What strategies would you use to increase organic traffic to a website?


 Theme: SEO, Traffic Generation  Role: Digital Marketing Specialist  Function: Marketing

  Interview Question for Digital Marketing Specialist:  See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Digital Marketing Specialist: Focuses on online marketing channels and campaigns. This role falls within the Marketing function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here

 Sample Answer 


  Example response for question delving into SEO, Traffic Generation with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence

  •  Keyword Research & Optimization: I would conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant and high-volume keywords related to the website's niche. This would involve using tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to identify keywords with high search volume and low competition. I would then optimize the website's content, meta tags, and URLs with these keywords to improve organic rankings
  •  Content Creation & Optimization: I would create high-quality and engaging content that is valuable to the target audience. This could include blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, and more. I would ensure that the content is optimized for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords, using proper headings and subheadings, and including internal and external links
  •  On-Page SEO: I would optimize the website's on-page elements to improve its visibility in search engine results. This would involve optimizing meta tags, headings, URLs, and image alt tags. I would also ensure that the website has a clear site structure, easy navigation, and fast loading speed
  •  Technical SEO: I would conduct a technical SEO audit to identify and fix any issues that may be hindering organic traffic growth. This would include optimizing website speed, fixing broken links, improving mobile-friendliness, and ensuring proper indexing and crawling by search engines
  •  Link Building: I would implement a strategic link building campaign to increase the website's authority and visibility. This would involve reaching out to relevant websites and influencers for guest posting opportunities, creating valuable content that naturally attracts backlinks, and leveraging social media platforms to promote the website's content
  •  Social Media Marketing: I would utilize social media platforms to promote the website's content and engage with the target audience. This would involve creating and sharing engaging posts, running targeted ad campaigns, and leveraging social media influencers to increase brand visibility and drive traffic to the website
  •  Monitoring & Analytics: I would regularly monitor the website's performance using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. This would help me identify areas of improvement, track keyword rankings, analyze user behavior, and make data-driven decisions to optimize the website's organic traffic
  •  Continuous Optimization: I would continuously analyze and optimize the website's performance based on the data and insights gathered. This would involve refining keyword targeting, updating and repurposing content, improving user experience, and staying updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes

 Underlying Motivations 


  What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question

  •  Knowledge & expertise in digital marketing: Assessing the candidate's understanding of organic traffic generation strategies and their ability to apply them effectively
  •  Problem-solving skills: Evaluating the candidate's ability to identify and address challenges related to increasing organic traffic
  •  Analytical skills: Determining the candidate's proficiency in analyzing website data and metrics to optimize organic traffic
  •  Creativity & innovation: Assessing the candidate's ability to come up with unique and effective strategies to attract organic traffic
  •  Results-oriented approach: Evaluating the candidate's focus on achieving measurable outcomes and driving tangible results through organic traffic growth

 Potential Minefields 


  How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags

  •  Lack of knowledge: Not being able to provide specific strategies or examples of increasing organic traffic
  •  Generic answers: Providing vague or generic strategies without tailoring them to the specific website or target audience
  •  Overemphasis on paid advertising: Focusing solely on paid advertising strategies instead of organic methods
  •  Ignoring SEO: Not mentioning search engine optimization (SEO) techniques as part of the strategies
  •  Lack of measurement: Not discussing the importance of tracking and analyzing data to measure the effectiveness of the strategies