Category: WordPress Business Strategies

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn a site into an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1 of this series, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to automatically attract more traffic is add new content consistently!)

In Part Two, we looked at critical setup decisions. We helped you understand the best way to start 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 2 we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part 3, we looked at configuring the system. We configured all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various plugins that can drive traffic automatically to your website.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.

(Automated traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your online presence up and running for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review the importance of the above systems:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you assign your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your online 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 you generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages take too long to load.

Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who will look after my server?
• 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 planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented great systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is focus on how to implement a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Traffic Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate some initial actionable data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract visitors using methods like Pinterest ads, PPC advertising, joint ventures, etc.

Tools And Methods

See previous sections of this article series for many excellent tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and 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 to make this activity more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to share it with others and hence more traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We have created an entire course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and ways to never run out of content ideas that you can plug into for free here:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress 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 Trust

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 a group.

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email you send out.

Tips

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course 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/LinkedIn.

Tools And Methods

Many solutions and plugins are available that can help increase your influence and improve engagement. For example:

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are searching for, you can develop new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Publish instructional PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website include:

• Membership Sites (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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new opportunities to create additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do 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 methods if required to build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your web site and build a better business online.

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