Having a website that isn’t getting much traffic is like having a driver’s license without having a reliable vehicle. You have the ability to go somewhere, but not the means with which to do it.

We all know the value of having a website – after all, it is one of the best ways to attract new clientele and let them know who you are and what you have to offer. But, there’s more to the process than merely having a website- you also need to have website traffic. So, what could be the causes of your website getting less traffic than you expected.

10 Reasons Your Website Isn’t Getting Enough Traffic

  1. You Aren’t Watching the Right Keywords. If you have had your website for a while, and have been using the same keywords you have always used, it is possible those words have become outdated within your industry. Because Google has improved its natural language comprehension, people no longer have to type search queries in a particular way, so you need to be sure your website content is written in simple languages.

  2. Your SEO Needs Work. While having effective keywords is important, there are other SEO factors that will improve your website traffic. Some of these include the installation and configuring of Yoast, having an XML site map, having a Search Console, setting up Google Analytics, and the use of a tool like SEMrush.

  3. Backlinks that are Beneficial. Having quality backlinks is a great way to boost the amount of web traffic you get from Google. However, while leaving comments on other sites is a great way to start, many blogs have no-follow links which don’t do anything to help drive traffic to your website. Instead, if you want to use blog posts as a way to boost traffic then contact a company within your industry and offer to write several guest blog posts. Doing this will not only help to improve website traffic to your site but can also go a long way towards helping you establish credibility within your industry.
  4. Your Content is Lacking. Content is king- and has been for quite some time. Your website must have well-written content that is optimized for the web. When writing content for your website, keep these aspects in mind.
    1. Use bold or italics for emphasis
    2. Write in short paragraphs, ideally a maximum of 75 words.
    3. Be informative without filling your writing with fluff and idle chatter.
    4. Use pictures or media as often as possible.
    5. Do you have data or stats? Then include them- especially if it is something unique or specific to your industry or niche.
  5. The User Experience is Terrible. A site that is not user-friendly will not encourage people to visit- or stay for long when they do. Some things you can do to make your website more user-friendly include- being sure your website is accessible on all devices-pc, phone, tablets, etc., that your site is not rife with pop-ups, that it has a quick load time (This is a big one!) and it is easy to navigate your website.
  6. You Aren’t Social Enough. We understand, not everyone loves social media. That stated, as a business, it is vital that you are a part of the various social media sites By growing a following on sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram you can increase website traffic significantly. Keep in mind, you don’t have to be active on all the social sites. Rather, choose a couple of them and take time to fill out all the profiles. Then make frequent posts as well as interact with your followers.
  7. Too Many Redirects. If you have removed pages or have old blog posts with outdated links then site guests will eventually tire of redirects and not stay on your site, and search engines will have trouble indexing your site resulting in less web traffic. Prevent this problem by taking time to update your site when pages are removed and periodically checking external links to ensure they are still valid.
  8. A Lack of Interaction. If you don’t have any contact information, there isn’t a chat feature, and your FAQ page is AWOL then boosting website traffic is going to be difficult. People want to be able to interact with you- if they can’t reach you, then they aren’t likely to business with you.
  9. Long Forms. Do you love to fill out long forms? Chances are, you said and emphatic, “No.” And, while your sales team might like to have a great deal of information about any client or potential client- who visits your site, those long forms can be a nuisance and irrelevant. Simplify forms to the most basic of information you must have. After all, you can always request a bit more info once site guests are officially part of your company “family”.
  10. Branding, Be sure your website branding matches that of your social media, business cards, Pay-per-Click ads, and any other place your company is seen. Endeavor to keep the font, colors, and logo the same so people know they have arrived at their intended destination.

These ten action items are just a few of the things that can minimize website traffic. But they can be overcome. Just as you can repair (or replace, if necessary) that unreliable car so you can enjoy the benefits of having a driver’s license, updating your website will improve the traffic and thus improve your bottom line.

Don’t keep looking at the old “vehicle’ and hoping it suddenly starts working. Talk to Page Progressive about helping you boost your website traffic today.