Tag: Traffic Generation

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

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

In Part 1 of this series, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to generate traffic is post content consistently!)

In Part Two, we discussed the setup phase of the automation process. We helped you understand the best way to start 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 site has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation using various plugins.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating consistent traffic of high quality comes from a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Optimizing traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, planning, and systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains up and running 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 importance of the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels do you plan to use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results 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. Facebook ads) to help you 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 site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking too long to load.

Your technical systems need to be able to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, 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 issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect new problems to arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Strategies

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

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

(WordPress can help implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to places 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 can help generate some initial actionable data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, 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 increase traffic using methods like LinkedIn advertising, PPC advertising, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

Also, look for 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 Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips

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

Tools And Methods

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

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

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors are searching for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
• Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website 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 learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process, 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 methods if necessary to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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 traffic to your web site and build a better business online.

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