Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new visitors automatically to your website using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part One of this series, we described the traffic automation process, and explained 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 automatically bring more web traffic is add great content consistently!)
In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing website has been built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress site on your domain)
In Part Three, we discussed configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’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 explained how to set up various plugins that can help get traffic automatically to your site as you begin publishing fresh content.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using various tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the product of a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Generating automated traffic is the product of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage your new traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s review the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels will you use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the results of your online campaigns?
During the setup and configuration phase, you would 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 to help you generate some initial intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take a long time to load.
Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who is looking after my server?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping my site maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if any issues arise?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented good systems to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools And Methods
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to grow your “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 …
(Implement and optimize a traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as you can.
Traffic Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on 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 on your site.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate some initial actionable data, which you can use to create content better targeted 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 paid ads, banner ads, joint ventures, etc.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
We’ve already covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this article series.
Also, learn more about plugins that let you 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 other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more of your content out there is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Focus on creating content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Tools & Strategies
We have created a detailed email course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, learn more about 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
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online community or even your own social network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.
Traffic Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (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 Problems & Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new streams of traffic.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
- Consider publishing an e-book that can be sold or distributed online.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your site.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Membership Sites (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 traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the cycle, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better 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 also investing in some paid advertising to drive traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
- Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods if needed to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to increase engagement with users,
- 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 get better results online.
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"If you're new to WordPress, this can stand on its own as a training course and will stay with you as you progress from beginner to advanced and even guru status." - Bruce (Columbus, Ohio)
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