Tag: Traffic Generation

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generating 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 site is the key to automating traffic to your website …

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

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of the blueprint. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site has been built using WordPress.

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

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

(In Part Three we explain how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic to your website using various plugins.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the product of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

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

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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 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 digital presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages take a long time to load.

Your systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, 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 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 completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Strategies

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to focus on implementing, optimizing and further automating your “traffic loop”.

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate some initial data, 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 get traffic using methods like Pinterest, podcasts, forum ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

We’ve covered a number of excellent tools and strategies in previous sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• 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 more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more visitors.

Traffic Ideas

• Focus on creating and publishing content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.

Tools & Strategies

We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more 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

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online forum, membership site, or even your own social network.

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage users 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.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools & Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

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

Traffic Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning program.
• Publish special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new ways to generate additional traffic.

You should 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 Automation 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:

• Begin 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your web site and get better results online.

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