Tag: Drive More Traffic To Website

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated traffic generating machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your website …

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

In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site is built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

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

(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic generation process using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

(Generating regular traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for optimizing traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your online marketing campaigns?

During the setup and configuration phase, you would 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. Google AdWords) to help generate some initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages take too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should anything go wrong?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will always arise. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems to help you manage traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is how to implement your “traffic loop”.

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as your time and resources will allow.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get visitors using methods like Twitter ads, social media, forum ads, etc.

Tools And Strategies

See earlier sections of this article series for a number of excellent tools and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content out there is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created an entire course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and ways to never run out of new ideas for web content that you can plug into for free here:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Grow Influence And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online forum, membership site, or even your own social network.

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, 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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create a free or paid e-learning program.
• Consider publishing educational guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools And Strategies

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

• Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-Courses (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 tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – 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:

• Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider adding some paid advertising to drive initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods if necessary to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve engagement with visitors,
• 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 WordPress web site and build a better business online.

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