Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive traffic automatically to your website using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically begin bringing more traffic is post fresh content regularly!)
In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site has been built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you how to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)
In Part Three, we looked at important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help bring visitors automatically to your website whenever you begin to post content.
(Publish once and automate your content distribution to all other services!)
In this article, we look at ways to optimize the traffic generation process using different tools and strategies.
WordPress 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 in place.
(Generating automated traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and great systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, 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 traffic to your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the ROI of your online 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 to help 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’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a long time to load.
Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who will look after my server?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should any issues occur?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need to put systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – 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 a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as possible.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to places 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 data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to increase more traffic using methods like Pinterest advertising, solo ads, cross promotions, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
We’ve covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this article series.
Also, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and 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 content out there is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a special report or PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress 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 And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting a community.
With “Traffic On Tap,” 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 email broadcast.
Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join an online group on LinkedIn.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, 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 Problems And Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors want, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.
Tips
- Create an e-learning course.
- Publish expert reports that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools And Strategies
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to consider adding to your website include:
- Membership Site plugins (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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation 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:
- Start 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 initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
- Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if necessary to build authority, trust, 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 post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and build a better business online.
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"These tutorials have so much information and are easy to understand. If you use WordPress or plan to in the future these will help you with everything you need to know." - Valisa (Mesa, Arizona)
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