Category: WordPress Configuration

Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part One of this article series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to automatically begin bringing more web traffic is add content consistently!)

In Part Two, we focused on critical setup decisions. 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 site, and what to do if your website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on the configuration phase of the automation blueprint. We explained how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate your traffic using a number of WordPress plugins.

(Publish content once, automate the rest!)

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems in place.

(Consistent traffic is the result 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 include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Systems help you grow 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 online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results 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. Facebook ads) to help you generate some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.

Your technical systems need to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing 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 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 problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you will always run into many new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems in place to help you manage and respond to new traffic. These include:

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(WordPress can help implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate actionable and intelligent data, 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 attract website visitors using methods like Facebook, videos, forum signatures, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for many useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:

• Share your posts online with others,
• 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, audio, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created an entire email course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

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

• 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 demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online membership site.

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage commenting and 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 an online group on LinkedIn.

Tools & Methods

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

• List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors want, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that allow you to 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new ways to create additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. 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 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider adding 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 needed 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 website and get better results online.

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