Tag: WordPress Traffic Blueprint

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part 1 of this article series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and 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 to automatically generate web traffic is publish new content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing website is built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we look at configuring the system. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-getting process with plugins.

(Publish content one-time and automate your content distribution to all other marketing channels!)

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

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a well-defined business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.

(Automating traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and great systems)

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

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, 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 create traffic for your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• 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 measure the results 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 intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages are taking a long time to load.

Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

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

• Who will look 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 issues 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. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems and processes to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then you will need to put good systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Methods

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

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

(WordPress can help implement and optimize your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.

Traffic Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate some initial actionable data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more visitors using methods like LinkedIn ads, solo ads, forum signatures, etc.

Tools And Methods

See earlier sections of this article series for a number of excellent tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content published is great, but to make this more effective, your content needs to build 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 on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to your audience and that showcases 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.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We have created a comprehensive email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and ways to never run out of new ideas for content that you can plug into for free here:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:

• 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 your own online community or social network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic will come from an audience of existing 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 email you send out.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course 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 Facebook.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and 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 listen to what your visitors are looking for, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
• Consider publishing instructional PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new opportunities to create additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider adding 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 required to build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your website and expand your business online.

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