Category: Traffic Generation

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new traffic automatically to your website using WordPress.

So far, we have covered the following in this series:

In Part One of this article series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is post great content consistently to automatically attract new web traffic!)

In Part Two, we looked at critical setup decisions. We helped you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site was built using WordPress.

(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 we show you how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can help get traffic automatically to your site.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In this article, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating high-quality traffic consistently is the product of a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

(Automated traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)

Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your online marketing campaigns?

During the setup and configuration phase, you should have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics). If you’re just starting out, you may want to consider investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Facebook ads) to help generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages take a long time to load.

Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who looks after my server?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if issues occur?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect to face new problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:

• Communication systems
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling sales enquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service/training
• etc.

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Methods

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on implementing your “traffic loop”.

Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as you can.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate actionable data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more web site visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, podcasts, forum signatures, etc.

Tools And Methods

See previous sections of this article series for many excellent tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content published is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it around and hence more traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Focus on content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We have created an entire email training series designed to help you come up with unlimited content for posting to your website or blog:

Also, ask us about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• Legal Pages
• Testimonials
• Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
• Ratings
• User Reviews
• Badges/Certificates Of Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting a membership site.

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish or email broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Publish a special report that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• Learning Management Systems (e.g. Courseware)
• Event Registrations (e.g. EventEspresso)

Analyze Data & Feedback

The final step of the process is to collect and analyze data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is rinse and repeat, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and improve your results.

In summary:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in some paid advertising to drive traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods if required to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve engagement with users,
• Promote any new solutions, products or services using your existing channels and strategies to generate additional streams of traffic,
• Analyse your data and your results, automate your processes wherever possible, and begin the cycle again.

Hopefully, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your website and get better results online.

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