Tag: WordPress Traffic

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

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

In Part 1, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is add fresh content on a consistent basis to start generating web traffic!)

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

(In Part two we show you where to set up a WordPress site on your domain)

In Part 3, we looked at important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive new visitors automatically to your website.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system using various tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your online presence remains 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 briefly review how important these systems are:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to your marketing channels?
• Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results of your 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help you generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create 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 new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my server?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect new 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 traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented great systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Loops

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to implement a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

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

Traffic Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 can help you generate actionable data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive traffic using methods like Facebook advertising, social media, forum signatures, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

See earlier sections of this article series for many useful plugins, tools, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is good, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Focus on creating content that adds value to your audience 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 that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We have created a complete email email-based training course designed to help you come up with endless content ideas for your site:

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about 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 And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting your own online community or social network.

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

Useful Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

• List-Building Software (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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can develop new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
• Publish a “how to” guide that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools And Methods

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), look for WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• 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 learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to create content that can generate you additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret 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 get better 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 also investing in 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 needed to build authority, trust, 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and improve your business online.

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