Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn a site into an automated web traffic generating machine using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part 1 of this article series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is post web content consistently to automatically attract web traffic!)

In Part 2, we discussed critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing website was built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase of the traffic automation process. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-getting process using plugins.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using a number of tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Generating automated traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These include:

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

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

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness of your online 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 you 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 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 too long to load.

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

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

• Who looks 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you can expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems to help you manage and respond to traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need systems in place to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Methods

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

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

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

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as you can.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create web 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 get more web visitors using methods like LinkedIn advertising, solo ads, email ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content published is great, but to make this activity more 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 people to share it with others and hence more traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an educational guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created a detailed course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress site:

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

Grow Influence & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic will come 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 post or broadcast.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder 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 And Methods

Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your influence and improve user 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 & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are searching for, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

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

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 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 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 solutions if necessary to help build authority 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 traffic to your WordPress web site and grow your business online.

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