Congratulations! You’ve finished your website and you’re ready to kick back and let the magic happen, right? Not quite. Gone are the days of set-it-and-forget-it websites. As the internet and users’ browsing habits evolve, so do their expectations of what your site needs to stay relevant.

Website owners face two major challenges: making sure their site is found in search engines and getting users to return to their site. Good news! Both problems share the same solution. By keeping your site content fresh and creating back links links where another website links to yours your site will soon see increased traffic and higher ranking in search engines. Here are five free ways to get you started:

1. Take advantage of social media.

Create a business page in Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn. These are great platforms to talk more about your business and its offerings—for free. Engage your friends and followers with topics that relate to your business.

2. Create a business profile in relevant online directories.

Urbanspoon.com, n49.ca and 411.ca are great free directories. Adding your business to directories is just another way users can find your business online, plus it can also generate backlinks to your site.

3. Update your site’s content every two or three weeks.

You know now that fresh and relevant content will keep your users coming back and increase your page rank in search engines, but what should you talk about? Add that testimonial you got from a client last week. Talk about the latest service you just launched, the nomination your business just received or the donation you just made to a charity. Talk about the money your customer saved by switching to your service.

4. Leave comments that build awareness about your site.

Timely news articles that relate to your business can be great opportunities. As an example, if springtime flooding is a hot topic and your website features a blog article listing ways to keep your basement dry, adding that link to your comment on the news article provides the readers with valuable follow-up information. This is a great way to drive traffic to your site but do it with tact; if done improperly, there may be undesirable consequences including a ban from that website and worse still, you may turn off the readers.

5. Write articles.

Writing and posting blog articles on your website will establish you and your business as an authority, building trust and credibility in the eyes of your viewers. In addition, search engines will love the fresh, relevant content.

These are just a few of many ways you can build interest in your site. Talk to an online marketing professional to create a plan that will build on these tips and increase traffic to your site.