Tag: WordPress Traffic Blueprint

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS.

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

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

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

In Part Two, we look at critical setup decisions. We explain 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 was built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation using various WordPress plugins.

(Publish content once, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating targeted traffic consistently is having a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Automated traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you assign to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness of your online marketing 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 generate some initial results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some 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.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical systems need to handle technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing 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 webhosting?
• Who will look after my website and keep my site 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, you can expect problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is developing a “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 …

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

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically distribute your content to places like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more traffic using methods like LinkedIn advertising, YouTube, email, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is a great first step, 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 it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a training guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

If you need help coming up with endless great ideas for content that you can post on your website or blog, we recommend subscribing to our email training series on growing your business online with content marketing here:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 & 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 forum or 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 every post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your online 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 & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new sources of traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Publish an instructional PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, And 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 site 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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Traffic System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the cycle, 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods if 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and get better results online.

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