Tag: Traffic Generation

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generating machine using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part One of this series, we provide an overview of 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 web site, all you have to do to automatically start generating more web traffic is post great content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing website was built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can bring visitors automatically to your website or blog as you begin to publish content.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize your traffic with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Use systems to grow, automate, 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 new traffic for your business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the ROI of your online marketing 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 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 website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• Who looks after my website and keeps 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems in place to help you manage the influx of new traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization

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

(An effective 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 your resources will allow.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to 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 can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more website traffic using methods like Facebook, solo ads, Reddit, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

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

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

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

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

Tips

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

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

We have created an entire email series designed to help you come up with unlimited content ideas for your website or blog:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for WordPress 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 Trust

Grow Influence & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish or broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips And Ideas

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

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help increase your influence and improve user 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, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to 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 provide new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create a free or paid online training course.
• Publish a training guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools & Methods

If you plan to provide products, services, and 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-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. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to generate additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the same process, 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 solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider adding 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 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and improve your business online.

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