Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn a website into an automated traffic machine using WordPress.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically attract more traffic is post fresh content regularly!)

In Part 2, we looked at critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss the configuration phase of this system. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

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

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating high-quality traffic consistently is having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems in place.

(Consistent traffic is the product 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 systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your digital presence up and running for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels do you plan to use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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. Facebook ads) to help you generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages are taking too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks 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. should issues occur?

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

Business Systems

You need good business systems in place to help you manage the influx of traffic. These include:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Tools And Strategies

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as your time and resources will allow.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow 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. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more web traffic using methods like Facebook, PPC advertising, StumbleUpon, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

See previous 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, contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• 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 educational guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about 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 Trust

Grow Influence & Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your online influence and improve engagement. For example:

• List-Building Software (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

If you take 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 can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Publish a special report or PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Tools & Strategies

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

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

Hopefully, by now you 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:

• 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods as needed to help build authority 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 get better results online.

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