Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new traffic automatically to your website using WordPress.

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

In Part 1, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is post fresh content regularly to automatically start attracting web traffic!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We help 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 website, and what to do if your site is built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on important configuration decisions. We configured hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic system using various WordPress plugins.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.

(Automated traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and 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 new traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI 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 you generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases 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 and processes keep your web presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

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

• Who will look after my server?
• 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. should issues occur?

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

Business Systems

You need good operational systems in place to help you manage and respond to traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(Implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

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

Traffic Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, solo ads, StumbleUpon, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We’ve covered a number of excellent tools and strategies in earlier sections of this article series.

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more traffic.

Tips

• Focus on creating content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

If you need endless content ideas for your website or blog, then subscribe to our email training series here:

Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more 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 & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or email broadcast.

Traffic Ideas

• Encourage commenting and 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.
• Start or join an online group on LinkedIn/Facebook.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs And Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of traffic.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Create an online training program.
• Publish educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

• 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 interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create content that can help you generate 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 Blueprint – 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:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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 help 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 website and build a better business online.

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