How do big blogs like Mashable, TechCrunch, and The Huffington Post drive traffic to their sites?
How do they get millions of people to read content?
You’ve tried experimenting with “ultimate guides,” “lengthy listicles,” and “how-to posts,” but your traffic is still stuck at a measly trickle.
What’s the Secret?
The answer is pretty simple: they’ve mastered the art of driving traffic to their blog.
And in this post, we’re going to show you how you can do the same.
You might be following all the best practices for writing great content and promoting your blog posts but still experiencing low traffic numbers.
If that’s the case, then it’s time to look at your blog traffic drivers and see where you can make some improvements.
That said, here are 22 tried-and-true ways to boost your blog traffic:
#1. Write About Topics Your Target Audience is Searching for Online
We know how tempting it can be to write about the topics that excite you — breaking news, cutting-edge trends, or developments in your industry.
The problem with this approach is that you’re writing for yourself, not your target audience.
You may see traffic spikes shortly after you publish these types of posts, but they quickly fizzle out because you’re not writing about topics that people are searching for online.
The solution: Write ever-green topics your target audience is searching for online.
Once you succeed in ranking for these topics, you’ll see a steady stream of organic traffic coming to your site.
It’s the foundation upon which you can build a successful blog.
So, how do you find these topics?
The easiest way is to use keyword research tools like Ahrefs’ free keyword generator tool, Google Ads Keyword Planner, or Moz’s Keyword Explorer.
Here’s how to use Ahrefs’ free keyword generator tool:
You can begin by entering a relevant keyword into Ahrefs’ free keyword generator tool.
Next, switch the tab to questions.
That will give you a list of questions your target audience is searching for online related to your keyword.
Finally, choose a few of these questions and use them as topics for your blog posts.
This will not only help you attract more traffic to your site, but it will also help you build a loyal following of readers who appreciate the “true” value of your content.
#2. Make Sure Your Approach Matches Search Intent
Search intent is the why behind a search query.
It’s what the person typing a particular search keyword into Google is looking to achieve.
This could be anything from finding information on a topic to making a purchase.
If your blog post doesn’t match the searcher’s intent, then you’re not going to rank high in search results, no matter how well you optimize your post for SEO.
Google aims to provide its users with the best possible results for their search queries.
That means giving them content that meets their needs.
If you want to rank high on Google, you need to make sure your blog post matches the searcher’s intent.
So, how do you figure out what type of content to create?
You can begin by doing a Google search with your target audience, after which you want to analyse the top-ranking pages for the three Cs of search intent.
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Content-Type
The first C is the content type.
Content-type can be anything from a blog post to a landing page to an image or video.
You can quickly get an idea of the content type by looking at the top-ranking pages and seeing the most commonly featured type of content.
For example, if you’re targeting the keyword “How to Invest in Stock,” you’ll notice that most of the top-ranking results are blog posts:
If you want to rank for this keyword, you need to create a blog post.
If you try to rank with a video or an image, you will have a much harder time.
Similarly, if you want to rank for “How to Ride a Motorbike,” you’ll notice that most of the top-ranking results are videos:
Therefore, if you want to rank for this keyword, you need to create a video.
While it’s still possible to rank with a blog post, you’ll have an easier time if you create a video.
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Content Format
The following C is the content format.
This refers to how the content is presented.
For example, a blog post might be presented as a listicle, how-to’s, or opinion piece, while a video might be presented as an explainer.
The key here is to determine what type of content is most commonly featured in search results for your target keyword.
You can do this by looking at the top-ranking results and seeing how the content is formatted.
For example, if you want to rank for “How to Tie a Tie,” you’ll notice that most of the top-ranking results are explainer videos:
You have a better chance of ranking if you follow suit and create an explainer video.
If you try to rank with a blog post or another type of content, you’ll have a harder time.
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Content Angle
The final C is the content angle.
This refers to the perspective from which the content is written.
For example, a blog post on “How to do Squats” might be written from a beginner’s perspective, while another might be written from an expert’s perspective.
Another example is a blog post about “How to Make a Cake,” which might take a traditional approach and provide readers with a recipe.
Or, it could take a more creative approach and show readers how to make a cake in the shape of a Minion from Despicable Me.
The key here is to determine what type of content is most commonly featured in search results for your target keyword.
You can then engage writers or even use a free blog post generator to create content quickly and cheaply.
#3. Build an Email List
One of the best ways to increase traffic to your blog is to build an email list.
An email list is a group of people who have permitted you to contact them via email.
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience and promote your content.
You can send a newsletter containing your latest blog post or promote a specific piece of content to your email list.
Building an email list can be challenging, but there are a few things you can do to get started.
First, you need to create an opt-in form.
An opt-in form is a form that allows people to sign up for your email list.
There are several ways to create an opt-in form, but the easiest way is to use a plugin like OptinMonster.
Once you’ve created your opt-in form, you need to add it to your blog.
The best place to add it is in the sidebar or at the end of your blog post.
You can also use a popup to display your opt-in form.
So, why do we still use email communication in our communication?
The answer is pretty simple.
Email is still the most effective way to reach people online.
A study from The Radicati Group found over 4 billion active email accounts globally.
Email use is growing at a rate of around 3% per year.
A study from McKinsey found that email is 40 times more effective at acquiring new customers than Facebook and Twitter combined.
An email is still a powerful tool for reaching people online.
For a more aggressive approach, try dangling a carrot in front of your readers.
A carrot is an incentive you offer to people in exchange for their email addresses.
For example, you might offer a free eBook for someone’s email address.
Or, you might offer a discount on your products or services.
The key here is to offer something that your target audience will find irresistible.
#4. Reach Out to the People You Mention in Your Post
If you mention someone in your blog post, reach out to them and let them know.
This is a great way to get exposure for your blog, and it can also lead to some exciting opportunities.
If you’ve written a blog post that you think would be of interest to someone in your network, reach out to them and let them know.
It’s the first thing you should do after publishing something new on your blog.
The key here is to be genuinely interested in connecting with the people you reach out to.
Hey Tom,
I recently wrote a blog post about XYZ.
I mentioned your company in the post, and I just wanted to let you know.
Here’s a link to the post:
Best,
John
If you’re lucky, the person you reach out to will share your blog post with their network.
This can help you gain more exposure for your blog and attract new readers.
Plus, it’s always good to build relationships with the people in your industry.
The primary goal is to reach out and connect with the people you mention in your blog post, build a relationship with them, and eventually gain something bigger in terms of mentions, links, business partnerships, or anything else that might benefit your business.
#5. Promote Important Posts through Internal Linking
One of the best ways to get more traffic to your blog is to promote your most important posts through internal linking.
Internal linking is when you link to a related post on your own blog.
This is different from external linking, which is when you link to a post on someone else’s blog.
Internal linking is important for a few reasons.
First, it helps search engines understand the structure of your site and how your content is related.
Second, it keeps people on your site longer, improving your search engine rankings.
And third, it can help you promote your most important content to readers.
So, how do you do it?
The first step is to identify your most important blog posts.
If you have hundreds of blog posts, the easiest way is to use the site: search operator.
Just type [site: yourdomain.com “topic keyword”] into Google, and you’ll see a list of all the posts on your site that are related to that keyword.
For example, if I wanted to find all the blog posts on our MediaOne site about blog traffic, I would type site: mediaonemarketing.com.sg “blog traffic” into Google.
You can go through each post on the list and choose a few that you can internally link to from your new post.
Further Reading: 5 Actionable Tips On How To Boost Blog Traffic By 300%
#6. Build Links
Backlinks are like votes from other websites.
The more votes you have, the more popular your site is, and the higher you will rank on Google.
So, how do you get links?
There are a few ways.
You can reach out to other bloggers and ask them to link to your blog post.
Or, you can guest post on other blogs and include a link to your blog in your author bio.
You can also submit your blog to directories and link back to your site from your profile page.
The key is to get high-quality links from websites relevant to your niche.
Don’t try to game the system by buying links or using black hat SEO techniques.
This will only get you penalized by Google.
#7. Promote Your Content in Online Communities
Another great way to get traffic to your blog is to promote your content in online communities.
There are many online communities that you can join, and each one is an excellent opportunity to get exposure for your blog.
There’s no shortage of places to promote your content, from Facebook groups to Discord servers, slack channels, and forums.
When promoting your content in online communities, it’s important to be respectful and add value to the conversation.
Don’t spam people with links to your blog, and don’t post anything off-topic.
Be genuinely interested in the community, and contribute value whenever you can.
You can start by studying the culture of each group. See what conversations people have, what they’re interested in, and what kind of content drives the most engagement.
That will give you a good idea of how to approach each group and what kind of content to post.
Also, you want to read group rules before posting anything.
Each group has its own rules, and you don’t want to be kicked out for breaking them.
Focus on becoming an active member of the community before promoting anything. Leave comments, ask questions, participate in conversations, and help people out.
Once you’ve built up a good reputation, you can start sharing your blog posts in the group.
Just be sure to share content relevant to the group and that you think would interest the members.
Start creating unique images to illustrate important concepts or showcase industry data and statistics.
For example, this image from a blog post about blogging tips:
This is an example of an image you could create to go along with a blog post about blogging tips.
You can hire an in-house illustrator if you have a budget for it or use a tool like Canva to create the images yourself.
Make sure to add your branding to each image so that people will know where it came from when they see it on social media or anywhere else.
It doesn’t even have to be complicated. If you’re in a visual-heavy niche like cooking recipes, you can use your smartphone to take a few photos while you’re making the dish.
The key is to be creative and think of ways that you can add visual interest to your blog posts.
Another alternative is to make an artwork of the message behind the blog post. This will make it more attractive for people to share it on social media.
Reddit and Quora are two of the biggest Q&A sites on the internet.
Both sites allow you to share your content, as long as it is relevant to the discussion.
To be successful on Reddit, you need to find the right subreddit for your content. This is easier said than done.
There are over 2.8 million subreddits, and each one has its own rules and culture.
The key is to spend some time on the site, reading through different subreddits to get a feel of what kind of content sails with the Reddit audience.
Study each subreddit and its rules before posting anything. These rules are in place to keep the community functioning smoothly, and you don’t want to get banned for breaking them.
Whenever you post, you want to make sure you’re adding value to the discussion. Leave a thoughtful comment or answer the question in detail.
If your content is good, people will upvote it, and it will get exposure to an even wider audience.
Quora is similar to Reddit but with a more professional tone.
The site is full of people looking for expert advice on various topics.
You can position yourself as an expert in your field by answering questions and sharing your expertise.
When you share your content on Quora, make sure it is relevant to the discussion and that it adds value to the conversation.
Don’t just drop a link to your latest blog post and call it a day.
Give a detailed answer and share your insights and expertise.
If you do it right, people will see you as an expert in your field, and they will be more likely to visit your blog and share your content.
#11. Refresh and Republish Your Old Content
Your older content can get lost in the shuffle.
Just because a blog post is a few months or even years old doesn’t mean it’s not relevant anymore.
You can give your old content new life by refreshing and republishing it.
Start by going through your older blog posts and updating them with new information.
If any of the information is outdated, take the time to update it.
You can also add new sections or even completely rewrite parts of the post if you need to.
Once you’ve updated the content, you can give it a new publish date and share it again on social media.
This will help you ensure that your older content doesn’t get lost and forgotten.
#12. Be Creative with Your Headlines
Your headline is the first thing people see when they come across your content.
You want to make sure it’s something that will grab their attention and make them want to read more.
Don’t settle for a boring, generic headline. Be creative and try to come up with something that stands out.
One way to be more creative with your headlines is to use numbers.
For example, instead of “Ways to Improve Your Blog,” you could try “50 Ways to Improve Your Blog.”
Listicles are extremely popular. They also do well on social media and drive a higher click-through rate.
Another way to be creative with your headlines is to use “power” words.
Power words are words that evoke an emotional response. They can make people feel excited, scared, happy, etc.
Some examples of power words include “amazing,” “terrifying,” “mind-blowing,” and “life-changing.”
Using powerful words in your headlines can help you make your content more attention-grabbing and memorable.
#13. Generate Leads with Content Upgrades
If you want to boost your blog traffic, you need to think about generating leads.
One way to do this is by offering content upgrades.
A content upgrade is a piece of content related to your blog post and is available to people who subscribe to your email list.
For example, let’s say you have a blog post about ways to save money on groceries.
You could offer a printable grocery list with all of the week’s best deals.
People who want the list will need to subscribe to your email list to get it.
This is a great way to increase your email subscribers while also providing value to your readers.
#14. Optimise Your Images
Images are a great way to break up your text and make your content more visually appealing.
But did you know that they can also help to boost your blog traffic?
When you upload an image to your blog, include keywords in the file name and fill out the alternate text field.
In addition to using keywords, make sure you’re using high-quality images relevant to your content.
Blurry or unprofessional-looking images will only turn people away.
So, how do you optimise your images:
- Name the image file with relevant descriptive keywords
- Include keywords in the “alt text” box
- Make sure the images are relevant and of good quality
- Use tags
- Optimize the Image title
- Include captions
Be sure to use high-quality and relevant images. Including keywords in the file name and alternate text fields will help search engines find and rank your images.
#15. Repurpose Your Content into a Twitter Thread
Try repurposing your content into a Twitter thread if you’re looking for ways to get more eyes on it.
A Twitter thread is a series of tweets that are all connected.
They typically tell a story or provide information on a certain topic.
Here’s an example of such a thread:
Click here to view the whole thread
To turn your blog post into a Twitter thread, start by creating a tweet summarizing what the thread is about.
After that, tweet out each of the main points from your blog post, one at a time.
Include images, GIFs, and videos to break up the text and make your thread more visually appealing.
Once done, promote your Twitter thread on other social media platforms and in your email newsletter.
That’s a great way to get more people to read your blog post and drive traffic back to your site.
Like communities, there are many niche-specific newsletters dedicated to sharing the best articles, stories, and resources.
Submitting your content to one of these newsletters is a great way to get it in front of a new audience and drive traffic back to your site.
To find relevant newsletters, start by doing a Google search.
For example, if you write about health and fitness, you could search for “health and fitness newsletters.”
Another example is if you write about personal finance, you could search for “personal finance newsletters.”
Once you’ve found a few relevant newsletters, reach out to the owner or editor and ask if they’re interested in featuring your content.
Here’s an example of a featured newsletter:
Michal Pecanek wrote an article about “Hiring an SEO Consultant” and was featured in the #SEOforLunch Newsletter.
In Michal’s case, the article was included organically. They didn’t have to reach out and ask to be featured.
That may happen to you, but it’s always a good idea to be proactive and reach out to the newsletter owner or editor.
You can also submit your content to general newsletters like Growth Hackers or Sidebar.
You can read Growth hacker’s guidelines here.
These newsletters accept submissions from a wide range of topics and industries.
You can contact them with a link to your article or website and a brief description — if they like what they see, they’ll feature you in their next newsletter.
Simple caveat: you don’t want to reach out to a newsletter publisher every time you have something new. That will get old, fast.
Pick a handful of your best pieces and focus on those. Focus on building a relationship with the editor rather than just submitting content.
They might not feature your article the first time, but they’ll eventually take notice and maybe even come to you when they’re looking for something specific.
And that’s how you build a relationship.
#17. Build Your Email List Right of the Gate
Don’t wait until you have a huge following to build your email list.
The sooner you start, the better.
Your email list is one of the most valuable assets you can have as a blogger.
It’s a group of people who have already expressed an interest in what you do and are more likely to be interested in your future content and products.
The best way to build your email list is to offer something of value in exchange for an email address.
This is typically called a lead magnet.
A lead magnet can be anything from a PDF guide to an exclusive video series.
The key is to offer something valuable and relevant to your target audience.
#18. Host a Webinar or Virtual Summit
Webinars and virtual summits are a great way to build an audience, generate leads, and drive traffic to your blog.
The best part is that you don’t need a huge following to get started.
All you need is a topic relevant to your audience and a few people to help you promote it.
For someone to attend your webinar, they’ll have to provide their email address.
This gives you a chance to build your email list while also providing value to your audience.
Not to mention, webinars and virtual summits are great content pieces on their own.
You can promote them before, during, and after the event to drive even more traffic to your site.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out this guide on how to host a webinar.
Make it easy for people to share your content.
Include social sharing buttons on every single one of your web pages — your blog posts, landing pages, product pages, etc.
All of them should have social sharing buttons.
If you make it easy for people to share your content, they’re more likely to do it.
And the more people share your content, the more traffic you’ll attract.
#20. Make Sure Your Site is Optimised for SEO
This one is a no-brainer.
If you want to attract organic traffic from Google, you have to make sure your website is optimized for SEO.
That means using the right keywords, metadata, and images.
It also means having a fast, responsive website.
There are tons of resources out there on how to optimize your site for SEO.
A quick Google search will give you all the information you need.
Here are a few resources to get you started:
How To SEO A Brand New Website
Ultimate Technical SEO Guide For Developers And Webmasters
When you interview someone well-known in your industry, their fans will want to check out the interview.
This is a great way to get exposure to a whole new audience.
Not to mention, it’s a great content piece on its own.
So how do you get these types of interviews?
It’s actually not as hard as you think.
All you need to do is reach out and ask.
Most people are more than happy to oblige, especially if you’ve done your research and know a thing or two about their work.
#22. Run Ads
If you want to drive traffic to your site quickly, running ads is the way to go.
There are several different ad platforms out there, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
The key is to find the right platform for your needs.
Facebook might be the best option if you’re looking to target a specific audience.
Google Ads is great for driving traffic to specific pages on your site.
And LinkedIn Ads is perfect for B2B companies.
The bottom line is that there’s an ad platform out there for everyone.
Check out Quora, LinkedIn, and Reddit ads and see which one works best for you.
