Category: WordPress Business Strategies

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

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

In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically attract new traffic is post new content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we focused on critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase of the automation system. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-generation process using various plugins.

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important these systems are for optimizing traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your 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 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking a long time to load.

Your technical systems need to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look 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 you experience difficulties?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website 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 operational systems and processes to help you manage the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to develop and optimize a “traffic loop”.

Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Traffic Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more website visitors using methods like LinkedIn ads, PPC advertising, forum ads, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We’ve covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Display 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 out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Focus on creating content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing educational guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools & Methods

If you need great topics for posting content on your website, we recommend subscribing to our email training series on growing your business online with content marketing here:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for WordPress plugins that let you 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 Recognition

Grow Influence And Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single 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.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools & Methods

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (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, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs And Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users want, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
• Publish expert guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

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 consider adding to your website include:

• Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-Courses (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 opportunities to create content that can help you generate additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation 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:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good 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 required to build authority 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and build a more successful business online.

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