Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your site using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to begin bringing more traffic is post new content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. 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 site, and what to do if your website is built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help bring visitors automatically to your site.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize your traffic using various tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Systems

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

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence optimized for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your website. Your online 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 apportion to your marketing channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you 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 initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your web pages are taking too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping 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

You need good business systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented excellent systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Tools And Strategies

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is growing, optimizing and further automating 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 illustration below …

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more web visitors using methods like Facebook ads, banner ads, email, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.

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

Useful Tips

• Focus on creating and publishing 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 “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about WordPress 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

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

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes from an audience of existing 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 broadcast.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start 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.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

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

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Publish a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add an e-commerce store 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 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new opportunities 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 over and over again, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better 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 as needed to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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