Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated web traffic generation machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add new content consistently to automatically begin attracting web traffic!)

In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase of the automation system. We explained 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 existing website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discussed important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help bring new traffic automatically to your website whenever you begin to post new content.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website with a number of different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and 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 to help you generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your web pages are taking too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my server?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 issues can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will always arise. 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 and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to develop, optimize, and automate 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 processes illustrated below …

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.

Traffic Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate data, which you can use to create web 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 LinkedIn advertising, YouTube, updates, etc.

Tools And Strategies

We’ve already covered a number of useful tools and strategies in earlier sections of this tutorial series.

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

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

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more people to share it around and hence more visitors.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Focus on creating content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools And Strategies

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

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

• Legal Pages
• Testimonials
• Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
• Ratings
• User Reviews
• Badges/Certificates Of Recognition

Grow Influence & Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting a community.

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

There are many solutions and plugins that can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors want, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Tools And Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is rinse and repeat, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better your results.

In summary:

• Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good 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 necessary to help build authority 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and expand your business online.

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