Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part 1, 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 website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do is post content on a regular basis to automatically generate traffic!)

In Part 2, we look at the setup phase of this blueprint. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing site was built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can get new traffic automatically to your website.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic generation process with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

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

(Automating traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and great systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your website.
• 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.

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your 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 traffic to your website. 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, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these marketing channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the ROI 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 you generate some initial data, such as the keywords 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 ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages take too long to load.

Your technical systems need to be able to adequately handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• 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. when issues arise?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you will run into new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need to put excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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 …

(Implement and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as you can.

Traffic Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract visitors using methods like paid advertising, social media, forum signatures, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of excellent tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips

• Focus on creating 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 instructional PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We have created an entire 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, ask us 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 tap.” You can do this by growing 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 a single post or email broadcast.

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, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning course.
• Consider publishing special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & 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-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 gives you the opportunity to discover new opportunities to create additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the 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 good 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 solutions if required to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your website and build a better business online.

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