Category: WordPress Business Strategies

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create 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 site is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically generate more web traffic is post great content regularly!)

In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase of the traffic automation process. We helped you understand 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 existing website was built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we look at important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help drive visitors automatically to your site.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

(Optimized traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains 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 briefly review how important the above systems are for traffic:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you test 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. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, 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 up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking too long to load.

Your technical systems need to be able to adequately handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

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

• Who looks after my server?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should any issues arise?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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. 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 targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more web site traffic using methods like Twitter advertising, banner ads, forum signatures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content published is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Tips

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

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

Also, contact us to learn more about WordPress 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 building a list or starting an online network.

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

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish a special report or even an e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the process, 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (with 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 as required to build authority, trust, 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and get better results online.

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