Organic Traffic Tips for Entrepreneurs

Growing a business online can feel overwhelming, especially when starting.

One of the most effective ways to attract visitors to your website without paying for ads is by increasing your organic traffic. But what exactly does that mean, and how can you do it?

This guide breaks down the steps with practical tips and examples to help you boost your website’s visibility and reach more people.

What is organic traffic?

Organic traffic refers to the people who find your website through search engines like Google or Bing without you paying for advertisements. They type in a question or a keyword, and if your website shows up in the results, they might click on it and visit it.

This kind of traffic is valuable because it’s free and often consists of people genuinely interested in what you offer.

Why is organic traffic important?

• Cost-effective growth. Unlike paid ads, you don’t have to pay for each visitor.
• Builds trust. People tend to trust organic search results more than ads.
• Long-term benefits. Efforts to improve organic traffic can have lasting effects.

Imagine you run a bakery. When people search for “best cupcakes in town” and find your website organically, they’re more likely to trust and visit your shop.

Steps to increase your organic traffic

1. Use the right keywords

Keywords are the words or phrases people type into search engines when they’re looking for information, products, or services.

Using the right keywords on your website helps search engines know your site is relevant to what users are searching for. Think of keywords as signposts that direct the right people to your site.

How to find keywords:

• Think like your customers. Consider what your customers would search for. For example, if you run a yoga studio, they might search for “yoga for beginners” or “yoga classes near me.”
• Use free tools. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find popular search terms in your industry.
• Focus on long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive than general terms. For example, instead of “dog food,” try “organic dog food for puppies.” Long-tail keywords attract a smaller but more focused audience.

How to use keywords:

• Incorporate them naturally. Use keywords in your website’s titles, headings, and content, but make sure they sound natural. Keywords should fit smoothly into your text and not feel forced.
• Don’t overdo it. Overloading your content with keywords (“keyword stuffing”) can hurt your rankings. A good rule of thumb is to write for humans first and search engines second.

For example, if you run a yoga studio, keywords like “beginner yoga classes near me” or “morning yoga for beginners” will help people find your studio when searching locally.

2. Create valuable content

Content keeps your audience engaged.

Whether it’s blog posts, videos, or infographics, creating valuable content helps answer your customers’ questions, solve their problems, and give them reasons to spend more time on your website. It also helps build trust and encourages people to share your site with others.

Types of content to create:

• Blog posts. Write about topics your audience cares about. If you run a bakery, share recipes or tips on baking at home.
• How-to guides. Offer step-by-step instructions that solve a problem. If you own a landscaping business, create a guide like “How to Prepare Your Lawn for Spring.”
• Videos and podcasts. Some people prefer visual or audio content. A local gym might post exercise tutorials or podcast episodes discussing fitness trends.
• Infographics. Visual representations of information are easy to understand and share. For example, a nutritionist could create an infographic showing the benefits of a balanced diet.

Tips for creating content:

• Answer common questions. Think about what problems your customers face and solve them through your content.
• Use simple language. Avoid jargon and make your content easy to read and understand.
• Real-life examples. Show how your products or services can be useful by using relatable examples. Video testimonials can work well here. Video production agencies can help you produce high-quality videos that will catch the attention of your target audience.

For example, a landscaping business could write a blog post titled “5 Easy Plants for a Low-Maintenance Garden,” offering practical advice to homeowners who want beautiful gardens but lack time for upkeep.

3. Optimize your website (On-page SEO)

On-page SEO is all about optimizing individual pages on your website to improve their visibility in search engines. This involves ensuring your content is well-organized, easy to read, and relevant to users’ searches.

Key areas to focus on:

• Title tags. These are the titles that appear in search engine results. They should clearly describe the page’s content and include relevant keywords.
• Meta descriptions. A summary of the page that also shows up in search results. Make it compelling so people want to click on your link.
• Headings and subheadings. Use headings (like H1, H2, etc.) to organize your content and include keywords to help search engines understand the topic.
• Images. Use high-quality images and add “alt text” (a short description of the image) that includes keywords. This helps with accessibility and SEO.
• Internal links. Link to other relevant pages on your site to keep users exploring your content and to help search engines understand the structure of your website.

For example, if you sell handmade candles, your title tag could be “Handmade Soy Candles | Natural Scents for Your Home,” and you could use headings like “Benefits of Soy Candles” and “Our Most Popular Scents” within the content. This tells search engines what your page is about and helps users navigate your site.

4. Build quality backlinks

Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your site. They act as votes of confidence, signaling to search engines that your site is trustworthy and valuable.

The more high-quality backlinks you have, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results.

How to get backlinks:

• Guest posting. Write articles for other blogs or websites and include a link to your site. This helps you reach a new audience while gaining credibility.
• Create shareable content. High-quality, original content (like infographics, guides, or research) encourages others to link to your site. If your content is useful or unique, people will want to share it.
• Engage with your community. Participate in online discussions, forums, or groups related to your industry. Sharing your expertise can lead to backlinks from others who value your insights.

For example, if you run a health food store, creating a well-researched infographic on “The Benefits of Organic Foods” can encourage health blogs to share it and link back to your website.

5. Make your site mobile-friendly

With more people using smartphones to browse the internet, your website must work well on mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, users may leave quickly, and search engines may rank you lower.

How to optimize for mobile:

• Responsive design. Ensure your website design adjusts to different screen sizes and looks good on phones, tablets, and desktops.
• Easy-to-tap buttons. Ensure buttons and links are large enough to be tapped easily on a mobile screen.
• Fast load times are important. Mobile users are less patient with slow websites. Optimize images and minimize code to ensure fast loading speeds.

For example, a local restaurant should ensure its menu and reservation system work seamlessly on mobile, making it easy for customers to browse the menu and book a table while on the go.

6. Improve your site speed

A fast-loading website keeps visitors happy and reduces the likelihood that they’ll leave before seeing what you offer. Slow websites frustrate users, leading them to click away quickly.

Search engines also favor faster websites, making site speed important for SEO.

Tips to speed up your site:

• Optimize images. Compress images so they load faster without sacrificing quality.
• Use browser caching. This allows returning visitors to load your website more quickly since their browsers can store certain site elements.
• Minimize code. Remove any unnecessary code on your website to improve efficiency and speed.

For example, an online boutique might find that large, high-resolution images of its products slow down the site. By compressing these images, pages load faster, improving the customer experience and increasing the likelihood of a sale.

7. Use social media to share content

While social media doesn’t directly impact your search engine rankings, it helps more people discover your website. Sharing your content on social media can increase traffic, leading to more backlinks and greater visibility over time.

How to leverage social media:

• Share blog posts and updates. Post links to your blog posts, products, or services on platforms where your audience is active, like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
• Engage with followers. Respond to comments and messages to build relationships and encourage interaction.
• Use hashtags. Hashtags can help increase your content’s visibility by making it easier for people to find.

For example, a travel agency might share stunning photos and travel tips on Instagram, attracting followers who visit their website to learn more about vacation packages or travel deals.

In addition to creating valuable content, consider leveraging influencer seeding campaigns. These campaigns can help you reach a broader audience by engaging influencers who resonate with your brand’s message. By sending your products to influencers, you can organically generate buzz and attract more visitors to your website. This approach aligns well with content creation strategies, as influencers often share authentic experiences with their followers, driving genuine interest and traffic to your site.

8. Focus on local SEO (if applicable)

If your business serves a local area, optimizing for local searches helps you connect with customers in your community. When people search for services or products near them, local SEO helps ensure your business appears in those results.

Steps for local SEO:

• Google My Business. Create and verify your business listing. Ensure that all information (address, hours, contact details) is accurate and up to date.
• Collect reviews. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews, improving your visibility in local search results.
• Local keywords. To help attract nearby customers, include location-specific keywords (like your city or neighborhood) in your content.

For example, a pet grooming service in Austin could use keywords like “Austin pet grooming” on their site and keep their Google My Business listing updated with fresh photos and customer reviews.

9. Keep your content fresh

Regularly updating your website shows search engines and visitors that your business is active and relevant. Fresh content keeps users engaged and signals that your site is up to date.

How to keep content fresh:

• Update old blog posts. To keep older posts relevant, add new information, examples, or updates.
• Add new products or services. Regularly introduce new offerings and update your site to reflect them.
• Post regularly. Keep a consistent schedule for blog posts, videos, or other content to keep visitors returning.

For example, a tech company might update its blog with the latest industry trends and news, ensuring its readers can always access the most current information.

10. Make your website easy to use

A user-friendly website encourages visitors to stay longer, explore more pages, and ultimately take action—whether making a purchase or contacting you for more information.

A site that’s hard to navigate or read will frustrate visitors and hurt your chances of converting them into customers.

Tips for better user experience:

• Clear navigation. Ensure visitors easily find what they want by organizing your site with simple menus and clear categories.
• Readable text. Use fonts that are easy to read and ensure enough contrast between the text and the background.
• Accessible design. Make your site usable for people with disabilities by following accessibility guidelines, such as adding alt text to images and ensuring your site is navigable via keyboard.

For example, an online course platform could organize courses into clear categories (e.g., “Marketing,” “Programming,” “Design”) and provide a search function, helping users quickly find the content they’re interested in.

Tools to help you track progress

Google Analytics

Google Analytics shows how visitors find and use your website.

• How to use it:
  • Sign up and add a tracking code to your site.
  • Monitor which pages are most popular.
  • See where your visitors come from (e.g., search engines, social media).

For example, let’s say you notice that a particular blog post is getting a lot of traffic. You can create more content on that topic to attract even more visitors.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console helps you understand how your site appears in Google search results.

• How to use it:
  • Verify your website ownership.
  • Check which keywords people use to find your site.
  • Identify and fix any issues that might affect your visibility.

Google Search Console can help you discover your site isn’t mobile-friendly, fix the issues, and improve your search rankings.

Real-world examples

Case Study 1: Growing traffic with valuable content

A small family-owned gardening shop, Green Thumb Gardens, struggled to attract online customers. Although they had a beautiful physical store in town, their website wasn’t generating much traffic.

Their goal was to boost online sales, particularly in the off-season when in-person foot traffic slowed. They realized that their current website was mainly product-focused and didn’t offer much in terms of content that could engage their audience.

Strategy: After researching its customer base, Green Thumb Gardens started a blog featuring helpful tips on plant care, DIY garden projects, and seasonal gardening advice. They focused on creating content that answered common customer questions, like “how to care for indoor plants in winter” and “easy vegetable gardens for beginners.”

They also made sure to:

• Research long-tail keywords related to their niche, like “best plants for small apartments” or “DIY compost bin ideas,” and incorporate them naturally into their blog posts.
• Use high-quality images of their garden projects and products to engage readers visually.
• Share blog posts on their social media platforms to drive traffic to their site.

Within six months, the blog started gaining traction. Their articles were shared by gardening enthusiasts on social media and linked by larger gardening forums and DIY websites, resulting in a 300% increase in website traffic.

Most importantly, visitors stayed on the site longer and browsed their online shop, leading to a 50% increase in online sales during the off-season. The blog also helped position Green Thumb Gardens as an expert in their community, leading to more foot traffic during the busy spring season.

Case Study 2: Boosting local presence for a coffee shop

A new coffee shop, “The Daily Brew,” had just opened in a competitive neighborhood filled with cafes. Although their physical location was great, they struggled to stand out and attract customers, especially from outside the immediate area. They had a basic website and a small social media following but weren’t getting found in local search results.

Strategy: The Daily Brew focused on local SEO to boost its visibility in Google search results. It optimized its Google My Business (GMB) profile, ensuring that all the necessary information—address, phone number, operating hours, and menu—was correct. It also added professional photos of its cozy interior, coffee, and fresh pastries.

In addition, they:

• Encouraged reviews from satisfied customers by handing out flyers with their GMB link and a gentle request for a review.
• Created location-specific content on their website, such as blog posts about the local community events they participated in and guides to the best coffee shops in the area (with themselves included).
• Used local keywords like “best coffee shop in [City Name]” and “coffee near me” in their web content, helping them rank better in search results.

After a few months, The Daily Brew saw significant improvements in their local search presence. They started appearing at the top of search results for “coffee near me” and “best coffee in [City Name],” leading to a 45% increase in foot traffic from first-time visitors.

Many new customers found them through their Google My Business listing. Their average customer review score rose to 4.8 stars, further boosting their credibility and attracting more locals and tourists.

Their enhanced online presence also helped them get featured in local food blogs and magazines, bringing in even more business.

Case Study 3: Engaging on social media to drive traffic

An artisan jewelry maker, “Golden Glow Creations,” had a loyal following at local craft fairs but struggled to build an online presence. Their website had low traffic, and while they had set up accounts on Instagram and Facebook, they weren’t seeing much engagement. They wanted to increase online sales and build a wider customer base beyond their local community.

Strategy: Golden Glow Creations decided to lean into social media marketing to showcase the craftsmanship and uniqueness of their jewelry. Instead of just posting product images, they created behind-the-scenes content highlighting the artistry and effort that went into each piece. They filmed short videos of jewelry-making, from sourcing materials to handcrafting each item.

To increase engagement, they:

• Posted “workshop tour” videos, showing where and how their jewelry was made.
• Created timelapse videos of the jewelry-making process, which were popular on Instagram Reels and TikTok.
• Launched a monthly giveaway contest where followers could win a custom piece of jewelry by tagging friends and sharing their posts.
• Collaborated with local influencers who modeled their jewelry and shared it with their followers.

Within three months, Golden Glow Creations saw a 400% increase in engagement on Instagram and a significant increase in website traffic. Their behind-the-scenes videos and influencer collaborations drove followers to their site, where they could explore the collection and make purchases.

The giveaway contest helped them gain 2,500 new followers, many of whom became customers. Website sales tripled, and they received orders from customers in other states, proving that social media engagement was a key factor in expanding their reach and increasing organic traffic.

Conclusion

Increasing organic traffic takes time and effort, but it’s a worthwhile investment for your business’s long-term success. By understanding your audience, creating valuable content, and optimizing your website, you can attract more visitors without paying for ads.

Remember, it’s about helping people find what they’re looking for and providing a great experience once they arrive. Start with small steps, be consistent, and watch your organic traffic grow.