Tag: WordPress Traffic

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new traffic automatically to your site using WordPress.

So far, here is what we have covered 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 web site, all you have to do to automatically begin attracting new traffic is publish great content consistently!)

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of the automation system. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site was built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase. We configured all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate traffic to your website using plugins.

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

In this article, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your online presence up and running for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow 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 drive traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI 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 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 website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.

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

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

• Who looks after my server?
• Who looks after my website and keeps 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 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 business systems to help you manage and respond to 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 your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have systems in place to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implement and optimize your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as your time and resources will allow.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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. Facebook ads) can help you generate some initial actionable data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase web traffic using methods like paid ads, YouTube, email ads, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

See previous sections of this tutorial series for many excellent plugins, tools, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

Also, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

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

Build Authority & 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 build authority and credibility with users.

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you 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 building a list or starting a community.

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site.
• Start or join an online group on LinkedIn.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

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

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are searching for, you can develop new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Consider publishing expert guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to consider adding to your site include:

• Membership Sites (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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation 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 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 solutions if needed to help 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 visitors to your WordPress website and build a more successful business online.

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