Do you have a good idea of who your audience is? Do you understand why they visit your website, what they need or expect to find, and how to convert your site traffic?
If not, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together some tips on methods you can use to connect with your site visitors and understand what they need and want. Knowing these bits of information about site users not only improves their experience but can also result in additional traffic that converts.
1). Use Your Analytics Tool
Do you use any type of analytics tool? If not, don’t feel badly. Many sites don’t have analytics tools, and if they do, many sites simply ignore these valuable tools. And that’s a huge mistake.
Analytics tools provide you with insights into site visitors. You’ll lean which types of content/topics they find most interesting, the time of day most traffic hits your site, how long users stay on the site and more. You can even find out what sites visitors go to after they leave your site. Could they be visiting a competitor’s site? You’ll have that information by using an analytics tool.
Google Analytics is a great one to try—it’s free and easy to set up. Whether you choose this tool or another, with the information an analytics tool can provide, you’ll have valuable insights into what site visitors want and need.
2). Understanding Analytics
Next, you’ll need someone who is able to understand the analytics data. If you have the data, but can’t understand what it’s showing, then you won’t have information needed to improve site visitor’s experience on the site.
If you aren’t able to translate analytic data, then it may be a good idea to hire someone who can. They’ll be able to “translate” the data for you, providing that much needed information to help you get the necessary insights.
3). Keywords
Keywords and keyword phrases are the words that users type into a search engine. These words are extremely valuable, for if used correctly, they can bring traffic to your site. If not used in the right way, however, you can actually lose traffic.
What keywords and phrases do your site visitors use to find your site? This is also valuable information to know and understand. The reason is that you’ll want to use these keywords and phrases in content and other areas of your site to bring in traffic. And not just any traffic, but visitors who want to find a site like yours.
Look at this example. If you own a flower shop and use the keyword “flower designer” while your target audience is using the keywords “flower shop,” then you won’t turn up in the search results. Oh, you may turn up on page 20 or so, because the search engine sees that your keywords don’t match the users’.
You can use free tools such as Google Keyword Research or Word Tracker to find the keywords your target audience is using.
4). Do You Know How to Use Facebook?
Do you really know how to use Facebook to your best advantage? The answer is probably not, which may surprise you. Using Facebook is more than just creating and posting content and images.
You need to use Facebook in conjunction with your keywords. For instance, the title above a photo should be catchy, but not spammy. And the photo needs to support the message you’re trying to convey. The headline, too, should make use of keywords that draw your audience’s attention and make them want to click over to your site.
If you’re not sure how to do this, then do a Google search to find free tutorials and courses that help you with this.
5). How Does Your Audience React to Social Media?
Not everyone uses Facebook, so you’ll need which social media platforms your audience visits and how they use them. Here, think of sites such as Pinterest or Instagram. These social media platforms are based on the use of images and graphics; however, Twitter is more about text and breaking news.
Learn which social media platforms your audience uses, and how they use them. Then you’ll be able to use these platforms more effectively to reach and draw in your target audience.
6). Monitor Audience Comments
It can be difficult to deal with customer comments on social media. It’s embarrassing and uncomfortable. However, ignoring what your customers are saying is a huge mistake. Why? Because their comments are additional bits of information on what they think of your products and services, how they prefer to be treated, and more.
Monitoring comments and talking directly with customers are beneficial ways to reach out to customers. Even if the comments are negative, if you reach out and begin a conversation with these customers, you’ll gain valuable insights, and may even keep some customers that were initially unhappy. All of this helps to gain a better reputation, which can go a long way to improving traffic and business.
7). Listen to Your Audience
Listen to your audience and let them tell you what they find important. Your audience can provide valuable information on their experience with your website, if they have trouble when making a purchase, and more.
Then you take this information and make the needed improvements to your site and business. This is how businesses become successful—by listening to their audience/customers and giving them what they need, want and expect. Not doing so will cost you business and revenue.
These are all methods and tools you can use to gain a better understanding of your audience. It’s not easy, we understand that. However, making the extra effort to learn about your audience can help your website traffic convert, and even gain more business.
Doing nothing to understand your audience only leads to poor business, a bad reputation and loss of revenue. If you find yourself in this position, it’s not to late to make changes. Start using these tools and methods today and you’ll soon see your audience make a positive response to your efforts. You’ll even see an increase in traffic and revenue, which makes all your efforts worthwhile.
