Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part One of this article series, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically bring more web traffic is post web content on a consistent basis!)
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 website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your site was built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase of the automation system. 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 ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate traffic generation using plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process with different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Consistent traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, planning, and systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage your traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you 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 strategies used to drive new traffic to your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
- How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 to help generate some initial 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’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your online presence up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages are taking 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), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who looks after my server?
- Who will look after my website and keep 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. As with all technology, however, you will run into problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems in place to help you manage and respond to new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have good systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is growing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …
(WordPress can help you implement and optimize your traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many traffic generation sites and channels as possible.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 you generate data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract web traffic using methods like LinkedIn advertising, YouTube, updates, etc.
Tools And Strategies
See earlier sections of this article series for a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress site:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with users.
Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Focus on content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing educational guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
We have created a comprehensive course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about 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 Recognition
Grow Influence & Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting your own online community or social network.
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 credibility can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or email broadcast you send out.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join an online group on LinkedIn/Facebook.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (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 Problems & Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are looking for, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Consider creating an e-learning course.
- Publish a special report or PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add e-commerce to your business.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to add to your website or blog 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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to generate additional traffic.
You should have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – 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 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 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 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your website and improve your business 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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