Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new traffic automatically to your site using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part One, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to begin bringing web traffic is add content consistently!)

In Part Two, 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 website, and what to do if your existing site was built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discussed configuring the system. We configured webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-generation process using plugins.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize your traffic with a number of different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your business.
• 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 and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI 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 initial actionable 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’s needs.

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 are taking a very long time to load.

Your systems need to handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, 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 server?
• Who will look after my website and keep my site, plugins, themes, etc. 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 done correctly. As with all technology, however, you can expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Strategies

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

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

(Implementing and optimizing your traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 can help 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 web visitors using methods like LinkedIn ads, social media, forum signatures, etc.

Tools & Strategies

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

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

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and 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 great, but to make this more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.

Traffic Ideas

• Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools And Methods

We have created an entire email email-based training course designed to help you never run out of content for posting to your web site:

Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

• Legal Pages
• Testimonials
• Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
• Ratings
• User Reviews
• Badges/Certificates Of Recognition

Grow Influence & Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting a forum or network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic will come from 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 email broadcast.

Tips

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

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

• List-Building Solutions (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 Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are searching for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish expert reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book 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), see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better your results.

In summary:

• Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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, 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and build a better business online.

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