Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically begin bringing new traffic is publish content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your site is built using WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation using plugins.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic generation process using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

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, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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 keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages take a long time to load.

Your systems need to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my server?
• Who will look after my website and keep my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you will run into many new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes to help you manage traffic. This includes:

• Communication systems
• Managing human and financial resources
• Handling leads and sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service/training
• etc.

If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have good systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to develop a “traffic loop”.

Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …

(Implementing and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources allow.

Traffic 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 online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate actionable data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more web visitors using methods like paid advertising, YouTube, forum signatures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Focus on content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing instructional PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

We have created a complete email training series aimed at helping you never run out of great content for your web site:

Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about 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 & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or email broadcast.

Traffic Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Publish expert reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Tools & Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your site include:

• 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 have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. 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 get better 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 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 and credibility, and also to increase 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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