7 Proven Tactics to Increase Organic Traffic Without Link Building

You want to achieve business success online (and sometimes offline). It is necessary to have organic traffic to the website. It provides you with sustainable online growth in the long term. Organic visitors are web users who came to your site through search results, not from paid ads. But how do you get organic traffic when there are over 1 billion websites? And every day, about 252,000 new websites appear, but many also disappear.

The most frequently mentioned tactic for achieving growth is link-building. And so many “SEO experts” deal with link building. However, the assumption that this is the only way to increase organic traffic is wrong. So, let’s find out how to increase organic traffic without link building:

1. Fixing Technical Issues
2. Find and Target the Right Keywords
3. Create Content Providing Real Value
4. Build and nurture EEAT
5. Optimizing Visual Content
6. Leveraging Local Search
7. Build Social Media Presence

1. Fixing Technical Issues for Better Crawlability

Just as good foundations are the basis of any long-lasting and durable building, the website’s technical settings are the basis for upgrading and good results. Numerous technical elements must be set up correctly for the website to function well. Some of them, which are directly related to organic results and traffic, are:

• HTTPS (security certificate)
• Optimized URLs
• Structured data (schema markup)

HTTPS (Security Certificate)

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is a process that enables communication between devices, internet browsers, and websites. If there is an “S,” this communication is secured. When the security protocol is applied, users can log on to websites, make purchases, and enter their personal information without fear. In addition to security, “S” ensures the trust of your visitors. The absence of an SSL (TLS) certificate damages the user’s confidence in your website, which is very important today. When the certificate is not implemented, potential users often receive a warning message about possible danger when accessing your website.

In addition, some users are aware of security problems and eliminate all results that do not have a security certificate in the search results. So, the lack of security certificates directly reduces the organic traffic of these websites and, at the same time, the CTR (click-through rate). Also, back in 2014, security was recognized as a crucial component, and Google started using HTTPS as a minor ranking signal.

Optimized URLs

We often ignore the URL structure or leave it to CMS and plugins to create it themselves. However, this technical detail can help us increase organic traffic. The most essential items for optimizing URLs (both for users and for search engines) that you should take into account are:

• Simple and descriptive URLs,
• Not too long and without unnecessary words,
• Inclusion of a keyword in the URL (but without cluttering it),
• Not too deep hierarchical structure,
• Avoiding dynamically generated URLs,
• Separating words with hyphens,
• Compliance with the content of the page.

If you follow these guidelines, bots and users will easily understand what is on that page. In this way, it will be displayed in the search results for more relevant terms and achieve more (quality) organic arrivals on the web.

Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Structured data is a standardized format (HTML tags) that provides search engines (and other search tools) with information about the classification of page content, existing elements, and their interrelationships, as well as what is valuable and should be displayed to the user. Schema.org is a website with documentation and guidelines for using structured data.

Google uses structured data to understand the content on the pages and to enable special search result features and enhancements, so-called rich results and snippets. These are often better displayed (in a better position, more noticeable, with more features) in search results and, therefore, more attractive to users. That improves visibility and leads to more visitors, i.e., increased organic traffic.

In addition to the structured data that Google and Bing use for rich results, it is helpful to include those they do not use because they further explain the content and interrelationships. In addition, search results are constantly evolving, and we cannot know what will appear as an additional feature tomorrow.

2. Find and Target the Right Keywords

People search for content on the Internet by entering terms, i.e., keywords. Every website wants to be displayed in the best possible search results and achieve the highest possible number of clicks, i.e., have as many organic arrivals and users as possible. However, it does matter for which searches our website will appear in the search results. To be sure that you will appear at the right time, for the right searches, in the right place, and to the right users, we need to:

• Research relevant keywords,
• Don’t be afraid of low(er)-volume keywords,
• Discover long-tail keywords and
• Understand search intent.

Keyword Research

First, you must research extensively to determine which keywords related to our business and online goals appear in searches. Many free or paid tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs can help you here, as well as numerous browser extensions.

Low(er)-volume Keywords

Then, you have a critical step. Choose low-volume keywords to help you cut through the competition, especially if you’re starting the battle to win search results. Low-volume keywords have a lower search volume, making them less competitive. For instance, if you’re in the fashion industry, ‘unique wedding guest dresses’ could be a low-volume keyword. The ultimate goal will be high-volume keywords, but it is unrealistic to expect to break through and overcome the competition immediately. Winning SERPs for low-volume keywords is much more straightforward and helps you build credibility and authority. And this will eventually lead to success in positioning for high-volume keywords.

Long-tail Keywords

Similar logic applies to long-tail keywords. They bring us targeted, qualified traffic. In addition, as with low-volume keywords, it is often easier to position them than for short-term keywords.
Let’s take, for example, “wedding guest dresses.” This is a low-volume and long-tail keyword compared to the words “dress” and “wedding dress.” Also, half a million searches (in the US) per month are undoubtedly tempting. However, imagine how many of your competitors are competing for those searches. So target terms: plus size wedding guest dresses, fall wedding guest dresses, long sleeve dresses for weddings, December wedding guest dresses, black tie wedding guest dresses, and similar. If you do a good job, you will undoubtedly get more traffic and better quality than you would manage to get for “wedding guest dresses.”

Search Intent

Last, you must adapt the content and keywords to the search intent. Namely, you don’t want to show the same content to people who want to research a term, product, or service they’ve heard of as to those who are looking for a solution to a specific problem or specific brands or characteristics or are ready to buy/book/order. For example, people searching for the Maldives, where to travel in winter, and 7-day holiday packages need different content.

Keyword research and selection are fundamental, so it is best to conduct them during the website’s planning to create the web’s structure following the findings.

3. Create Content Providing Real Value

After you have laid the (technical) foundations and found out what your users are looking for and searching for, you need to write the content for the pages. But not just any kind. Just as in construction, solid foundations will serve no purpose if you continue construction with low-quality materials, so a website requires excellent content. It is not enough to write anything, especially if you want to increase organic traffic. These should be your guiding ideas:

• Create high-quality, solution-oriented content,
• Use structured headers for easy navigation,
• Optimize for featured snippets,
• Build topical authority,
• Cover evergreen as well as hot topics,
• Update and prune content.

Create Content That Increases Organic Traffic

As stated earlier, you should create structured, solution-oriented, high-quality content and align it with the search intent. This means answering specific questions, solving real problems, and offering solutions. You will help users find what they need, giving them value that both they and search engines will reward.

Next, the content must be structured correctly. Using titles, subtitles, and header tags (H1, H2, H3, H4) is helpful in many ways. Breaking up large blocks of text with descriptive and context-driven subheadings improves the readability and accessibility of your content and the user experience. At the same time, you help search engines understand the meaning of certain individual sections and their interrelationships.

Optimize Content for Featured Snippets

You need to optimize the content to appear in “non-standard” search results, the so-called featured snippets. They are designed to provide quick, short, and direct answers to questions. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, look at the search results for “how often does a solar eclipse occur”:

Their main advantage is that even if a website is not on the first (or second) page of results for a specific query, it can appear at the top of the results. So, there lies your opportunity to appear among the first search results for keywords for which you usually do not rank well. How can you optimize content for featured snippets?

• Identify queries, i.e., searches in the form of questions for which you can get featured snippets. Research the form in which the answers appear (direct answers, lists, tables).
• Include queries in (sub)headings and give a direct answer in a shorter paragraph.
• Where applicable, create step lists or tables for significant amounts of data.
• Add images and videos and optimize their titles and tags.

Topical Authority and Content Freshness and Update

To achieve good positions in search results, you need topical authority. This concept tells how expert your site is on a specific topic (or several topics). It is not possible to explain it briefly. Still, it boils down to creating pillar pages and topic clusters by comprehensively covering all related topics. An expert and a good content plan will help you here.

When creating a content plan and choosing themes, cover evergreen content and trending topics to help maintain the steady growth of organic traffic. It is also important to regularly update the content (especially the well-performing ones) to remain relevant and boost your SEO results. You should periodically purge content that does not produce results. Delete content that does not add any value and merge similar articles.

4. Build and Nurture EEAT

In the EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust) family, “T” is the head of the house. Trust is what you need to build first. Google says: “Untrustworthy pages have low E-E-A-T no matter how experienced, expert, or authoritative they may seem.” The more serious the site’s content, the more important trust is and the more rigorous the criteria. You must meet security standards and provide accurate and relevant information about yourself. What others say about you is also vital. A conflict of interest also makes you untrustworthy.

Experience, expertise, and authoritativeness often overlap. You must have experience and the necessary knowledge or skills related to the topic you are writing about. You gain authority either through the uniqueness of a topic for which you are the only known and recognized authority, or over time, you join other authorities for a particular subject, and people often come to your website to read about it. To illustrate, would you like to read about the potential dangers of drowning on the page of a Coast Guard member or a travel enthusiast visiting famous beaches? Which of them will you trust more? Who is the more significant expert and authority?

Your structure and main content should clearly show what you are good at. Pay special attention to the detailed “About us” page and the quality pages of the authors of the texts. Video content often demonstrates expertise. The more serious the content of the web and the topic in question, the more you should pay attention to it. For YMYL (your money or your life) topics – health, safety, financial security, and similar – you need to prove experience or expertise. Authors’ proven expertise and biographies build the trust of search engines and users, leading to increased organic traffic.

5. Optimizing Visual Content

Use diverse visual content to increase visibility in the SERP and boost user engagement. Images, videos, and infographics can help you a lot with this. All visual content improves user satisfaction and engagement, prolonging their retention and interaction with the site. All these are positive signals to search engines. To ensure images work for you, get impressions in search results, and make users happy, make sure you optimize them:

• Write titles with keywords,
• Be sure to write alt tags,
• Compress images and use some of the web-friendly formats for faster load times,
• Make sure they are responsive and display well on all devices.

In addition to images, try to use videos as well. We know that pictures are worth 1000 words, but a minute of video is worth 1.8 million words, according to Dr. James McQuivey. If you put the video directly on the web, optimize it. Choose the best format, compress the video, and implement lazy loading to delay its loading until the video is visible. A better and simpler option is to embed a video, e.g., from YouTube or Vimeo. Embedding it will speed up loading time, reduce hosting costs, and avoid size restrictions.

6. Leveraging Local Search (If Applicable)

For all locally oriented businesses that have a physical location or operate in a specific area, it is imperative to work on visibility in local search results on Google. Local results are usually presented in a “Map Pack” or “Local Pack,” which consists of a small map and a list of three businesses (3-pack) and often dominates the top of search results. To succeed in local searches, professionals use targeted SEO strategies. You should:

• Claim your Google Business Profile listing,
• Submit your info to online directories and
• Collect online reviews.

Google My Business (GMB) Profile

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool. Your GMB profile is the business card you share online and show across Google. The more often you appear in local-pack, the more (organic) customers you attract, which increases traffic to your website because almost 24% of activity on GMB results in website visits (according to localseojet.com). Creating, optimizing, and maintaining your GMB listing increases your chances of success. You need to:

• Create and verify a profile,
• Enter accurate information,
• Describe your business,
• Enter images and videos,
• Respond to customer reviews,
• And use as many other possibilities as possible, such as displaying offers, sharing news, or answering user questions.

Submit Your Info to Online Directories

Enter information about your business in online directories and review sites. This data gives you credibility and helps search engines verify your business information. Ensure your basic information – NAP (business name, address, phone) is consistent across the web. Inaccurate or inconsistent information can harm you – it will confuse users and negatively affect search results. Of course, the same information should also be available on your website.

Collect Online Reviews

Encourage customers to leave you reviews. They are a significant factor in local results. Positive reviews improve your results in many ways. In addition to being a positive signal for ranking in search results, they influence user behavior in several ways because they build trust. On the other hand, negative reviews can have a significant negative impact on your business and results. In any case, be sure to respond to all reviews, as your communication with users and reaction to reviews are also positive signals to potential users.

7. Build Your Social Media Presence

Social networks are beneficial for boosting organic traffic. Maintaining them and providing quality engagement require time and dedication. Still, they are worth it. Research where your clients are most active and direct all your efforts there if you can devote yourself qualitatively to only some social networks.

You can publish more relaxed content on social networks that may not suit your website, e.g., organize competitions. Also, you can show your followers your humanistic side, socially responsible involvement, helping the local community, unexpected ways of using your product, and much more. You can offer solutions for specific problems on the forums. The above points suggest that social signals can indirectly influence rankings by increasing engagement and sharing. Communication with users, sympathizers, and clients builds credibility and trust.

Alternative Traffic Growth Strategies

In addition to the mentioned tactics for increasing organic traffic, you should also work on a general increase in traffic. Some of the tactics you can use are:

• Webinars and Free Tools: Free webinars and tools have a significant impact on increasing trust, authority, and, therefore, traffic.
• Email Marketing: email marketing can be helpful in various stages of communication, and you should use it for promotion and post-conversion interaction.
• Push Notifications: they are beneficial for increasing user engagement and retention. However, it would help to be careful not to overwhelm your audience.
• Paid Ads: using all forms of paid ads, combined with organic efforts, can contribute to steady traffic growth.

Monitor, Analyze and Iterate Your Strategy

Finally, tracking and analyzing the results is very important to know what works best and where to adjust or change your strategy. To monitor traffic and user behavior, it would be best to use free tools such as Google Analytics, Search Console, Microsoft Clarity, and some paid tools. Do continuous testing.

In Conclusion – How to Increase Organic Traffic?

Holistic SEO, including technical improvements, keyword strategy, content quality, and user trust factors, is crucial in increasing organic traffic. Although link building can be important for some competitive niches and new websites, it is not necessary to improve organic visibility. Combining on-page SEO efforts with content strategy, local SEO, and user experience can drive long-term organic growth. Here, you can see how we increased organic traffic to a webshop using some of the above tactics.