How to Get Traffic: Marketing Your Small Business Website

Meet Ben

Business owner for 15+ years, web designer, and online marketing specialist. Providing practical advice for starting & growing a 
6 Figure Home-Based Business

how to marketing your small business website
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You've built your small business website, but now what?

How do you get people to visit it?

Marketing your small business website online can feel overwhelming, with so many options. You might wonder how much you need to spend or which strategies actually work.

Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Let’s break down the best ways to market your small business website online and get traffic that converts.

I'll guide you through proven methods that work, whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to invest.

Start with a blend of free and paid marketing

If you need to start making money fast, then combining free and paid tactics is the best approach.

You get quick visibility while building a long-term presence. Here are strategies I’ve used with clients that consistently deliver results.

Social Media Marketing

maket a small business online social media marketing

Social media marketing leverages platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to connect with your audience. It’s about building your brand, increasing sales, and driving website traffic through engaging and targeted content.

Why Social Media Marketing works

  • Huge reach: Billions of people use social media daily.
  • Targeted advertising: You can target specific demographics based on age, interests, location, etc.
  • Free and paid options: You can start organically and scale with ads when ready.

How to succeed with Social Media Marketing

  • Choose the right platforms: Be realistic about where your audience spends time. If you offer business consulting, focus on LinkedIn. If you sell fashion items, Instagram might be a better fit.
  • Content sharing: Follow the 80/20 rule – 80% informative, engaging content, and 20% promotional. Share blog posts, how-to guides, and tips relevant to your industry.
  • Engage with your audience: Join LinkedIn groups, participate in Reddit threads, and answer questions. Genuine engagement will increase your website's traffic.
  • Use targeted ads: Facebook and Instagram ads can reach millions of people. Start with a small budget, test different ad types, and refine your strategy over time.
  • Boost key posts: If a particular post performs well, consider boosting it with a small budget. This helps it reach a larger audience quickly.

If you’re a fitness coach, share workout tips, success stories, and motivational quotes. Engage with fitness communities and promote your services through targeted ads.

Real World Example

Influencer Marketing

marketing a small business online influencer marketing

Influencer marketing taps into the power of popular figures on social media to amplify your brand's message. By leveraging their audience, you can reach potential customers more quickly.

Why Influencer Marketing works

  • Trust and credibility: People trust recommendations from influencers they follow.
  • Targeted exposure: You can reach an audience already interested in your niche.

How to succeed with Influencer Marketing

  • Find micro-influencers: Don’t aim for the biggest names in your niche. Instead, collaborate with smaller influencers who have a dedicated and engaged following.
  • Offer collaborations: Trade services or content with influencers, such as a free product in exchange for a review.
  • Create brand ambassadors: Encourage satisfied customers to share your website and services. Offer discounts or perks for their referrals.
  • Consider sponsored content: Paying influencers to promote your business can be worth it, especially if they have an engaged audience that fits your target market.
  • Start an affiliate program: Offer influencers a commission for every sale they drive to your website. It’s a win-win.

A local bakery could partner with a foodie influencer who shares their baked goods with followers, driving more traffic and sales.

Real World Example

Email Marketing

email marketing for a small business

Email marketing involves sending emails to people interested in your business. It's a highly effective way to communicate directly with potential customers, providing them with personalized content, promotions, and updates.

Why Email Marketing works

  • Direct communication: You reach your audience right in their inbox.
  • High ROI: For every $1 spent, email marketing can generate an average of $42 in return.

How to succeed with Email Marketing

  • Build your subscriber list: Offer something valuable, such as a free guide, discount, or exclusive tips, in exchange for email signups.
  • Send tailored content: Use segmentation to send personalized emails based on interests, purchase history, or actions taken on your website.
  • Automate your emails: Use email automation tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to send welcome sequences, follow-ups, and abandoned cart reminders.
  • Avoid buying lists: While it might be tempting, focus on growing your list organically to ensure higher engagement rates.
  • Measure and adjust: Regularly monitor open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to refine your email strategy.

A photography studio could offer a free guide on “How to Pose for Photos” to capture email addresses and send updates about special promotions.

Real World Example

ConvertKit is perfect for email marketing

If I were to recommend an all-encompassing email marketing tool for small Businesses, it would be ConvertKit. It offers a comprehensive solution that helps you connect with your audience, nurture leads, and drive sales.

Content Marketing

content marketing for small business

Content marketing is about creating and sharing valuable, relevant content that attracts and engages your target audience. This strategy helps establish your business as an authority and drives organic traffic to your website over time.

This is my favorite way to grow traffic on a small business site because it has a longer payoff!

Why Content Marketing works

  • Builds authority: Quality content positions you as an expert in your field.
  • Drives long-term traffic: Evergreen content continues to attract visitors months or even years after it’s published.

How to succeed with Content Marketing

  • Create blog posts: Write articles that answer common questions, solve problems, or offer valuable insights related to your industry.
  • Produce videos: Videos are incredibly engaging and can be shared on YouTube, social media, and your website.
  • Offer free resources: Create eBooks, infographics, or downloadable guides that your audience finds valuable.
  • Share on multiple platforms: Repurpose content to share across various channels, such as a blog, social media, email, etc.
  • Use SEO best practices: Research keywords, optimize your content for search engines, and include internal links to keep visitors on your site longer.

A gardening supply store could create blog posts on “How to Grow Herbs Indoors,” linking to products available on their website.

Real World Example

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

marketing a small business with seo

SEO involves optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), making it easier for potential customers to find you when they search for related terms.

Why SEO matters

  • Increases organic traffic: SEO helps attract visitors actively searching for your products or services.
  • Long-term results: While it takes time, the traffic you gain from SEO can be highly sustainable.

How to succeed with SEO

  • Optimize on-page elements: Use your target keywords in titles, headings, meta descriptions, and image alt tags.
  • Create quality content: Google loves in-depth, well-researched content that provides value to readers.
  • Build backlinks: Contact other websites in your niche and offer to write guest posts or collaborate in other ways.
  • Improve site speed: To avoid losing potential visitors, ensure your website loads quickly. Compress images and use caching plugins.
  • Focus on local SEO: If you’re a local business, optimize for local searches by adding your business to Google My Business and including local keywords.

A yoga studio in Denver could optimize for “Denver Yoga Classes” to attract people searching for classes in the area.

Real World Example

Paid Advertising

paid ads to market a small business

Paid advertising helps you get immediate traffic to your website. It includes options like Google Ads, and Meta (Facebook) Ads.

Why Paid Advertising works

  • Immediate visibility: Get traffic immediately without waiting for SEO or organic efforts to build up.
  • Targeted reach: Ads can be highly targeted based on demographics, location, and behavior.

How to succeed with Paid Advertising

  • Start with a small budget: Test different ad campaigns before scaling to see what works best.
  • Use Google Ads for intent-based traffic: Target people actively searching for products or services similar to yours.
  • Leverage Facebook and Instagram Ads: Create visually appealing ads that grab attention and drive traffic.
  • Monitor your ROI: Track your ad spend, clicks, and conversions to ensure a positive return on your investment.

An online clothing boutique could run Facebook ads showcasing new arrivals, targeting women aged 25-45 interested in fashion.

Real World Example

Find What Works and Grow from There

Marketing your small business website online doesn't have to be overwhelming. Using a mix of free and paid tactics, you can drive traffic, build your brand, and convert visitors into customers.

Take the time to understand where your audience spends their time, and experiment with different strategies to see what works best for your business. This approach will save you time, money, and effort in the long run.

With the right marketing strategies, your website can become a powerful tool for attracting customers and helping your small business grow.

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Meet the Author

Ben Coyour

As a home-based business owner consistently earning over 6 figures, I built this site to help you start your own at home business fast and make it profitable. I also share time-saving tips to help you focus on what truly matters in life.

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