Tag: WordPress Traffic

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

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is add fresh content on a consistent basis to automatically begin bringing web traffic!)

In Part 2, we discussed critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to get started 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 website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discussed the configuration phase. We configured webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we show you how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can get visitors automatically to your website.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI of your 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. Google AdWords) to help you generate some actionable 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take a long time to load.

Your technical systems need to handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

You can test your technical systems by 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. should anything go wrong?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face new 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 the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Methods

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

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

(WordPress can help you implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more web site visitors using methods like Pinterest, PPC advertising, email, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

We’ve already covered many excellent plugins, tools, and methods in earlier sections of this article series.

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 website:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content published is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more visitors.

Tips

• 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 a PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

We have created a detailed course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and ways to never run out of new ideas for content that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about 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 growing a list or starting your own community.

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• 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.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available 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 and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

• Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-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 lets you discover new ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – 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 (with 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, trust, 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and expand your business online.

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