Tag: WordPress Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part One, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …

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

In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase of this process. 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 site, and what to do if your existing site has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation using a number of WordPress plugins.

(Publish once 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 with different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Generating automated 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 new traffic.

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for optimizing traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your online marketing 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 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’s needs.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical systems need to be able to adequately handle 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 looks after my webhosting?
• 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 anything go wrong?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you will run into problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on 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.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more traffic using methods like Twitter, PPC advertising, joint ventures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

See previous sections of this tutorial series for many useful tools, plugins, 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 WordPress site:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.

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 e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.

Tools & Strategies

We have created a comprehensive 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 content that you can plug into for free here:

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

• 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 achieve this by growing a list or starting an online community or even your own social network.

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

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools & Methods

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help increase your online influence and improve 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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new streams of web traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new ways to create additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the process, 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 (with 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 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 website and build a more successful business online.

***

***