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Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to automate traffic to your site using WordPress.

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

In Part 1, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically attract new web traffic is publish fresh content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we look at the setup phase of this system. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website is built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on configuring the system. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three we explain how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can drive visitors automatically to your website or blog.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create traffic for your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you apportion to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and 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 initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically 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 experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.

Your systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, 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, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if issues occur?

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 new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

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

• Communication systems
• Managing human and financial resources
• Handling leads and sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service/training
• etc.

If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented good systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Methods

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 further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …

(Implementing and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Facebook ads) can help you generate data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring traffic using methods like Pinterest advertising, podcasts, email ads, etc.

Tools & Strategies

We’ve already covered many useful tools, plugins, and strategies in earlier sections of this article series.

Also, look for WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• Share your posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is great, 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 more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an instructional e-book that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

We have created a detailed course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to 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 Trust

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 Demand,” 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 traffic with a single blog post or email broadcast.

Useful Tips

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

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:

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

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors are searching for, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Consider publishing an e-book that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the same process, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and improve 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 if necessary to help build authority, trust, 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 article 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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