Get Visitors to Your Website

Want to know how to get visitors to your website? You’re in luck! This article shows you how to get more visitors online by building links.

SEO Says, “Build Links”

A Search Engine Optimization expert may tell you the way to get visitors to your website is to build links.

“Build links” = this means that another website would put a link to your website on his or her website. That’s called linking. To build links is the act of getting a link to your website on another website. When you’re successful, you’ve built a link.

A link can be built from an image or text on another website to your website. Here’s an example of a text link:

Here’s an example of an image link:

Why Links Matter

An SEO strategist suggests you build links to your website to bring in more visitors. Why? Why do links bring in visitors?

Two reasons links matter:

Google Loves Links
Referral Traffic

Google Loves Links

In other words, Google trusts links (specifically, Google trusts established, quality links). This is the best way to get visitors to your website via Google: build established, trustworthy links to your website from other websites.

Google’s algorithm weighs and counts the links pointing back to your website. It’s the most important signal to Google that your website is popular. When Google’s algorithm ranks websites in the search results, the top results returned are the most popular and relevant results in Google’s index. More links to your website alerts Google that your website is popular. Google ranks popular websites high in its search engine results (SERPS = Search Engine Results Page).

Referral Traffic

There is something called a “No Follow” link. What this means is that Google doesn’t officially weight or count the link back to your website.

What?!

You’ve gone to all this trouble to build a link back to your website, and Google isn’t going to count it? Why even build it at all?!

Build that link anyway, for two reasons: one, Google doesn’t always ignore No Follow links (it’s up to Google whether to count the link; your developer can place a no follow tag on a link to request Google not follow that link, but it is ultimately up to Google whether to follow the link or not.), and, two, people can follow the link whether or not Google does. And that’s what really matters: getting visitors to your website.

Is SEO Right?

An SEO’s answer is completely correct: Build links if you want to get visitors to your website. Google’s algorithm will rank your website higher in the search results if you have more or better quality links than your competitors. It’s a known fact that rank of a website in Google’s search results affects the amount of visitors to the website (from Google). The closer your website is to the top of the page, the more clicks (aka website visitors) you’ll get.

Here’s an excerpt from Page One: What’s a Google Rank Worth:

“When you look at the statistics, it’s easy to see the lion’s share of clicks are going to the highest ranked search results. Different studies have put the traffic share of the first position at around 33%, with the second position getting around 15% of share, 9% going to number 3, and steeper dropoffs after number 5. At minimum, 75% of clicks go to the first page of search results.

“So at first glance, if you rank at number 1 for a search term related to one of your keyword targets that is searched for 1000 times, you can expect around 300 clicks to your site.”

Here are stats from Search Engine Watch’s article, 60+ Mind-Blowing Search Engine Optimization Stats:

32.5% Average traffic share the first Google organic search result gets. (Chitika)

91.5% The average traffic share generated by the sites listed on the first Google search results page. (Chitika)

1,890 words: The average content length of a Google first page result. (Backlinko)

51% of all website traffic comes from organic search, 10% from paid search, 5% for social, and 34% from all other sources. (BrightEdge)

Over 40% of revenue is captured by organic traffic. (BrightEdge)

73 billion: The estimated number of phone calls that will be generated from mobile search alone by the end of 2018. (Acquisio)

8.5: The average number of organic mobile search results that Google shows on page 1. It previously consisted of 10 “blue links” in its search results. (SearchMetrics)

8.59: The average number of organic desktop search results that Google shows on page 1. (SearchMetrics)

Real Life Says, “Build Connections”

You have the answer to getting to the top of Google: build links.

But, in real life, it’s not always that easy. If you’ve already built all the links you possibly can on your own, your next thought may be, “What’s next?”

There are many ways to build links, but it really comes down to building connections with other people.

The Real Way to Build Links

Instead of looking at link building as an SEO tactic, look at it as a social endeavor. Don’t concentrate on the websites you want to link to, focus on the people behind the websites who you can connect to. Think about ways you can work together or assist each other. This creates a real connection and getting a link this way is much more realistic and practical.

Even if you are uninterested in establishing a connection long term with this person, please keep in mind that he or she is a person and not a website. This person does not exist to help you get visitors to your website.

Link Building Tips

I think the biggest mistake a lot of marketers make when asking for a link back to their websites is the approach. It’s focused on the link; it’s not focused on the person reading your e-mail.

If you’re going to ask someone for a link back to your website, here are some tips:

Know the company you’re e-mailing. And not just the name, but the services they provide and where they are located.
Know the person you’re e-mailing. Again, not just her or his name, but the position she or he holds in the company.
Be polite. Introduce yourself. Use “please” and “thank you” in your message.

Bad Example of a Link Building E-mail

I received this e-mail two days after this blog posted online. It is an excellent example of what not to do if you want a link.

No Introduction
No Explanation
Not Written to Anyone

This person does not mention his name, his company, or even what the topic of his blog post is. He doesn’t mention how his blog might help Artonic’s audience. There is definitely not enough information to make a decision based on the e-mail above.

Good Example of a Link Building E-mail

Here’s an example of a polite and professional link building email I received, asking for a link from Artonic’s website to another website.

Successful Link Building E-mails

After I received the e-mail mentioned above, I replied, telling the marketer that I would be happy to add the link to Artonic’s website.

I do not usually do this, but there were a few reasons I added the link this time. (Keep these reasons in mind when you e-mail someone about building a link to your website.)

Not a Competitor
Polite, Professional
Relevant Company, Services
Helpful to Artonic’s Audience

Not a Competitor

This company is not a competitor to Artonic. (In other words, this company doesn’t offer the same services to people in the same area as Artonic does).

Polite, Professional

The e-mail was polite and professional. The person introduced herself and clearly explained why she was e-mailing. There was enough information included to understand her message and make a decision on my end.

Relevant Company, Services

The website writes for small businesses, which is the same audience Artonic writes for. Again, the services offered by this company are different than those offered by Artonic.

Helpful to Artonic’s Audience

The link led to an article that was well written and informative.

Opportunities to Build Connections

I was impressed with the e-mail, so included in my reply was a request for opportunities for Artonic to work with this company. She replied, saying she would like to include our team members on a list of resources for upcoming blog articles.

This probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, but this is a great link opportunity.

As mentioned before, her audience is the same as Artonic’s audience. Even if the link is a no-follow link, the referral visitors are worth it.

Let Us Build Links for Your Website

If this seems like a lot of work, you’re right. Building links is time consuming. It can be tedious, too. It can also be interesting and fulfilling, especially if you find true connections that you value.

If you don’t have time to build links or want to spend your time doing something else, we can help you out. Check out our marketing services or contact us if you’re interested.

For more marketing tips on how to get visitors to your website, check out our free e-book: How to Get More Website Traffic