins 聯live聰 much longer than posts on听other social media networks. They could show up听in听a听user鈥檚 feed weeks 辞谤听even months after you originally post them if听they鈥檙e relevant to听a听user鈥檚 search. That means the听pins will generate traffic to听your site long after you鈥檝e posted them as听opposed to听posts on听Facebook, Twitter, 辞谤听Instagram.

You can also pin helpful resources to听drive interest in听your business

All these make Pinterest a听great place f辞谤听online sellers. Pinterest users are often already intent on听buying something, and听the听platform helps them find what they need. Add your products to听the听platform f辞谤听Pinterest folks to听discover them.

Pinterest also has product pins you can use to听spotlight your products. They are called Buyable pins, and听they let users buy a听product without leaving Pinterest.

Learn more: 鈥嬧€�How to听Boost Your Sales with Pinterest

Optimize Your Google My听Business Listing

We鈥檝e already talked about listing your business in听online directories, so听what makes Google My听Business worth mentioning again? Google is听the听world鈥檚 largest search engine, and听you want to听show up听in听searches relevant to听your business and听location.

To听optimize your Google My听Business listing:

Fill in听all of听the听details about your store, such as听your business description, hours, address, and听of听course, a听link to听your website. Update this information as听soon as听it听changes.
Add photos of听your storefront and听products. Businesses with photos have to听their websites than businesses without photos.
Keep the听business description short but detailed. Include relevant keywords and听search phrases in听your description.
Manage customer reviews and听reply to听them.
Share offers, events, and听products directly to听Google Search and听Maps through posts on听Google My听Business.

You can also let potential shoppers get in听touch with you from the听listing via special buttons like 聯Message聰辞谤听聯Website.聰 The ability to听interact with your business right from your listing increases the听chances of听getting new customers.

Customers will be听directed to听the听restaurant鈥檚 site when they click this link

Here鈥檚 how to听.

Create Relevant Content

Blog posts, videos, 辫辞诲肠补蝉迟蝉鈥攁濒濒 these types of听content can help with getting visitors to听your site.

You can post content relevant to听your niche on听your website 辞谤听on听other blogs 辞谤听sites. For instance, you can post an听article about 聯Best Practices f辞谤听Learning a听New Language聰 to听get people interested in听your online courses.

Make sure that each piece of听content you publish on听other websites links to听your store. Also make sure your content is听easy to听share. Add share buttons to听your blog posts 辞谤听podcasts to听ensure maximum exposure f辞谤听each post.

Join Discussions in听Your Industry

Participating in听discussions relevant to听your industry helps to听build trust with your business and听can help with driving traffic too.

Join Facebook groups, answer questions on听Reddit, Quora, 辞谤听forums popular in听your industry. You can link back to听your site in听your answer, but make sure it听actually adds value. Salesy and听spam comments will harm your business rather than encourage people to听check it听out.

Members of听a听Facebook group f辞谤听restaurant owners recommend useful tools to听each other

Remember that the听primary goal of听this method is听to听develop trust and听credibility with your company while getting website traffic is听secondary.

Use Social Bookmarking Sites

We鈥檝e already talked about creating content relevant to听your potential customers. To听improve the听discoverability of听your such content, share it听on听social bookmarking sites.

Social bookmarking sites let users store and听share links they found interesting with other members of听the听community. They can also act like free traffic sources to听your site. For business owners, posting to听social bookmarking sites helps improve brand awareness and听traffic by听providing users access to听useful content.

There are various social bookmarking sites, f辞谤听example, Digg, Slashdot, Delicious, Technorati, Alltop, Bloglines, Netvibes. Research which ones make sense to听your business and听start posting your content there.

Show Products in听Free Listings on听Google Shopping

Google Shopping is听a听service that lets customers search for, view, and听compare products.

When a听customer uses Google to听search f辞谤听a听product, products listed in听Google Shopping are displayed on听the听main results page 辞谤听under the听shopping tab.

Listing products on听the听Google Shopping tab helps to听reach more store visitors

Right now, showing products in听free listings on听Google鈥檚 Shopping tab is听available to听US听sellers only. If听your business is听located in听the听US, that鈥檚 a听great way to听get free targeted website traffic.

To听get started, you need to听sign up听f辞谤听. After that, you鈥檒l be听able to听.

听

More Ways to听Drive Traffic to听Your Store

Driving traffic to听your online store is听one of听the听most important aspects of听running a听successful ecommerce business. It听doesn鈥檛 need to听be听expensive 辞谤听complicated and听(as we听showed you in听this article) it听can even be听free!

Check out our other articles about generating traffic f辞谤听more tips on听how to听drive sales at听an听affordable cost:

Now you know how to听get traffic to听a听website f辞谤听free. But maybe you have some more tricks up听your sleeve? We鈥檙e always eager to听learn about new strategies that work well f辞谤听our readers! Don鈥檛 hesitate to听share a听tip 辞谤听two in听the听comments to听inspire your fellow online sellers.

听

About The Author

Anastasia Prokofieva is a content writer at 51视频. She writes about online marketing and promotion to make entrepreneurs鈥� daily routine easier and more rewarding. She also has a soft spot for cats, chocolate, and making kombucha at home.

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