Attention sellers: How to direct more traffic to your website

One of the things we're trying to do is generate more website traffic to get the word our about our features and services. But this is easier said than done.

We've been working on a website re-design for the last while and have been trying to implement some of the following, and you should too if you want to attract more visitors and potential customers to your website:

1. Put "killer content" on your site

According to Gerry McGovern, online content guru and author of Killer Content, content is king. More specifically, GOOD content is king. Find out what matters to your customers and write about it. Use the words they use - Gerry coins these as "care words" because people search for what they care about and it's your responsibility to know what they care about if you have any hopes of succeeding online.

And it's not enough to simply create content; you have to maintain it and keep it current and interesting!

2. Write and send regular newsletters

Remind your customers that you still exist. Tell them about any new developments in your company or industry and about new products, services and features. Your customers can easily forward an email to friends, family and colleagues if they think it's valuable, hence generating even more traffic and potential customers.

3. Post articles in related news groups

Groups like Yahoo Groups and Google Groups or even the "About.com" groups post many articles related to your company or industry. Get involved in the forum and don't just advertise: educate! And don't forget to include your URL in your articles so people know where to go after reading.

4. Post to related mailing lists

Just like news groups, you can also find related mailing lists and get involved with them. Try Email Universe or Topic A.

5. Contests! Contests! Contests!

Get people engaged and involved with a contest. If you have a good prize, people will be excited to try to win. Make sure to include official rules, as well as rules applicable in your state, province, region or country. For example, contests in Canada must have a skill-testing question.

6. Invite a guest speaker to your website

If you know of someone who is an authority in your field, ask them to write an article for your company blog or to chat with your customers in your forums or chat rooms, if you have any. Guest speakers will generate interest and boost your credibility as a leader in your field.

7. Don't just advertise online

There's still a whole world outside of the internet. Advertise on TV, radio, newspapers and magazines. Even at the car wash. Why not? Be creative and expand beyond the online world to engage as many people as you can.

8. Give stuff away for FREE

People love getting stuff for free. Offer pens, hats, t-shirts emblazoned with your company name and logo to gain more customers and raise awareness of your brand.

9. Leverage from industry leaders

Take a look at successful websites to see what they're doing right. Don't copy everything though; originality is still highly valued. Just use these websites as inspiration.

10. Watch out for page views

Use site tracking software to see which pages get the most hits and which get the least. This will help you gauge which content is most effective.

Furthermore, you want to make your website as easy to use as possible. People will never bother to explore your website if they can't find what they're looking for in a few seconds. For more advice on usability, we highly recommend the book, Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug. Krug discusses the importance of doing all of the thinking for your customers so you make their job easy. If they don't have to think, they're more inclined to join or purchase.

We hope this article helps you achieve your goals for your company. Good luck and keep selling!