Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new traffic automatically to your website using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part One, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

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

In Part 2, we look at the setup phase of the automation system. We explain 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 website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase of the blueprint. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various plugins that can help get new traffic automatically to your site simply by adding content.

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

In this article, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system using different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.

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

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions 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 to help you generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages take a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my server?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if you experience difficulties?

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 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 to help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on how to grow, optimize, and further automate your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 actionable and intelligent 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.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more traffic using methods like paid ads, YouTube, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating and publishing content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how to” guide that you can sell or distribute online.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We have created an entire email course aimed at helping you come up with unlimited content ideas for your website or blog:

Also, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

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

Grow Influence And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting an online group.

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic comes from an audience of 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 broadcast.

Tips

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools & Strategies

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Consider publishing a PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce 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 include:

• Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-Learning 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 gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process over and over again, 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 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 required 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and build a more successful business online.

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