Tag: WordPress Traffic Blueprint

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

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

In Part 1, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically start generating new traffic is add web content regularly!)

In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing site is built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discussed important configuration decisions. We configured web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we show you how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your site.

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

In this article, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system with different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow, automate, 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 create new traffic for your business. You can test your marketing systems 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 and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help you generate some 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 website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.

Your systems need to handle 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 is looking after my server?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should issues arise?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed 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 operational systems to help you manage new traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement good systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Methods

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on how to implement your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract traffic using methods like paid ads, banner ads, joint ventures, etc.

Tools And Methods

See previous sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content published is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

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

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools And Strategies

If you need ideas for posting content on your web site, then subscribe to our email training series here:

Also, look for WordPress plugins that allow you to 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

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 community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” all 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 post or email.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools & Methods

Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders (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

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors need, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Tips

• Create an online training program.
• Consider publishing PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Tools & 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 consider adding to your website 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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 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 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, now you have 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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