While organic search is a primary driver of traffic, leveraging other websites to send visitors to your site is an equally valuable strategy. This is known as referral traffic, and it comes from sources other than search engines. Getting traffic from other sites not only increases your brand’s reach but also builds authority and can lead to new customers.
1. Guest Blogging on Authoritative Sites Guest blogging is one of the most effective ways to get referral traffic. By writing a high-quality article for another website in your industry, you get an opportunity to include a link back to your own site within the content or your author bio. This link can drive a steady stream of traffic and improve your search ranking as a valuable backlink. To be successful, always choose websites with a strong domain authority and a relevant audience.
2. Participate in Relevant Online Communities Engaging in online forums, Q&A sites, and professional communities can be a great way to drive traffic. When you provide helpful, insightful answers to questions on platforms like Reddit or Quora, you establish yourself as an expert. When appropriate, you can include a link to a relevant resource on your website. This should not be a “spammy” tactic, but rather a genuine effort to help, which in turn earns you trust and traffic.
3. Leverage Social Media and Influencer Marketing Social media is a powerful engine for referral traffic. Sharing your content across all your social media platforms is a good start, but actively engaging with your audience and others in your niche is better. You can also partner with influencers or other brands in your industry. When they share your content or mention your website, it can lead to a significant spike in traffic from a new audience.
4. Build a Strong Digital PR Strategy Digital PR involves getting mentions and links from online publications, news sites, and bloggers. This can be done by creating newsworthy content—like a survey or a unique data set—and pitching it to journalists. A single mention in a major publication can lead to a massive influx of referral traffic and a powerful, high-quality backlink. This strategy is about earning media, not buying it.
5. Get Listed on Industry Directories Every industry has a list of trusted directories and associations. Getting your business listed on these sites can provide valuable referral traffic, especially from users who are specifically looking for a business like yours. These directories also provide local citations, which as noted, are a key part of off-page SEO.
Q&A Section
Q: Is buying links a good strategy to get traffic? A: No. Buying links is a violation of Google’s guidelines and can lead to a penalty that will harm your website’s search ranking and organic traffic for a long time. It is always better to earn links naturally through high-quality content and a strong outreach strategy.
Q: How do I measure referral traffic? A: You can measure referral traffic using a web analytics tool like Google Analytics. The “Acquisition” report will show you exactly which websites are sending visitors to your site.