Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your website using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1 of this series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to automatically begin attracting traffic is add fresh content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we focus on critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website is built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focus on the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system with different plugins.

(Publish once and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with a number of different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating quality traffic on a consistent basis is the outcome of a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your web presence 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 briefly review how important the above systems are for optimizing traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What channels will you use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results of your 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. Google AdWords) to help generate some initial 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your pages take a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my server?
• Who looks after my website and keeps 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 issues can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need to put systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as possible.

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 can help you generate data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive web visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, videos, forum ads, etc.

Tools And Strategies

We’ve already covered many excellent plugins, tools, and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you need endless content ideas for your web site, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series here:

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

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

Grow Influence & Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips

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

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are searching for, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools And Methods

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

• Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-Learning 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 interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the same process, 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 (with 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 as required to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to increase 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and build a more successful business online.

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