Tag: Web Traffic

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

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

In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically drive traffic is add great content consistently!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we looked at the configuration phase of the traffic automation system. We explained how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate your traffic using a number of WordPress plugins.

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

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

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you apportion to these channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results 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 to help generate some initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your web pages are taking a long time to load.

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

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

• Who will look 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 website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be new problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need to put systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Loops

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to grow a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

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

Useful Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more traffic using methods like Twitter ads, videos, email, etc.

Tools And Methods

See previous sections of this tutorial series for many excellent tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

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

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
• Accept 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 content out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more traffic.

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report or PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We have created an entire email email-based training course aimed at helping you come up with endless content ideas for posting to 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 Trust

Grow Influence & 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 community or even your own social site.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most 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 new traffic with a single post or email broadcast.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools & Methods

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users are searching for, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

• Membership Sites (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 to collect and analyze data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do 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 (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 solutions as required to build authority, trust, 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 traffic to your web site and get better results online.

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