Tag: Traffic Generation

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn your website into an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1 of this series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to start generating new traffic is publish fresh content consistently!)

In Part Two, we looked at the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase of the automation system. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 we show you how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation with different plugins.

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating high-quality traffic consistently is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your digital presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your web traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your online 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 results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your pages are taking a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my server?
• Who will look after my website and keep 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, you should expect problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is growing and optimizing 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 …

(Implementing and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract web site traffic using methods like LinkedIn advertising, podcasts, joint ventures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

Also, see other posts on this site to learn more 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 discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

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

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you need great content ideas for your website or blog, then subscribe to our FREE email training series here:

Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress 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 do this by building a list or starting a group.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes 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

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

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors want, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools & 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 add to your site include:

• 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. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process over and over again, 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (with 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 if needed to help 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and build a more successful business online.

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