Tag: Web Traffic

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

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

In Part One of this article series, 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 website, all you have to do to automatically bring more traffic is publish content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase. We help you understand 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 has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate your traffic with different plugins.

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the outcome of a clearly-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Use systems to grow and manage your web 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 new traffic to your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• How will you apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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 to help you generate some initial 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 web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed 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 business systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. These include:

• 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 make sure you have implemented excellent systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is developing, optimizing and automating a “traffic loop”.

Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …

(Implementing, automating and optimizing your traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Traffic Optimization Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate some initial actionable data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create 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 drive traffic using methods like Facebook, podcasts, joint ventures, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for many useful tools and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a training guide that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools And Methods

We have created an entire email email-based training course aimed at helping you never run out of content for your website:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 Recognition

Grow Influence And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online community or even your own social network.

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

Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools And Methods

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

• List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can develop new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Create an e-learning program.
• Consider publishing a “how to” guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress site:

• 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic allows you to discover new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress 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:

• 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 solutions as necessary 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 automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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