Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive traffic automatically to your website using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we described 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 site, all you have to do is add content consistently to automatically bring web traffic!)

In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase of the blueprint. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your site has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we look at the configuration phase of the automation process. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

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

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

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

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

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow 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 new traffic to your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the ROI 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 you generate some 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• 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 problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you can expect problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement excellent systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to places like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive more web traffic using methods like LinkedIn, podcasts, cross promotions, etc.

Tools And Methods

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

Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content published is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.

Traffic Optimization 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, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools And Strategies

We have created an entire course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and ways to never run out of ideas for web content that you can plug into for free here:

Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to 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 & Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting your own community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic comes from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish or email you send out.

Tips

• Encourage commenting and 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 LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create a free or paid e-learning program.
• Consider publishing PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Tools & Strategies

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

• Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• Learning Management Systems (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.

You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you can also understand 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 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 (consider also investing in 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 if needed to help 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your website and expand your business online.

***

***