Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically begin bringing new web traffic is post fresh content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we focused on the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started 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 site was built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focused on configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can get web traffic automatically to your website or blog when you begin to publish new content.

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the outcome of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Consistent traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your digital presence up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, 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 create new traffic for your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) 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 website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages are taking a very long time to load.

Your systems need to be able to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, 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. should anything go wrong?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you will always run into problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to new traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to grow, optimize, and automate a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Traffic Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive more web traffic using methods like LinkedIn, videos, cross promotions, etc.

Tools And Methods

See previous sections of this article series for a number of useful tools and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.

Tips

• Focus on content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing special guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, contact us to learn more about 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 And Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

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

Tools & Methods

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help increase your 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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Tips

• Create an e-learning program.
• 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.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your website include:

• Membership Site plugins (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 create content that can generate you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 (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 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your WordPress web site and build a better business online.

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