Tag: WordPress Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn your website into an automated web traffic generation machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do is publish new content consistently to start generating web traffic!)

In Part 2, we look at the setup phase. 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 website, and what to do if your existing website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we look at configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system with different plugins.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system using various tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the outcome of a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Generating consistent traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your digital presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods 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/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions 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. pay-per-click ads) to help you generate some initial results. 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 site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

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

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should 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 traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is implementing and optimizing 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 diagram below …

(Implementing, optimizing and automating your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on places 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. Facebook ads) can help generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more visitors using methods like Pinterest, banner ads, joint ventures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

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

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
• Add 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 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 visitors.

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

Tips

• Focus on creating 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 a special report or even an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to 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

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting a group.

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic comes from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with a single blog post or email broadcast.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start 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.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users want, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Consider creating an online training program.
• Publish a “how to” guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to consider adding to your website 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 learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create content that can help you generate additional traffic.

You should have already installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – 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 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 required to build authority 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 article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and get better results online.

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