Category: Traffic Generation

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new visitors automatically to your website using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part One, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do is add new content consistently to start driving traffic!)

In Part Two, we looked at the setup phase. We explained 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 existing website has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we looked at important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate your traffic using various plugins.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating quality traffic consistently is achieved by having a clearly-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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. Facebook ads) to help generate some initial actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted 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 site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages take a long time to load.

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

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

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

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

Business Systems

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

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on are ways to grow a “traffic loop”.

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many traffic generation sites and channels as possible.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources 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. Facebook ads) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get visitors using methods like Pinterest ads, social media, email, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

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

• Share your posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
• Accept 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 out there is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Focus on creating content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

We have created a complete email training series aimed at helping you come up with limitless content for your site:

Also, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress 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 tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online community.

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic will come from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users need, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create an online training course.
• Consider publishing expert guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and 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 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. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is rinse and repeat, 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 if necessary to help 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your web site and build a more successful business online.

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