Tag: Web Traffic

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

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

In Part 1 of this 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 web site, all you have to do to start generating web traffic is add content regularly!)

In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase of the automation blueprint. We helped you understand the best way to get started 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 existing site was built with WordPress.

(In Part two we show you where to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)

In Part 3, we looked at the configuration phase. We configured web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-getting process with WordPress plugins.

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis is the product of a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important these systems are for traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create traffic for your website. Your online marketing systems can be tested 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 marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some initial actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my server?
• 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. should things go wrong?

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

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage new traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have good systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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. Google AdWords) can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more website visitors using methods like LinkedIn ads, social media, forum ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

Also, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting more people to share it around and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Focus on 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 an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

We have created a comprehensive course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, look for 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 Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors want, you can develop new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Consider creating an online training program.
• Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to add to your site include:

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

Hopefully, by now you 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 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 (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 methods as necessary to build authority 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, this article has given you 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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