Tag: Web Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically start generating traffic is publish web content on a regular basis!)

In Part Two, we looked at the setup phase of the traffic automation blueprint. We explained 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 existing site has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three we show you how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various plugins that can drive traffic automatically to your site.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating high-quality traffic consistently is the outcome of a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Automating 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 this traffic.

These systems include:

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

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, 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 strategies used to drive traffic to your business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI 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 initial actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my server?
• 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 any issues occur?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new 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. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Useful Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) can help generate actionable data, which you can use to create content better targeted 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 LinkedIn advertising, YouTube, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We’ve already covered many useful tools, plugins, and strategies in earlier sections of this article series.

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content out there is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content 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 visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created an entire email email-based training course aimed at helping you never run out of content ideas for your website:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about 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 Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online membership site.

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes 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 blog post or broadcast.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

• List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create an e-learning program.
• Publish special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools And Methods

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

• Membership Site plugins (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 the collection and analysis of data. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand 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 improve 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 needed to build authority 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and build a more successful business online.

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