This may seem like an obvious question but how do I encourage more visits to my site? Business is doing okay locally but my online orders are not that high. I've checked my keywords and I'm still finding myself on page 1 of google but still not a huge amount of traffic..
Could it simply be that mine is not the most obvious product to buy or am I missing something else?
As always, advice is much appreciated.
Nadya
“This may seem like an obvious question but how do I encourage more visits to my site?” Nadya I assume from the title tag of your home page that the keywords you are talking about when you say “I've checked my keywords and I'm still finding myself on page 1 of google but still not a huge amount of traffic” are "Chocolate Brownies for delivery" and or a combination of "rich chocolate brownies delivered to your door" A quick search shows me there is very little competition for that phrase so you will do well see here I am afraid you have done what many others do and concentrate on keywords that have little or no traffic value, then factor in the amount of people that will buy from a website which can be as little as 1% of your actual visitors then you are going to find it hard. My advice would be to target keywords with real traffic, also I would advise for a product like yours that you do a lot more off site work to bring traffic to your website, my sister in law has a lifestyle website which sells high end furniture nik naks , fancy named cushions, wooden letters for your kids names etc and she has managed to get traffic because of blogs and magazines, where ladies who lunch are saying oh found this lovely shop online etc. My advice send some to magazines or better still turn up at there offices and give them to everyone and anyone. tomsk
Yep - even send some press releases out. Not everybody goes looking online when they need something, so you need to consider other media. Look at the number of web companies that advertise in magazine, newspapers, TV etc. They are not solely relying on google search.  I notice one of your competitors got a Gold Award in the Great Taste Awards in 2008 and still has it on their website. Have you considered entering - as it would help to raise your profile Having quickly looked - 2010 is now closed but there is a category for Brownies and you can see 2009 winners by clicking here, Great Taste Awards and select 13h: Brownies from the drop down list. There you will find more of your competitors.  Don't give up!
Great advice, I've started a blog, there's nothing in it yet but will be working on it when I get a minute, I have a piece in the local paper coming out soon so hopefully that'll bring in some more business! I entered 'Taste of the West' a couple of weeks ago so I'm trying to be more pro-active, maybe I'm just impatient! I'll keep plugging away with your ideas, thanks guys!
I find my blog really useful when it is something happening at the time; perhaps a big new appointment or new office scheme. On that thinking, what about writing an article relating to gifts for teachers given it is nearly the end of term? Wouldn't make it 100% promotional so good to include other ideas, but make your brownies stand out as the best option. Perhaps you could get a tongue in cheek press release out there that local press would probably like, along the lines of most unusual end of term gifts. Bit more effort involved as you'd have to do some sort of survey amongst friends / family of anything they'd ever bought for / given to a teacher (or received). Might help boost the people visiting (and hopefully buying!) online.
“I am afraid you have done what many others do and concentrate on keywords that have little or no traffic value, then factor in the amount of people that will buy from a website which can be as little as 1% of your actual visitors then you are going to find it hard. My advice would be to target keywords with real traffic...” Echoing the remarks above: One of the most important items to identify is how YOUR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS search. How YOU would search - simply doesn't matter. Show your product to your friends, family, etc - and ask them: how would you search online for the products that I sell? (Note that the question doesn't include any keywords that would skew the results by saying "how would you look for brownies delivered to your home for sale online?" or some such) Once you have a a few dozen, or hundred different combinations, here are a couple places for you to do some keyword research to help you determine the most desirable phrases: https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/KeywordToolExternal And after you narrow it down, this can be helpful: Google Insights for Search Two things to note: 1. Don't take the tools as "gospel". Some of the terms that Google may say get a lot of traffic - don't. And vice versa. 2. Use common sense. Just because the word "desserts" may be heavily searched - doesn't mean its a good term for you, because that keyword would include everyone from people wanting recipes, to people incorrectly spelling "desert". In general, the shorter the phrase - the more competitive it is to achieve rankings. Hope that helps. Malok
Well I've been emailing several foodie magazines and have arranged to send some brownies in to a few next week with a view to writing a review. So plodding on with stuff outside of the website and trying not to become too concerned about the visitors. I'm also sending some brownies to the Chris Evans show on Radio 2 next week and to Heart/Capital FM (my brother in law produces for them) so hopefully will get a little plug there! All ideas of new avenues to explore of course still welcome, thank you all for your thoughts and ideas so far!
Good point to make by the way, must put myself in others shoes.
Getting more visitors and enquiries from our web site is a major concern of mine too. I followed the route recommended by Malok - it changed my original thinking and put me on the right track. Linda CareersPartnershipUK
More .... What works for me when I'm thinking about key words (and have checked the traffic on them) is to go to P1 Google and investigate the top-ranking sites not paying for adwords. I use the cache tool to find out how many repetitions of my key words they use and then try to assess the overall strengths and weaknesses of the site (how good it looks, how well-financed it seems to be, what PR it has, etc). Sometimes this approach works - and sometimes it doesn't! Linda CareersPartnershipUK |
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