Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic 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 website is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to attract new web traffic is add new content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we discussed the setup phase. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can drive visitors automatically to your site.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the product of a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. 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 apportion to these marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results of your online 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 you generate some initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.

Your systems need to be able to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing 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 server?
• 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect to face new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(WordPress can help implement and optimize your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate 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.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more web traffic using methods like SEO, banner ads, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing better 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 potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We have created an entire email series aimed at helping you come up with limitless content for posting to your website or blog:

Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress 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 achieve this by growing a list or starting a community.

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes from 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 email.

Useful Tips & Ideas

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

Tools & Strategies

Many solutions and plugins are available that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders (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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take 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 and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Publish a “how to” guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And 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 add to your site include:

• 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress 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 initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if necessary to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to increase 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and expand your business online.

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