Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your website using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part 1, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …

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

In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase. We helped you understand 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 site was built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system using a number of plugins.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis is having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

(Systems help you grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

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/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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 and processes keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your pages take a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my server?
• 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 problems occur?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage and respond to new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is growing, optimizing and further automating 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 …

(Implement and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

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

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more web site traffic using methods like Twitter advertising, solo ads, StumbleUpon, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:

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

Grow Influence & 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 forum, community, or even your own social network.

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or broadcast.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter 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 plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and 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 problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Publish a special report or PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Tools And Methods

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. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret 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 get better 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 solutions if required 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 visitors to your web site and build a better business online.

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