Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated web traffic generation machine using WordPress.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do is publish new content regularly to automatically attract more traffic!)
In Part Two, we looked at critical setup decisions. We helped you understand 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 was built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate the traffic-generation process using a number of WordPress plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other channels!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using various tools and methods.
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 clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems in place.
(Consistent 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 your new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, 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 methods used to drive traffic to your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels will you use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you allocate your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the ROI of your online 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 results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.
Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating 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 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 planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems in place to help you manage traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you also implement good systems to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is developing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(An effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically distribute 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate some initial actionable data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, 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 bring more visitors using methods like LinkedIn advertising, PPC advertising, updates, etc.
Tools And Methods
We’ve already covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies in previous sections of this article series.
Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress 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,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips
- Focus on creating 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 educational guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
We have created an entire email series designed to help you come up with endless content for posting to your web site:
Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
Grow Influence & Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online forum, membership site, or even your own social network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.
Useful Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Problems & Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional traffic.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Create a free or paid e-learning course.
- Consider publishing special guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Membership Sites (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 traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Web 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 get better your results.
In summary:
- Start 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 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 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 visitors to your WordPress website and get better results 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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