15 Alternatives to SEO for Driving Website Traffic

To explore effective alternatives to SEO for driving website traffic, we asked digital marketing executives and founders for their best insights. From utilizing social media marketing to boosting traffic with PPC, here are the top fifteen strategies these experts shared to enhance your online presence.

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Utilize Social Media Marketing

Among the particular strategies different from SEO used to attract more traffic to a website, social media marketing is one. Each social media site, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, has billions of active daily users and advanced targeting options to reach the result-oriented audience conveniently. 

• Engagement and Interaction: Social media can be quite a powerful tool that entails direct interaction with the public. Leads can also be generated by using comments, likes, shares, and Direct Messages in creating a community of a brand. It is worth noting that such a level of interaction is not always visible in the frame of SEO only. 

• Targeted Advertising: Promotion through social media allows for enhancing the targeting capabilities of the advertisements. You can segment your campaigns by the common demographic parameters, users’ interests, and behaviors, as well as create custom audiences based on your previous customers. This precision is very important because it allows your content to be seen and consumed by people who are most likely to be interested in your business products or services. 

• Content Virality: Of all the many forms of media in the contemporary complex world, social media has the advantage of passing on content. A good post, a short, thought-provoking video, which people would like to share, or any piece of content that finds its way to people’s hearts, could be circulated through the network and attract millions of visitors to your website. Such unaided audience contact is not easily arranged through SEO. 

• Influencer Partnerships: Here it is worthy to note that working with influencers can go a long way in expanding the reach. Influencers have followers who believe in their products’ suitability for use. Because of this, they can bring a lot of traffic and potential customers, especially if they recommend your product or service. 

• Real-Time Analytics: Social media are effective because they always present real-time analytics; in that, the performance of a campaign can be seen at a glance. It also provides immediate feedback, which can be used to help fine-tune strategies in order to get the best results and bang for the buck. 

Finally, it can be said that even though SEO is a long-term strategy for traffic generation, social media marketing can help one get traffic more efficiently and interact with visitors.

Manoj Sharma, SEO Executive, Hicentrik

Engage in Online Communities

One specific alternative to SEO for driving website traffic that can be effective is participating in online groups and communities, particularly on platforms like Reddit. When I share valuable insights or solve problems for others, they’re more likely to visit your website, especially when you can add a link to the resource with additional information. It’s true that you can’t promote directly; however, if your engagement is value-driven and you can provide helpful answers, share useful resources, and show your expertise, you are likely to get traffic from these online communities.

Gene Armstrong, Agency Founder, Web Developer, SEO Expert, Happy Website Design

Leverage Influencer Partnerships

An alternative to SEO for driving website traffic is the strategic use of influencer partnerships. We’ve utilized this method to great success, especially in reaching niche audiences that are highly engaged and trust the influencers they follow. By collaborating with influencers who align with our brand values and have a strong presence in our industry, we’ve been able to tap into their follower base, driving significant traffic to our website.

For example, we partnered with several thought leaders in the digital-marketing space who created content around our tools and services. These influencers shared their experiences and reviews on their blogs, YouTube channels, and social media platforms. This brought a surge of targeted traffic to our website and enhanced our credibility and visibility within the industry. The authenticity and trust that influencers have built with their audience translate into higher engagement rates and a more genuine interest in our offerings, making it a powerful traffic-driving strategy that complements traditional SEO efforts.

Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost

Invest in Paid Advertising

Paid advertising, particularly through platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or LinkedIn Ads, is an alternative to SEO for driving website traffic. I recognize that while organic search traffic is valuable, paid advertising offers more immediate results and precise targeting capabilities.

Paid advertising allows businesses to reach their target audience quickly and efficiently by displaying ads to users based on specific demographics, interests, behaviors, or search queries. This approach can be especially beneficial for new websites or businesses entering competitive markets where organic rankings may take time to achieve. 

With paid advertising, you can control your budget, monitor performance in real-time, and adjust campaigns on the fly to optimize results. Also, the data gathered from paid campaigns can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, which can inform other marketing strategies, including SEO efforts in the long run.

Henry Purchase, Founder, SEOSpace

Harness Pinterest for Traffic

One effective alternative to SEO for driving website traffic is utilizing Pinterest. Unlike traditional social media platforms, Pinterest functions as a search engine. As we know, Google loves updated content, but your content remains discoverable long after publishing on Pinterest. That’s why it’s perfect for bloggers and small-business owners. Pinterest’s algorithm is more straightforward, making it easier to rank for popular keywords than typical search engines. You can significantly increase your site’s visibility and attract a targeted audience by consistently creating and pinning eye-catching visuals linking to your blog posts. 

We’ve seen remarkable results using Pinterest to drive traffic. We usually create multiple pins for each blog post, incorporating various images, titles, and descriptions to avoid repetition. We’ve expanded our reach and engagement by actively using long-tail keywords, pinning consistently, and participating in group boards. This approach has proven highly effective for bringing substantial and sustained traffic to our website.

MD. Raisul Islam, Digital Marketing Executive, MeasureMinds Group

Implement Content Syndication

A highly effective alternative to SEO that we often utilize is content syndication. By republishing our original content on reputable third-party platforms, we reach a broader audience we wouldn’t typically have access to. For instance, we had a comprehensive guide on digital marketing strategies that we syndicated on a popular industry blog.

This drove a surge of traffic to our website and established us as thought leaders in our field. The key to successful content syndication is to select platforms with a high domain authority and frequented by your target audience. This method extends the reach of your content and attracts a steady stream of visitors interested in your expertise.

Sahil Kakkar, CEO & Founder, RankWatch

Adopt Thought Leadership Strategies

One of the best alternatives to SEO for driving website traffic is also technically an SEO strategy: thought leadership. Utilizing public relations (PR) best practices generates awareness, credibility, direct website traffic, and rankings via inbound links. Specific PR tactics I’ve used to boost website visibility for myself and my clients include securing media mentions (via Featured and other media-resource sites), syndicated articles (including guest blog posts or podcast interviews), and visibility via industry speaking engagements. 

Kent Lewis, Founder, pdxMindShare

Use Email Marketing Effectively

Email marketing is an effective method to increase website traffic in addition to SEO. You may send targeted campaigns straight to the inbox of subscribers on your email list if you have a buildup of people who are interested in your goods or services. You may advertise fresh content, promote sales, and increase website traffic by creating engaging and customized emails. One of the most affordable ways to interact with your audience, nurture leads, and eventually increase website traffic and conversions is through email marketing.

Aqsa Tabassam, PR & Brand Manager, RevenueGeeks

Leverage Word-of-Mouth Referrals

Many of our most loyal customers have become so through word-of-mouth. I often gift our skincare products to friends and family or new acquaintances. Not only is it a nice gift, but it’s also a great way of introducing our product to people in our community, and many times it has resulted in future orders and even more word-of-mouth spread!

Shari Azama, Marketing Manager, Yu-Be, Inc.

Drive Traffic With Instagram

You can use Instagram to drive traffic to your website. People like to find results in videos and images more than in writing, and Instagram is the best platform for such types of audiences. The platform has 2 billion active users. You can show your business to all these people and drive them to your website with consistent content. Create trendy reels related to your business. Present the services effectively and attractively to viewers. Talk about how it can transform their lives. These days, podcast clips are going viral quickly. 

You can try this trend and provide a link to your website in the description or show the domain name in the reels themselves. SEO might take a few months to show results. But, if one reel goes viral, it can drive more traffic to your site. 

Additionally, keep an eye on your competitors’ strategies so that you can create more effective reels and content for Instagram. The audience on this platform mostly comes with no purpose. They only want to explore, enjoy, and pass the time. So, when they are in a relaxed mood, show them what can improve their lives. 

And, no matter what business you do, it is always related to helping people or solving their problems. Instagram Reels is an effective way to reach billions without much expense and effort to solve their problems. You mainly need to focus on creativity and engagement while creating content for Instagram.

Saikat Ghosh, Associate Director of HR & Business, Technource

Incorporate Video Content

Video has been a fantastic way for me to generate traffic without relying on SEO. By adding videos to all my blog posts and sharing them on third-party sites, I’ve seen an increase in traffic. When people on third-party sites watch my videos and click on them, they are directed to my site, providing a valuable extra boost in traffic.

AL Tran, Realtor, Blogger, Author, DS Inspire

Focus on Content Marketing

Alternatively to SEO, one budget-friendly way to increase website traffic is to focus on the practice of content marketing. Content marketing can look like informative posts, infographics, checklists, ultimate guides, troubleshooting tutorials, and more. Think high-value educational blog and social media content. This kind of educational content attracts users who are curious about, reading up on, or researching related topics to your niche. By providing specific and related information without making a sales pitch of any kind, you also build trust and a good reputation with your audience.

Leah Webber, Projects Manager, Sugar Design Group

Host Interactive Webinars

Organizing interactive webinars is one alternative for SEO that has helped me greatly increase website traffic. Realizing people are keen for real-time interaction and learning possibilities, I started planning webinars on subjects pertinent to my audience. 

For example, I previously ran a webinar covering the foundations of financial planning. I welcomed attendees to ask questions throughout the session and offered practical advice. The interactive style encouraged guests to return to my website later for additional materials and follow-up tools. 

Along with boosting traffic, this strategy created a community around my brand. Participants appreciated the value and personal touch of the webinars, resulting in more shares and recommendations. I was able to attract notable traffic to my site by concentrating on offering real value and encouraging interaction, proving that developing interesting experiences can be a really effective strategy for development beyond conventional SEO techniques.

Kal Dimitrov, Content & Marketing Expert, Enhancv

Engage in Digital PR

Digital PR is a powerful SEO alternative that can boost your brand’s credibility, attract targeted traffic, and enhance your online presence without relying solely on search engine rankings.

Digital PR involves building relationships with online media, influencers, bloggers, and industry leaders to secure coverage, mentions, or backlinks for your brand. Unlike traditional PR, which focuses on print media, digital PR is centered around online platforms and can take the form of articles, interviews, press releases, or guest posts on high-authority websites.

Being featured in reputable online publications or endorsed by influential figures in your industry enhances your brand’s credibility. This credibility can increase trust among your target audience, which is crucial for driving traffic. When readers see your brand mentioned by sources they respect, they’re more inclined to visit your website and explore your offerings.

While digital PR is an effective way to drive immediate traffic, it also offers long-term benefits. The credibility and authority gained from being featured on reputable platforms can lead to sustained interest in your brand, with visitors returning to your site over time. This enduring impact, coupled with the high-quality backlinks earned, indirectly benefits your SEO efforts by boosting your domain authority, providing a solid return on your investment in digital PR.

KATHLEEN MARRERO, Digital Marketing Consultant, First Fig Marketing & Consulting

Boost Traffic With PPC

Short and sweet: PPC. Sometimes you need a jump-start, and PPC is the fastest method to do just that. Organic SEO takes time in a lot of cases, so you need to supplement that with PPC, and when you have enough traffic, also get retargeting ads, as that is hands-down one of the best bangs for your buck you can get. I would say that after a website has 100-150 visitors a month, you are good to go with starting a retargeting campaign.

Matt Rose, CEO, Oregon Web Solutions LLC

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