You may have noticed your Facebook post with links are being penalized. But Facebook isn’t alone in this, all of the social platform penalize you for putting links in your post.

A 2021 report from the folks over at Social Insider shows that the Facebook algorithms, supported by user preferences, clearly favors posts without links. If one of the reasons you’re using social is to drive traffic to a website this presents a bit of a challenge. Here are 6 creative ways you can drive traffic to a website from within social without using outbound links.

What this report shows us is that Facebook, and other social platforms aren’t throttling your content because they want to keep folks on the platform, they are penalizing you because analytic studies show that users prefer linkless content. So in essence the penalizations are a nuge to you to produce the most engaging types of content.

So here are 6 creative ways you can encourage people to your business website without putting a direct link in your Facebook, or other social media post.

1. Compelling Visual Content: Businesses can create visually appealing and engaging content, such as high-quality images, infographics, or videos, that showcase their products or services. By sharing these visuals on social media platforms, they can pique users’ interest and encourage them to visit their website to explore further. Like this.
2. Influencer Collaborations: Partnering with relevant influencers or micro-influencers who have a loyal following can be an effective way to reach new audiences. By collaborating with influencers, businesses can have their products or services featured in sponsored posts or videos, with a call-to-action for users to visit the business’s website to learn more or make a purchase.
3. Contests and Giveaways: Running contests or giveaways on social media platforms can generate excitement and incentivize users to visit a business’s website. Participants may be required to visit the website to enter the contest or fulfill certain criteria, such as sharing their email address or creating an account, thereby increasing website traffic.
4. Exclusive Offers or Discounts: Creating exclusive offers or discounts specifically for social media followers can entice users to visit the website. By promoting these offers through engaging and eye-catching posts, businesses can encourage users to take advantage of the deal by visiting their website to make a purchase.
5. User-Generated Content: Encouraging users to create and share content related to the business, such as product reviews, testimonials, or creative use cases, can not only increase brand engagement but also drive traffic to the website. By featuring user-generated content on social media platforms and acknowledging the contributors, businesses can motivate others to visit the website to explore more.
6. Storytelling and Behind-the-Scenes Content: Sharing compelling stories, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or personal narratives related to the business can foster a sense of connection and intrigue among users. By hinting at or referencing more detailed content available on their website, businesses can drive users to visit the site to uncover the full story or experience.

Remember, while these strategies can be effective in leading users to websites without relying on direct links, it’s important to maintain a consistent brand voice, engage with the audience, and provide value through the content shared on social media platforms.