Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One of this series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain 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 attract more web traffic is add content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at critical setup decisions. We helped 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 has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

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

(Publish content once, automate the rest!)

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic generation process with a number of different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

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

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

These 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 operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important these systems are:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to these channels?
• Who will create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results 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 results. 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 site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages take too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on how to develop your “traffic loop”.

Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …

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

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as your time and resources will allow.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more visitors using methods like LinkedIn, YouTube, joint ventures, etc.

Tools And Strategies

We’ve covered many useful tools, plugins, and strategies in previous sections of this article series.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a training guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools & Strategies

We have created an entire email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us 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

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting a forum or network.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of 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 blog post or broadcast.

Useful Tips

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

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Publish special guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools And Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website or blog 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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create content that can generate you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the cycle, 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 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 if required to build authority 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 drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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