Pay-per-click advertising, managed well, can still offer businesses exceptional value for money, as well as unparalleled measurability in terms of your return on investment. But, for the time-rich and cash-poor, there are many other ways you can increase traffic and sales. Combined with traditional PPC and SEO techniques, these lesser-known strategies could see your visitor numbers skyrocket…

1. Use social media to engage your audience

By creating Facebook and Twitter pages where your users can communicate with each other, and which they will find interesting and useful, you can build a loyal community of followers for free. Incentives such as competitions and discounts will help to generate interest. Gradually introduce your brand over time so users don\’t feel too \’marketed to\’.

2. Write and submit expert articles online

You can post expert articles on dedicated article sites, using advice and information you already have through experience. These articles link back to your website, thus creating valuable links, effectively for free.

3. Create a blog to engage with your consumer base

Create your own blog (there are free sites to help you do this) to engage your website visitors with what you do, you can then use your blog posts in a monthly newsletter to your list of contacts. This keeps potential clients engaged with the brand and helps current clients feel a sense of community, as well as (hopefully) providing them with useful hints and tips about your sector.

4. Write and submit press releases

Use PRWeb to send optimised news articles about your business straight to Google News and other sites and blogs. We think it\’s worth paying a little extra to add anchor text links, though this is optional. There are free sites as well which, while they lack some of the advantages PRWeb offers, can give companies on a very tight budget some much-needed PR, absolutely free.

5. Become a source

A journalist in a relevant sector can do wonders for a company in terms of free marketing, providing targeted \’advertising\’ on a regular basis, ideally both in print and online. All you have to do is prove yourself as a good source for topics they might be writing about.

6. Use local listings

Create a Google Places listing, which will appear on Google when users search for businesses like yours in your area. Optimise the listing for target keywords you know your customer base is typing in, and ask customers to leave reviews there – this will help you to rank highly for local searches. If your customer base is local, you might also benefit by listing yourself on Foursquare, so people can see your location (and any deals you\’re willing to offer) on their mobile devices.

7. Add your website to directories

Directories can still work for you, if you do it right. Get listed on high ranking free directories, encourage reviews, and benefit from being at the top of the listings. The link itself can also work in your favour as it can potentially help with SEO.

atom42 is a London online marketing agency which uses a range of techniques to create complete online marketing strategies for its clients.

atom42 (http://www.atom42.co.uk/)is a London online marketing agency which uses a range of techniques to create complete online marketing strategies for its clients.

Author Bio: atom42 is a London online marketing agency which uses a range of techniques to create complete online marketing strategies for its clients.

Category: Marketing
Keywords: online marketing agency, increase traffic, increase traffic for free, increase sales, increase sales