Tag: Increase Web Traffic

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

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

In Part One, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically generate web traffic is post great content consistently!)

In Part Two, we focus on critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site was built with WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress site on your domain)

In Part 3, we discuss important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three we show you how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various plugins that can help bring visitors automatically to your site simply by publishing fresh content on a regular basis.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize your traffic using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis comes from having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

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

Let’s briefly review how important these systems are for traffic:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results 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 data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• 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. should anything go wrong?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems in place to help you manage and respond to traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented good systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

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

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

(WordPress can help you implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you 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 traffic using methods like Twitter, social media, StumbleUpon, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

We’ve already covered a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this article series.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content published is great, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an instructional e-book that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• 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 your own online community or social network.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single post or broadcast.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:

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

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors need, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools And Strategies

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

• Membership Sites (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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 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 needed 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, this information has given you 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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