Tag: Traffic Generation

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

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

In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add web content consistently to begin bringing new web traffic!)

In Part Two, we focus on critical setup decisions. We help you understand 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 website is built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discussed configuring the system. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can get new visitors automatically to your site.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In this article, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Generating automated traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These include:

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

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

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

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive traffic to your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) to help you generate some intelligence. 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 and processes keep your digital presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages are taking a long time to load.

Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website 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 webhosting?
• 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 any issues arise?

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

Business Systems

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

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

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools And Strategies

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

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources 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 can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more web traffic using methods like Pinterest advertising, solo ads, updates, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

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

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for likes/shares,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in other 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 visitors.

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more visitors.

Traffic Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We have created an entire email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and ways to never run out of new ideas for web content that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about 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 & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Tap,” 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.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (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

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors want, you can develop new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Publish a training guide that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.

You should have already installed an analytics tool like 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 repeat the cycle, 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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 methods as needed to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to increase 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and build a more successful business online.

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