Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive visitors automatically to your site using WordPress.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part 1, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do is publish fresh content regularly to automatically attract web traffic!)
In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase of this process. We explain 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 existing site is built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)
In Part Three, we focused on important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your website or blog as you begin posting content.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system using a number of tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Generating regular traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s briefly review the above systems:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- How will you apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the ROI of your 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) to help generate some initial 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 content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who will look after my webhosting?
- Who looks after my website and keeps 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 planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good business systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Tools & Methods
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to focus on implementing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …
(WordPress can help implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 some initial data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to bring traffic using methods like Pinterest advertising, PPC advertising, email ads, etc.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
We’ve covered a number of excellent plugins, tools, and strategies in previous sections of this tutorial series.
Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.
Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
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 a group.
With “Traffic On Tap,” all of 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 new traffic with a single post or email.
Traffic Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start 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.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs And Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users want, you can develop new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of traffic.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Create a free or paid e-learning program.
- Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
- 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 or blog include:
- Membership Site plugins (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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic System – 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
- Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if required to help 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress web site and get better results online.
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