Author: WP Compendium

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generation machine using WordPress.

So far, here is what we have covered in this series:

In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do is publish fresh content on a consistent basis to bring more traffic!)

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of this system. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website was built using WordPress.

(In Part two we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system with different plugins.

(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic generation process using various tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis comes comes from the combined outcome of having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Generating regular traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)

Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your web presence up and running for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you apply to these channels?
• Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results of your online 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help you generate some initial intelligence. 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 better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take a long time to load.

Your technical systems need to be able to adequately 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 is looking 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:

• Communication systems
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling leads and sales enquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service/training
• etc.

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement excellent systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is implementing, optimizing and automating your “traffic loop”.

Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content through your expertly configured WordPress 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 the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more visitors using methods like Pinterest advertising, videos, updates, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

We’ve already covered a number of excellent tools, plugins, and strategies in earlier sections of this article series.

Also, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Traffic Tips

• Focus on creating content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a training guide that you can sell or distribute online.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We have created an entire email training series aimed at helping you never run out of great content for posting to your web site:

Also, look for 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

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting a community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic will come from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single post or email.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools And Strategies

Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users need, you can develop new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create a free or paid online training course.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, & 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 add to your site 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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

You should have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 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 methods if required to build authority and credibility, and also to improve 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your WordPress web site and grow your business online.

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