Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new visitors automatically to your website using the WordPress CMS.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to automatically drive more traffic is post new content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase of the blueprint. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything 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 how to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)

In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can bring new visitors automatically to your website or blog.

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels do you plan to use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to your marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize 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 initial intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

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

Your systems need to handle 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 server?
• 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 problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, new problems will arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on implementing 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 diagram below …

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many traffic generation sites and channels as you can.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get visitors using methods like Facebook, solo ads, email, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content published is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips

• Focus on creating content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools And Strategies

We have created an entire email training series designed to help you come up with limitless content ideas for posting to your web site:

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about 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 Recognition

Grow Influence And Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

• List-Building Solutions (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, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users need, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
• Publish an instructional e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to consider adding to your site include:

• Membership Site plugins (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 the collection and analysis of data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create additional traffic.

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is rinse and repeat, 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 solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider adding 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 methods if necessary 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 visitors to your web site and get better results online.

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