Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your site using WordPress.

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

In Part One of this article series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do is add great content on a consistent basis to drive more web traffic!)

In Part Two, we discussed critical setup decisions. We explained 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 website has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase of the traffic automation process. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

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

(Publish content once, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating quality traffic consistently is the result of having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your online presence up and running for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to your marketing channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results of your online marketing 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 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages take a very long time to load.

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

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• 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 website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is implementing a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can 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’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more web site visitors using methods like Pinterest, podcasts, StumbleUpon, etc.

Tools & Strategies

We’ve already covered many excellent tools and methods in earlier sections of this article series.

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

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads 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 content out there is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• 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, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing expert reports that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools & Strategies

If you need help coming up with topics for posting content on your web site, then subscribe to our email training series on content marketing here:

Also, contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to 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 achieve this by growing a list or starting a community.

With “Traffic On Demand,” 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, forum post you add, or email broadcast you send out.

Traffic Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

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

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take 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 solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create an e-learning program.
• Consider publishing an educational guide that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

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

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation 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 get better 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 if required to build authority and credibility, and also to increase engagement with visitors,
• 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 visitors to your website and build a more successful business online.

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