Increasing traffic to your website
3 easy ways to improve your website's click-through rate (CTR)
Make sure potential customers reach your homepage...
Sixty-eight percent of online search queries begin with a search engine (BrightEdge). So, if it’s not crystal clear in search results what your business does and why users should click through, you’re almost certainly losing potential customers – and sales – before they reach your home page. Due to the nature of our business, we research other companies online daily, and we can tell you it’s surprising how many return results that leave us mystified. With this in mind, here are three straightforward tips to improve your online presence and increase traffic to your website:
of online search queries begin with a search engine
Ensure title tags and meta descriptions are present and correct
You may have been told not to bother with title and metadata because 'it has no SEO benefit'. Technically, this is true in search engines such as Google because meta descriptions are not a ranking factor. BUT. Organic click-through rate is a crucial factor. If more people click through to your website, it has a better chance of ranking higher.
We recommend writing clear, to the point titles and engaging descriptions that outline precisely what your viewer will find on page. It sounds obvious, but if potential clients can’t figure out what you do in a second on Google page one, you’ve wasted the opportunity to make a first impression that results in a site visit. If the information is not available, there’s a good chance they’ll look elsewhere.
Create and regularly update a Google my Business listing
Google My Business (GMB) has become increasingly important in the COVID era because it’s the first port of call for up-to-date information on your business. Visitors that wouldn’t have thought twice about checking opening times or health and safety policies will now be looking to the top right corner of their screen for guidance on how to interact with your business. And the benefits don’t end there.
Think with Google says that 60 per cent of smartphone users have contacted a company directly using the GMB search results (e.g. ‘click to call’ option). Which, by the way, also contributes to local SEO. Best of all, a GMB account is free. What are you waiting for – register for a quick and easy win right now.
Submit your website to Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) falls into SEO territory i.e. optimising your website for better performance in search rankings. So, this tip is less about what your customers see and more about what they don’t. GSC is a free Google tool that allows you to register your website and its sitemap for indexing. By letting Google know that your website exists, it stands more chance of being found in the first place. If performance is down, GSC will help to identify areas for improvement. GSC is just the starting point for increased visibility; there are many more tips in this Style Factory article to make your site more visible to Google. Raising visibility on Google is an excellent place to start. The search giant dominates over 80 percent of the global search market. But don’t forget, other search engines are available...
Of course, a final option is to work with a professional agency to improve your website visibility. Digital agencies can look at a range of options from link building to longtail keywords, working in specialist areas that are not cost-effective to delegate to your team. If you’d like more information on the services we provide, please get in touch for more details.