Category: Traffic Generation

Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive traffic automatically to your site using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to drive more web traffic is post great content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we looked at the setup phase. We helped 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 site has been built using WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress website on your domain)

In Part 3, we focused on important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

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

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating quality traffic consistently is the product of a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Optimizing traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your digital presence 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 the above systems are for traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your business. 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 your marketing channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, 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 you generate some initial actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your digital presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking too long to load.

Your technical systems need to be able to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website 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 is looking after my webhosting?
• 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. when issues arise?

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

Business Systems

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

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

If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement good systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, 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 get more visitors using methods like Facebook, podcasts, Reddit, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools 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 plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to potential visitors 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 can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

We have created an entire email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, contact us to 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

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

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 blog post or broadcast.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools And Strategies

There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

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

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors are looking for, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Create a free or paid online training course.
• Publish a training guide that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to add to your site include:

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new ways to create additional traffic.

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 Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process over and over again, 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 adding some paid advertising to drive traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions as needed to build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your web site and build a better business online.

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