Tag: Increase Web Traffic

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

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to generate web traffic is publish content consistently!)

In Part 2, we discussed the setup phase of the automation blueprint. We helped you understand the best way to start 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 website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase of the automation system. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various plugins that can help drive new visitors automatically to your website or blog when you begin publishing fresh content.

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating consistent traffic of high quality comes from a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI of your online 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 to help generate some data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems 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 software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. when issues arise?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

• 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 make sure you have implemented great systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implementing, automating and optimizing your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as your time and resources will allow.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Facebook ads) can help you generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more traffic using methods like SEO, podcasts, email, etc.

Tools & Strategies

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

Also, if you haven’t already, look for WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is good, 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 more people to link to it and share it around and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We have created a complete email course designed to help you come up with unlimited content ideas for your site:

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to 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 And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online network.

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish or email you send out.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage visitors 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, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools And Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create a free or paid e-learning course.
• Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products 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 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 to collect and analyze data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress 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 solid 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 solutions if needed to build authority, trust, 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 article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and get better results online.

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