Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part One, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically start generating traffic is post fresh content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase of this blueprint. We helped you understand 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 website, and what to do if your existing website has been built using WordPress.

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

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

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, you learned how to set up various plugins that can get new visitors automatically to your site.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic generation process with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

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

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

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

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you assign 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 marketing 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. Facebook ads) to help generate some initial actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks 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. if any problems occur?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with 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 traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you also implement good systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic System – 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 your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate actionable data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more web site traffic using methods like Facebook advertising, YouTube, updates, etc.

Tools And Methods

See earlier sections of this article series for many excellent tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your 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 users.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more traffic.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Focus on creating and publishing content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

Also, see other posts 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 Trust

Grow Influence & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes 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 every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email you send out.

Traffic Optimization 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, online forum, or social community.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools & Methods

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

• List-Building Software (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 & Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Publish a special report that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

• Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• Learning Management Systems (e.g. Courseware)
• Event Registrations (e.g. EventEspresso)

Analyze Data & Feedback

The final step of the process is to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic 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 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 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 if 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and build a more successful business online.

***

***