Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to start attracting traffic is post fresh content on a consistent basis!)
In Part 2, we discuss critical setup decisions. We explain 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 website, and what to do if your site has been built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 we show you how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can bring web traffic automatically to your website or blog.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other marketing channels!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation using various tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Generating consistent traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, 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 is your content marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 you generate some 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 up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking too long to load.
Your systems need to handle 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 looks after my webhosting?
- 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 anything go wrong?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need to put good systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is implementing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Traffic Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) 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 the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get more traffic using methods like paid advertising, PPC advertising, Reddit, etc.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
See previous sections of this article series for a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
- 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 for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing instructional PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
We have created an entire course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and how to never run out of content ideas that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress 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 building a list or starting a forum or network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know 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.
Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site.
- Start or join an online group on LinkedIn/Facebook.
Tools & Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, image galleries, etc.
Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users need, you can develop new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Consider creating an online training program.
- Publish instructional PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.
Tools & Strategies
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website 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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Summary
Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the same process, 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 solid 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 necessary to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and improve your business online.
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"This is AMAZING! I had learnt about how to use WordPress previously, but this covers absolutely everything and more!! Incredible value! Thank you!" - Monique, Warrior Forum
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