Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to grow your business online automatically using WordPress.

So far, we have covered the following in this 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 automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to start attracting web traffic is post fresh content regularly!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We explain the best way to start 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 was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation using various WordPress plugins.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis comes from a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your online presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

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

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness of your online 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 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 better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough 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
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling leads and sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service/training
• etc.

If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on are ways to develop, optimize, and automate 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 processes illustrated below …

(Implementing and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as you can.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 you generate some initial data, 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 get visitors using methods like LinkedIn, PPC advertising, cross promotions, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

See previous sections of this article series for a number of useful plugins, tools, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

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

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• 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, audio, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that you can sell or distribute online.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you need endless content ideas for your site, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training course on growing your business with content marketing here:

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

• 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 demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online forum, membership site, or even your own social site.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic will come 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 new traffic with a single blog post or broadcast.

Traffic Ideas

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Publish expert reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Membership Sites (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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

You should 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

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 if needed to build authority and credibility, and also to improve 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your website and build a better business online.

***

***