Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated traffic generating machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically start attracting web traffic is post great content consistently!)

In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase. We helped 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 website has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focus on the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic generation using WordPress plugins.

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

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of a well-defined business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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 generate some initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

Your systems need to adequately handle 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 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. if problems arise?

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

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented great systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Loops

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to grow and optimize your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as possible.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources 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. Facebook ads) can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive web site visitors using methods like Facebook ads, social media, StumbleUpon, etc.

Tools And Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

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

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Focus on content that adds value to potential visitors 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 or PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools & Strategies

We have created a complete email series aimed at helping you never run out of content ideas for posting to your web site:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• Legal Pages
• Testimonials
• Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
• Ratings
• User Reviews
• Badges/Certificates Of Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting a community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish or email you send out.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

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

Tools & Methods

There are many solutions and plugins that can help grow your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• List-Building Software (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 And Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Publish a PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-Learning Courses (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 ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. 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 process, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better your results.

In summary:

• Start 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 as required 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and grow your business online.

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