Did you know a staggering 90% of websites don’t see any visitors from Google? [1]
Navigating the digital fitness jungle can be challenging, especially when big-name brands are doing heavy lifting with paid advertising.
But what if you’re on a shoestring budget? Test.
Thankfully, the traffic game isn’t just for the big players with deep pockets. With the right moves, you can capture the attention of an audience actively searching for your expertise.
Here’s how to get more traffic to your website for free.
Publish Irresistible Content
Luring visitors to your site? That’s only half the workout.
Keeping them engaged? Now, that’s the real calorie burner.
Even if you use paid traffic, your visitors will only stick to your website if they find something valuable.
And here’s a reality check:
The average visitor spends less than 15 seconds to decide if you are worth their time or not. [2]
Next time you flex your writing muscles, let these tips be your personal trainer for driving more traffic:
Get to the Point
What’s the main purpose of your blog post? Be sure to write content that directly addresses this purpose, so your visitor knows what to expect and isn’t lost within side tangents and disorganization.
The W.I.I.F.M. Workout
Follow the popular ‘What’s in it for me?’ principle while writing content. Understand and address your audience’s needs by leading with benefits in your content, and use clear headlines and CTAs to quickly communicate and guide them toward the value you’re offering.
Swear By EEAT
Content that follows Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) guidelines will help you get more organic traffic to your website. Consistently produce well-researched content, cite reputable sources, and showcase credentials or testimonials on your site.
Make it Reader Friendly
Make your website content concise and scalable. Be generous with white space and avoid clumping paragraphs together.
Know Your Audience
Do some digging and find out what type of content your audience prefers. For example, cheat sheets, workout guides, free e-books, calorie calculators, and videos are among some of the most popular in the fitness industry.
If you do not have the necessary time, resources, or interest to write content for your fitness website, consider hiring a fitness copywriter who specializes in your niche.
Optimize for Search Engines
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps your website show up in results for relevant searches.
The more you show up in search engines like Google, especially if your website is on the first page, the better your chances of getting clicks.
You can easily get lost down an SEO rabbit hole, so I’ll recommend two things to focus on first: keywords and load time.
Keywords
All of your metadata should be optimized using the right keywords.
This includes your written content, page titles, images, meta descriptions, links, etc.
You can find the right keywords for your page and blog posts using free software like Google Ads, SEMRush, and Ahrefs.
If you don’t have a background in SEO, this shouldn’t be something you DIY.
I’d recommend that you hire a fitness writer who knows how to address all the aspects of optimization such as backlinking, reducing redirects, etc.
Page Load Time
Some experts suggest that your website should load in less than three seconds and it should look as good on mobile as it looks on a PC. [3]
The secret? Websites with compressed images and videos load faster.
A responsive layout such as a mobile friendly layout is necessary to provide an optimal viewing experience. This should be true regardless of what type of device the visitor is using.
Instead of trying to tackle this chore yourself, I’d recommend chatting with your web designer. Ask them to convert your website to a more responsive one.
Harness the Power of Social Media
With your high-quality content and a spruced-up website, it’s time to amplify your message and get people buzzing.
Here are some proven social media strategies that work for most fitness businesses.
Broadcast Your Brilliance
Put simply: Regularly share your website’s content on social media.
Did you create a new calorie or activity calculator? Ask social media users to try it and share their feedback.
Are you offering a free e-book on a vegan diet for muscle building? Offer it across all of your social media platforms and see which ones result in the biggest amount of traffic.
Once you know which social media platforms offer the biggest bang for the buck, you can start focusing more of your energy there.
Here are some more lead magnet ideas that can help you get more traffic to your website for free.
Fitness Contests
Consider hosting regular contests on social media.
It could be before-after photo sharing, a fun quiz, obstacle course challenges, or anything relevant and interesting.
These contests should direct the users to your website for participation.
Reward the winners to motivate them (and others) to participate in future contests.
Find Your Tribe
Join relevant social media forums and groups.
Start a discussion or participate in them, answer queries, share opinions, give ideas, etc.
You can include links to your blogs wherever it’s appropriate but don’t overdo it. Speaking of which…
Don’t be a Spammer
I recommend only posting relevant information. Do not spam followers or groups with promotional content.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a strategy where you ask a social media influencer who is being followed by your target audience to promote your business.
Influencers can vouch for your business by participating in interviews, joining events hosted by you, or being active on your social media platforms.
Full disclosure here: They may not do it for free, but you may strike a profit-sharing deal. Typically, this will still give you a higher ROI compared to paid advertisements.
Why?
Fans tend to trust their personal influencers more than they trust paid ads, making this one of the most effective ways to get more traffic to your website.
Guest Blogging
Posting highly informative, attention-worthy content on other high-traffic websites can boost your business’s credibility. It can also get more traffic to your website for free.
The catch is that you need to find websites that have consistent traffic AND have a similar, if not the same, target audience.
Keep in mind that not all such websites accept guest posts.
And those who do tend to have very strict editorial guidelines. This means you may need to work on your website’s content first to prove that you will give them something worth publishing.
Participate in Relevant Forums and Blogging Websites
Some of the best online places where you can find your target audience include:
- Quora
- Medium
- Nerd Fitness
- Bodybuilding.com
- Anabolic Minds
Join these groups and forums to start participating in discussions.
I’d advise against over promoting your website. With that said, if you have a specific blog or e-book that can provide further information to the readers without annoying them, you can include the link.
Other than helping you get more traffic to your website for free, being a participant in these forums can help increase your brand awareness and build your credibility.
List Your Business on Online Directories
Millions of people use online directories to find a local business every day. Did you know that Yelp alone gets 80 million visits every month? [4]
Online directories can help direct more organic traffic to your website by giving you high-quality, credible backlinks and boosting your online presence.
Some great examples include:
- Yelp
- Zillow
- Google My Business
- Better Business Bureau
- Yellow Pages
Most of these directories offer free listings or charge a negligible fee.
Need Help with How to Get More Traffic to Your Website for Free?
What’s the beating heart of every successful fitness website?
Stellar content.
Without it, even pricey ads can fail.
Many small businesses struggle with content marketing, especially in fitness.
That’s where I come in. I specialize in this niche, offering targeted strategies that speak to your audience.
Instead of drowning in content, stay focused on running your business.
Let’s discuss how I can help you with your fitness website traffic.
References
- Ong, Si Quan. “79 SEO Statistics for 2023.” SEO Blog by Ahrefs, 15 May 2023, ahrefs.com/blog/seo-statistics/.
- Haan, Kathy. “Top Website Statistics for 2023.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 10 July 2023, www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/.
- Google, Google, developers.google.com/search/blog/2010/04/using-site-speed-in-web-search-ranking. Accessed 17 Sept. 2023.
- Yelp for Business. “Homepage.” Yelp for Business, 4 Sept. 2023, business.yelp.com/.
