Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part 1 of this series, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is add new content on a consistent basis to drive more web traffic!)
In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase. 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 website, and what to do if your website was built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you how to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 we show you how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we explained how to set up various plugins that can help bring visitors automatically to your website as you begin adding fresh content on a regular basis.
(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)
In this article, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using various tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Automation 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 well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.
(Automated traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)
Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive 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)?
- How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the results of your 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 to help you generate some results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your systems need to be able to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking 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. should things go wrong?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement excellent systems to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to develop a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(Traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows 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.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get visitors using methods like Pinterest, banner ads, forum ads, etc.
Tools And Methods
We’ve covered many excellent plugins, tools, and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.
Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content published is good, but to make this more effective, your content 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 more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Create and publish 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 or special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Tools & Methods
We have created an entire email training series aimed at helping you never run out of content ideas for your web site:
Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to 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
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online forum or network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or email broadcast you send out.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (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 & Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors need, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.
Tips
- Consider creating an online training course.
- Publish a “how-to” e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
- Add e-commerce to your business.
Tools And Strategies
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:
- Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
- Learning Management Systems (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 gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – 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 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 needed 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your web site and build a better business online.
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"If you're new to WordPress, this can stand on its own as a training course and will stay with you as you progress from beginner to advanced and even guru status." - Bruce (Columbus, Ohio)
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