Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a site into an automated web traffic generating machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically bring traffic is publish fresh content regularly!)

In Part Two, we focused on the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started 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 has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss the configuration phase of the blueprint. We configured hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part Four, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can get traffic automatically to your website simply by adding new content.

(Publish content one-time and automate your content distribution to all other services!)

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

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Automating traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for optimizing traffic:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness of your marketing 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help generate some initial results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your pages are taking a long time to load.

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

Your technical systems can be tested by asking 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. if you experience difficulties?

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 in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

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

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many traffic generation sites and channels as your time and resources will allow.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract traffic using methods like paid advertising, PPC advertising, forum signatures, etc.

Tools & Strategies

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

Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• Share your posts online with others,
• 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 content published is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing special reports that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

We have created a detailed email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and how to never run out of ideas for content that you can plug into for free here:

Also, look for plugins that let you 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 Recognition

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 Demand,” most of your traffic comes from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or broadcast.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join an online group on LinkedIn.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

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

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
• Publish special guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to consider adding to your website 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 opportunities to generate additional traffic.

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 Blueprint – 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:

• Start 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods if needed to help build authority, trust, 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 post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress web site and build a more successful business online.

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