Increase Traffic with Social Media Marketing

As an internet business owner, getting traffic to your website is an important component for generating sales and leads. It’s really all about the numbers. The more people you attract to your website, the higher the likelihood that you will make a sale or convert a prospect. Social media marketing can help you increase website traffic by getting your name in front of as many people as possible as well as boost your search engine rankings.

Here are a few suggestions for using social media marketing tools to increase website traffic:

Social Media Marketing Tips

Create Profiles at the Major Sites – Your first step to social media marketing success is to build profiles at the major social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. These sites provide a platform for you to network with people who may be interested in your business. Don’t forget to include links to your website. Facebook and LinkedIn specifically allow you to submit the RSS feed of your blog which will help generate website traffic from people visiting your profile.

Bookmark Yourself – Another social media marketing tactic to get traffic to your website is to submit links to your website and articles to social bookmarking sites such as Delicious, Reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon and Blinklist. When submitting sites, be sure to write an attention grabbing headline and description as well as use general and specific tags to categorize the material so it appeals to your target audience.

Submit Content to Targeted Social Sites – There are a number of social media sites and forums that cater to specific audiences. Many of them allow you to submit original content that is useful to the members. Submitting posts that tap into the needs of the community is a good way to get more website traffic. Be sure to close your articles with a strong call to action that directs the reader to your website.

Use Social Media Marketing Widgets – Your website should be outfitted with bookmarking widgets that allows visitors to submit your site and content to their favorite social media websites. WordPress has a number of plugins such as Tweetmeme, Sexy Bookmarks and OnlyWire that visitors can use to promote your website and increase your website traffic. If you don’t have a blog, or don’t use WordPress, tools like ShareThis and AddThis will work on any website.

Interact with Prospects – Possible the best social media marketing tactic you can use to get traffic to your website is to socialize with people. While the previous suggestions will help you spread your name around, you’ll make yourself more memorable if you actually interact with the members of these websites. You don’t have to have to be active at all of them. Pick one or two that you enjoy using and just starting connecting with people. Show an interest in what they have going on. Not only will you convert a prospect but you’ll make a friend and that is what social networking is all about.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using social media marketing and other internet business tools.