Tag: WordPress Traffic Blueprint

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

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

In Part One of this series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to begin bringing web traffic is post web content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at critical setup decisions. We helped you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence 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 two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase of the traffic automation blueprint. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate your traffic using a number of plugins.

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

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

(Optimizing traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your digital presence up and running for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create traffic for your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) to help you generate some initial 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’s needs.

Technical Systems

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

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

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

• Who looks 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. if you experience difficulties?

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 should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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

Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

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

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 online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more website visitors using methods like Twitter advertising, banner ads, forum ads, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

See previous sections of this article series for many useful tools and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

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 website or blog:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
• 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 great, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing instructional PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

Also, look for 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 Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online forum or network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic comes from 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.

Tips

• 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 And Methods

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

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

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors need, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of traffic.

Tips

• Create an e-learning program.
• Publish a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions 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 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 create content that can help you generate additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you 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

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 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 if necessary to help build authority, trust, 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 post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and build a more successful business online.

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