You have set up your own website and in need of new and qualified traffic to your site. This is definitely a challenge to ensure you make more sales and increase your customer base.

Following the 10 proven strategies can make a huge difference in increasing visitors to your website or blog.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the process of increasing your website’s visibility in search engine’s organic results through optimizing your pages with the keyword phrases people are likely to search for. Your blog should be well categorized. Linkage between the posts, category and site name should be established. This will enable search engines to address your website. Think about it: when you search for something in Google, do you typically go beyond the first couple pages of results? Probably not, and neither will your potential customers.

To be visible on the top pages your article should gain high rankings. Consistently add new, relevant, quality content to your website. Copying and pasting content from another website and putting it on yours does NOT count. Changing and updating existing content can be useful, but adding new pages that are targeted and well written will be much more valuable. Increase the number of backlinks or inbound links (links your website receives from other webpages — which indicates the popularity or importance of your website).

SEO can be a time-consuming process initially, but it’s an important step towards getting more traffic and grabbing a top spot in search engines for your main keyword phrases. If you haven’t already optimized your website for search engines, it might take several months to see significant results with SEO.

2. Blogging and guest blogging

Offering free, original content on your site can help bring new visitors and set you apart from the competition. You keep updating fresh content in your blog. Conduct good ground work research and read other articles and write quality content. Get other, quality, relevant websites to put a link on their website that points back to your website. The search engines value backlinks from other websites to yours as they show the search engines that other websites are voting for your website as a popular, authoritative resource.

However, writing for other prominent blogs in your niche, is even more beneficial in generating traffic. By including a link to your website in your biography at the end of your guest post, you can draw in new visitors from a source that likely gets much more traffic than your current blog or website.

3. Pay per click (PPC)

Use PPC Internet advertising to bring in traffic to your website from search engines like Google. Here’s how it works: you pay a fixed price for every click your ad gets in the search engine, and your ultimate goal of the click is to convert that user in order to see a return on investment. With Google AdWords, there’s no spending requirement. Your main focus should be conversion so you get the best ROI possible. Simply choose keyword phrases and the search engine will help you get your ad in front of your target market, wherever they might be looking on the Web. Do not depend on PPC only, focus on updating new content.

It’s one of the best and most effective ways to quickly and authentically build your list with highly qualified leads. Whether it’s Google AdWords or Facebook ads – they convert brand new prospects onto your list and you can target very specific groups of people searching what you have to offer. Yes, you have to pay for the traffic – but – it’s definitely worth it in the long run.

4. Retargeting

Retargeting generates greater online sales by keeping your brand front and center and bringing “window shoppers” back when they’re ready to buy. Every time your customer sees your retargeting ads, your brand gains attention and more recognition. The high click-through rates and increased conversions that are typical with retargeting campaigns underscore the value of good branding and repeated exposure.

Retargeting ads work by placing a tracking cookie on each of your visitor’s computers. Then, when they leave your site, they start seeing ads to come back. Using this type of advertising helps you reach visitors who leave without conversion — which is about 98 percent of all your traffic — and makes retargeting a valuable strategy in getting those visitors to come back and convert. You’ve already worked hard to get people there, but most leave…so get them to come back to make sure you’re not throwing away that money you’ve already spent.

5. Facebook ads

Millions of people use Facebook every day and an average Facebook user spends around 4 to 6 hours on the site. And it’s not only popular with teenagers and college students — all types of demographics are now regular users of the social network. People observed ads with social context. Facebook ads can help you target people from a specific location, friends of your current fans, or even folks who “like” other pages, among other options such as age and interests. Plus, it’s a cost-effective way to bring in new traffic — you can set a daily budget, pay for clicks, or pay when people see your ad. Similar to Google AdWords, you’re piggybacking off of Facebook’s traffic in order to bring those visitors to your website.

6. YouTube

Creating videos and posting them to YouTube can help your content get found on YouTube itself. From there, not only does Google index your content, but others can embed your video on their blogs and share it via social media. These videos should not be traditional product commercials because no one will watch them. Instead, get creative and make some fun, funny, entertaining, viral videos that people will want to pass around to their friends. You can also advertise on other people’s videos by buying targeted ads relevant to your business — which could yield a high conversion.

7. Email marketing

Email marketingis a great tool because most people need to be engaged multiple times before they buy. It’s been around for years, and is still one of the strongest ways to engage potential and current customers. Give people a compelling reasons to subscribe (contests, great content, insider information, etc.) and then continually send great content so they don’t unsubscribe. Encourage them to return to your website on a regular basis by showing them what they’ve missed since they last visited — perhaps it’s a new product, blog posts, whitepapers, videos, or something else.

Do not abuse your email contacts. Always keep accessibility in mind when sending email messages as everyone has different email clients, computers, browsers, etc. Some people might be able to see your entire message while others may only be able to see blocked images.

8. Word of mouth (forums/Facebook fan pages, etc.)

When you plan to purchase a gadget you probably turn to trusted friends, family, or online sources to discover the best rated and reviewed options. These sources are key points for driving traffic for your website, too. Focus on building connections with your fans and followers in order to gain positive reviews and word of mouth recommendations. You can also participate in related forums or comment on blog posts in order to plug your company without coming off as too promotional.

Building your reputation and influence is an important part of driving traffic to your company website. Through public relations strategies, you can brand yourself as an expert in your niche and build your credibility. Doing this can increase your conversion rates and build your brand awareness. Press releases can also help drive traffic and generate interest in your product or service.

9. Improve your irresistible free offer

Perhaps it’s time to replace that outdated “free report” or “eBook” with an even higher value freebie to offer site visitors. The best freebie out there will be an article which has huge intrinsic value because it’s a physical “thing” and you can capture mailing addresses in addition to just email addresses. An item that brings joy to the family and will be a great asset to their daily lifestyle.

10. Initiate an affiliate program

Affiliates are a great way to spread your message and build your list – while also supporting your sales of products or programs. Pretty much most shopping cart programs support affiliate programs and are easy to establish.

These strategies are proven and will enable you market your website successfully.

Have a great time!!