Tag: WordPress Traffic Blueprint

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your site using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part 1 of this series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically begin attracting new traffic is post great content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we discuss 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 website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focus on the configuration phase of the automation process. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic to your website using various WordPress plugins.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website with different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results 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 intelligence. 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 content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

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

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

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like 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 and processes to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented excellent systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

Let’s walk 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 And Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 actionable and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase web site visitors using methods like Twitter, banner ads, updates, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We’ve already covered many useful plugins, tools, and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with users.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about 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 & Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish or email broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are looking for, 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 educational guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools And Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, 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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic 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:

• Begin 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 methods as needed to help build authority and credibility, and also to improve 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 drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and build a better business online.

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