Tag: Increase Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One of this article series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is publish web content on a regular basis to drive traffic!)

In Part Two, we discuss the setup phase of the traffic automation blueprint. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing website has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss important configuration decisions. We configured webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three 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-generation process with different WordPress plugins.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis comes from a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems in place.

(Automated traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your digital 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 review 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?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your online 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 generate some initial results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is down or your web pages take too long to load.

Your technical systems need to handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (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 done correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems in place to help you manage new traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement great systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Strategies

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as possible.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to sites 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring website traffic using methods like Pinterest ads, solo ads, StumbleUpon, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

See previous sections of this tutorial series for a number of excellent tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that allow you to 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.
• Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

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

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• 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 an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools & Methods

If you need endless topics for posting content on your website or blog, we recommend subscribing to our email training series 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 site:

• 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 growing a list or starting your own community.

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

Useful Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Create or join an online group on LinkedIn.

Tools & Strategies

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

• List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors want, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Consider creating an online training program.
• Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

• Membership Sites (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 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 (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 as necessary to 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 visitors to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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