How I Increased My Website Traffic by Over 2500% in One Year.
In 2018, I got serious about my web design business. I was determined to give up my 9-5 soul-sucking corporate job, and I genuinely believe that the only way to do that is to start working for myself.
The growth of my business has already exceeded my expectations, but I still have a long way to go. With that said, I feel that much of my growth can be attributed to content marketing.
What is content marketing?
Content marketing is a type of marketing that involves the creation of content such as videos, blogs, and social media posts. It doesn’t have to explicitly promote your own brand or service (in fact, it probably shouldn’t), but instead, it stimulates interest in the products or service you offer.
Whenever you add a blog entry to your website, you make your site that much more extensive, increasing the chances that someone is going to land on your website, especially if they’re looking for the information your blog provides. In my case, I write about all topics related to Squarespace and general web design.
In addition to the rewards that search engines give to websites that publish consistent, quality content. Great content is a great way to keep people coming back for more and can position you as a subject matter expert within your industry.
Blogging: Website Traffic Impact
What are the benefits of content marketing?
1) It brings more traffic to your website
Publishing blog articles consistently has helped me bring way more traffic to my website over time. It’s no coincidence that the unique visitor graph in my site analytics shot way up at a steady pace after being flat for ages as soon as I started blogging on a consistent schedule.
I fully admit that I’ve been majorly slacking on my content creation in the last couple of months before writing this article and I can clearly see the corresponding decline in visitor growth.
2) It brings awareness to your brand
I get email on a regular basis from people who either want to thank me for providing a solution to a problem they had or write a message that starts with something like: “Hi Karl, I found your website through your blog, and…”
Sometimes, people just have kind words about my website. Other times, it’s a potential client or another design agency who wants to work with me. There’s nothing better for a solo business owner than having unsolicited work land in your lap.
3) It builds trust and credibility
Every potential customer is a person with a problem that needs solving. Imagine how that person is going to feel about you if you’re solving their problems before they even know your name. Writing blog posts or making videos about common issues that your clientele and target audience face helps to convince them that you really know your stuff.
My approach to content marketing.
People have asked me, “how can you attract customers if you’re giving away all your expertise for free?” A valid question.
It’s true that I provide a lot of tips, instructions and how-tos in my Squarespace blog. However, much of the advice I give is concerning the more advanced functions tailored to people who are already building their own website using Squarespace. The person who has already taken on the task of building their own website is not necessarily my target audience.
BUT, maybe it is⁉️
Squarespace provides a managed, all-in-one platform to help savvy business owners create their own website. However, Squarespace is one of many, many available DIY website builders. With that in mind, my question is: “Why, in the age of abundant “easy” DIY website builders, are there SO MANY terrible, ugly, poorly designed websites?” The answer is that it’s not as easy as it may seem.
A DIY website builder is just a tool. If someone gave me an unlimited number of top-of-the-line power tools and materials, I still wouldn’t be able to build a house. There’s a 100% chance that I’ll be hiring someone to use those tools and materials for me.
Several of my clients are individuals and businesses who tried to build their own websites and failed miserably. It just so happens that they landed on my blog in an effort to find solutions to their problems and ended up hiring me to just do it for them, thus completing the circle of the content marketing strategy. ♻️Boom!
🎤💧(mic drop).