Tag: WordPress Traffic

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn a website into an automated traffic generating machine using WordPress.

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

In Part 1 of this article series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to automatically drive traffic is add great content regularly!)

In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase of the blueprint. We helped you understand the best way to get started 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 existing site has been built using WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)

In Part Three, we looked at important configuration decisions. We configured hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic system with WordPress plugins.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality comes from a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these channels?
• Who will create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results of your online marketing campaigns?

During the setup and configuration phase, you would 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. Google AdWords) to help you generate some initial 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 online presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages take too long to load.

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

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

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• Who will look after my website and keep 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage the influx of new traffic. These include:

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on are ways to develop and optimize a “traffic loop”.

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as your resources allow.

Useful Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites 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 generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get web site visitors using methods like Twitter, solo ads, email ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

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

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts 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 And Credibility

Getting more content out there is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it around and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress 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 And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online forum, membership site, or even your own social network.

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage commenting and 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.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders (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 Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions To These

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

Useful Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that let you 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 the collection and analysis of data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the process over and over again, 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 good 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 as required to help build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your website and build a more successful business online.

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