Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is post content on a regular basis to bring traffic!)

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of the automation system. 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 with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase of the automation blueprint. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive new visitors automatically to your website or blog just by posting new content.

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.

(Automated traffic is the product of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to 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 business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness of your campaigns?

During the setup and configuration phase, you would 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 actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your online presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• Who will look after my website and keep my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if issues occur?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented excellent systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is growing, optimizing and further automating your “traffic loop”.

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

(WordPress can help implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites 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 generate data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more web traffic using methods like Facebook ads, videos, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

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

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

Useful Tips

• Focus on creating and publishing content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that let you 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 building a list or starting an online community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic will come from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single post or email broadcast.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

• Autoresponders (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, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Publish PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

You should have already installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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:

• Start 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 initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions as needed to help build authority, trust, 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and improve your business online.

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