Organic traffic is like free advertising for your website—it’s the traffic that comes to your site naturally, without any paid ads. For many businesses, organic traffic is the best kind because it shows up without the cost of advertising and often brings more engaged visitors who are actively looking for what you offer.
In this guide, we’ll cover what organic traffic is, why it’s important, and strategies you can use to grow your organic traffic over time. Plus, we’ll share three real-life case studies so you can see how these strategies work in the real world.
Ready to become an organic traffic expert? Let’s dive in!
Understanding Key Terms in Organic Traffic
Let’s start by covering some basic terms in website marketing. Don’t worry—no jargon or long-winded explanations here!
Organic Traffic
This is the website traffic that comes from unpaid search engine results. When someone types in a query on Google and clicks on your link without you paying for it, that’s organic traffic.
Keywords
Keywords are words or phrases that people type into search engines to find information. For example, if you own a bakery, “best chocolate cake recipe” might be a keyword you want to rank for.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
This is the process of making changes to your website so that it ranks higher on search engines like Google. SEO helps search engines understand what your site is about and matches it to relevant searches.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
When you type something into Google, the page that shows up with results is called the SERP. The higher you appear on the SERP, the more likely people are to click on your link.
Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your website. They act as “votes of confidence” from other sites, and search engines use them to decide how credible your content is.
Got it? Great! Now let’s move on to why organic traffic is so important.
Why Organic Traffic Matters
Organic traffic is incredibly valuable for a few reasons:
- Cost-Effective: You don’t pay for clicks with organic traffic. This makes it cheaper in the long run compared to paid ads, which can quickly add up.
- Higher Engagement: People who find your site through search engines are usually looking for something specific. They’re more likely to spend time on your site, explore your content, and even become customers.
- Builds Credibility: Ranking high in search engines adds credibility to your business. If Google trusts you enough to rank you, visitors are more likely to trust you, too.
- Long-Term Benefits: Unlike ads that disappear as soon as your budget runs out, good organic rankings can bring traffic to your site for months or even years.
In short, growing organic traffic takes time, but it’s worth the effort. It’s like planting a tree—at first, it’s small and fragile, but with care, it grows into a strong, lasting source of shade.
Strategies to Grow Organic Traffic
Let’s dive into the core strategies you can use to increase organic traffic on your website.
Keyword Research and Optimization
Your first step in growing organic traffic is to understand what people are searching for. This is where keyword research comes in.
- Use Keyword Tools: Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs can show you the keywords people are searching for in your industry. Look for keywords that are relevant, have good search volume, and aren’t too competitive.
- Focus on Long-Tail Keywords: Long-tail keywords are longer phrases (like “how to bake a chocolate cake without eggs”) that are easier to rank for and often bring more targeted traffic.
- Optimize Your Pages: Once you have your keywords, place them naturally in your title, headers, and throughout the content. Just avoid “keyword stuffing,” which is when you cram too many keywords into one page. Search engines don’t like it, and neither will your readers.
Create High-Quality, Valuable Content
Good content is the backbone of any organic traffic strategy. When people find helpful, engaging, and informative content on your site, they’re more likely to stick around and explore.
- Answer Questions: Think about what your audience wants to know, and create content that answers those questions. For example, if you’re a fitness trainer, a blog post on “How to Start a Home Workout Routine” could bring in people who are interested in fitness but don’t know where to start.
- Write Longer, In-Depth Posts: Studies show that longer content tends to rank better on Google. Aim for at least 1,000 words per blog post, and dive deep into the topic. Just make sure every word adds value.
- Update Old Content: Keeping content fresh is important. Regularly update old posts with new information, better images, or more recent statistics to keep them relevant. Reformat your old content in new ways – for example, you can make videos out of old blog posts to keep up with the audience’s evolving taste.
Optimize On-Page SEO
On-page SEO involves making sure each page on your website is optimized for search engines. It’s like making sure your house is in order before guests come over.
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: These are the text snippets that appear on search engine results. Make sure they’re descriptive, include your main keyword, and make people want to click.
- Internal Links: Link to other relevant pages on your site. This helps visitors explore more of your content and gives search engines a clearer picture of how your content is connected.
- Alt Text for Images: Use descriptive alt text for images. This helps search engines understand what your images are about, and it also makes your site more accessible.
Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks from reputable websites show Google that your site is trustworthy. But not all backlinks are created equal, so focus on quality over quantity.
- Guest Blogging: Writing guest posts on other sites in your industry can help you build backlinks to your site.
- Create Shareable Content: If you create content that’s unique, insightful, or funny, people are more likely to link to it. Original research, infographics, and guides often attract backlinks.
- Reach Out to Industry Sites: Sometimes, all you need to do is ask. Reach out to reputable sites in your industry and offer to contribute to their content.
Improve Site Speed and Mobile Optimization
Google cares about user experience, and a slow-loading or non-mobile-friendly site isn’t a great experience.
- Optimize Images: Large image files can slow down your site. Compress images to improve loading speed.
- Use a Mobile-Friendly Design: Make sure your website looks good and works well on mobile devices. With so many people browsing on their phones, mobile optimization is a must.
Use Analytics to Track and Adjust
Growing organic traffic is a process, and it’s essential to track your progress. Google Analytics can help you see which pages are getting the most traffic, where your visitors are coming from, and how long they’re staying on your site.
When you see what’s working and what’s not, you can adjust your strategy. For example, if a blog post is bringing in a lot of traffic, consider creating more posts on similar topics.
Real-Life Case Studies: How Companies Grew Their Organic Traffic
Case Study #1: HubSpot’s Content Strategy
Challenge: HubSpot wanted to grow its organic traffic and become a leader in inbound marketing.
Solution: HubSpot focused on creating high-quality blog content targeting keywords relevant to digital marketing and sales. They invested in long-form guides, in-depth tutorials, and actionable insights that solved specific problems for their audience. HubSpot also updated their content regularly and built a strong internal linking structure.
Results: HubSpot’s content strategy helped them attract over 8 million monthly visitors, largely from organic search.
Takeaway: Focusing on high-quality, relevant content can turn a blog into a traffic powerhouse.
Case Study #2: Backlinko’s SEO-Driven Content
Challenge: Backlinko, an SEO blog, wanted to establish authority in the SEO world and drive organic traffic without paid ads.
Solution: Founder Brian Dean focused on creating “power pages,” which are highly detailed, data-rich articles on specific SEO topics. He also used techniques like guest blogging, internal linking, and creating original research to attract backlinks.
Results: Backlinko’s traffic skyrocketed, and the site now ranks for competitive keywords like “SEO techniques” and “on-page SEO.”
Takeaway: Publishing in-depth content and building quality backlinks can help even small sites rank for big keywords.
Case Study #3: Canva’s Content Marketing Strategy
Challenge: Canva, a graphic design platform, wanted to bring in more organic traffic to boost sign-ups and user engagement.
Solution: Canva focused on content that catered to its target audience’s needs, such as tutorials, design tips, and social media templates. They invested heavily in SEO by targeting long-tail keywords and publishing blog posts that ranked for niche design topics.
Results: Canva’s content strategy has been a major driver of organic traffic and contributed to its rapid growth, now with millions of visitors each month.
Takeaway: Content that’s highly useful to your audience can help grow organic traffic and turn visitors into customers.
Final Thoughts
Growing organic traffic is like building a garden. You start by planting the right “seeds” (content and keywords), “water” it with SEO and backlinks, and watch it grow over time. While it requires effort and patience, a well-executed organic traffic strategy can bring you a steady stream of visitors who are truly interested in what you have to offer.
Remember, the goal is to create value for your audience. When you consistently offer content that educates, entertains, or solves problems, your audience will keep coming back for more. So, roll up your sleeves, put these strategies into action, and start seeing that organic traffic grow!
