Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated traffic generating machine using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically begin bringing new web traffic is post web content consistently!)
In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. We explain the best way to get started 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 website is built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help bring visitors automatically to your site whenever you begin posting new content.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system using various tools and strategies.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the product of a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Consistent traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your website.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your traffic)
Let’s review the above systems briefly:
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 channels do you plan to use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you allocate your budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your 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 generate some initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking too long to load.
Your systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who looks after my webhosting?
- 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 any problems arise?
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. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Loops
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is implementing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(WordPress can help implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 can help generate some initial actionable data, which you can use to create 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 bring visitors using methods like LinkedIn ads, social media, Reddit, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We’ve covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies in previous sections of this article series.
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more traffic.
Tips
- Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
If you need great topics for posting content on your site, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series on content marketing here:
Also, ask us about WordPress 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 Trust
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting your own community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish or email you send out.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that are easy to implement and can help increase your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, 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 e-learning program.
- Publish a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- Membership Site plugins (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 to collect and analyze data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic System – 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:
- 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 initial 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 improve 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 drive more visitors automatically to your web site and grow your business online.
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