Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to automate traffic to your site using the WordPress CMS platform.

So far, here is what we have covered in this series:

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to automatically start attracting traffic is add new content consistently!)

In Part 2, we focus on critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site was built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase of this blueprint. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three we explain how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various plugins that can drive visitors automatically to your website or blog.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation using various tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating targeted traffic consistently comes from having a clearly-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to your marketing channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results 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 to help generate some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking too long to load.

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

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

• Who will look 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. should things go wrong?

Many potential problems 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 to arise. You will need the right technical systems in place 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
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer training/service
• etc.

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need to put excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is implementing a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as your resources will allow.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to places 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 generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more web site traffic using methods like paid ads, banner ads, forum ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

Also, contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Add 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 great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more visitors.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

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

Tools & Methods

We have created a detailed course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress 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 tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting your own community.

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 new traffic with a single blog post or email.

Traffic Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are looking for, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create a free or paid online training course.
• Publish PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions 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. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 improve 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 necessary to 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and build a better business online.

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