Tag: WordPress Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new traffic automatically to your site using the WordPress CMS.

So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:

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

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

In Part Two, we discussed the setup phase of this system. We helped you understand 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 site has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three we explain how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive new traffic automatically to your website whenever you begin posting web content.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

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

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

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

These include:

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

(Use systems to 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 strategies used to drive new traffic to your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results 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 actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take a long time to load.

Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing 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 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, you can expect new problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage the influx of new traffic. These include:

• Communication systems
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling sales enquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer training/service
• etc.

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web 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 how to grow, optimize, and automate your “traffic loop”.

Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …

(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites 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 can help you generate data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more web traffic using methods like paid ads, videos, email, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

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.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools And Methods

If you need help coming up with great topics for posting content on your website, then subscribe to our FREE email training course on content marketing here:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 Trust

Grow Influence And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting an online forum or network.

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

Traffic Optimization Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
• Consider publishing special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

• Membership Sites (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 traffic opportunities.

You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process over and over again, 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 if necessary to help build authority, trust, 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your website and build a more successful business online.

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