Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to automate traffic to your site using the WordPress CMS platform.

So far, here is what we have covered in this series:

In Part One of this article series, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add great content consistently to automatically drive more web traffic!)

In Part Two, we focused on the setup phase. We helped you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing website was built using WordPress.

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

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

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

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic-generation process using WordPress plugins.

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating targeted traffic consistently is the result of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

Let’s review 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 ensure that your web presence remains optimized 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 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 website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you apportion to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness 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. Google AdWords) to help generate 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages are taking a long time to load.

Your technical systems need to adequately handle technical 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 looks after my server?
• 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. should anything go wrong?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be problems. 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 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 to put excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Methods

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

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

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

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, 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate some initial actionable 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’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive traffic using methods like LinkedIn ads, social media, email, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

We have created a complete email training series designed to help you never run out of content ideas for posting to your website:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress 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

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online group.

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 reputation can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish or email broadcast you send out.

Traffic Optimization 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 or free membership site.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating an online training course.
• Publish an educational guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your website or blog 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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the same process, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and improve 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 help build authority 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 post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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