Tag: Increase Web Traffic

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

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

In Part One, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is publish content consistently to automatically begin attracting new web traffic!)

In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. We explain 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 site was built with WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three we explain how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic to your website with different plugins.

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

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating targeted traffic consistently is having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.

(Optimized traffic is the product of a business vision, planning, and systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.

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

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your website. 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)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to your marketing channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results of your 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 keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. when issues occur?

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

Business Systems

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

• Communication systems
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling leads and sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer training/service
• etc.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to implement and optimize a “traffic loop”.

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

(WordPress can help you implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

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

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on 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 generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more web site visitors using methods like Facebook ads, PPC advertising, updates, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We’ve already covered a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content published is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites 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 informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report or PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.

Tools And Methods

If you need help coming up with ideas for content that you can post on your site, then subscribe to our FREE email training series on growing your business with content marketing here:

Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress 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 Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting your own community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” 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 post or email.

Useful Tips And Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

• List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & 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 users are looking for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips

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

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website or blog include:

• 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 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 like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand 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:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (with 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 as necessary 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your website and build a better business online.

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