Category: WordPress Sales Funnel

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a site into an automated traffic generation machine using WordPress.

So far, we have covered the following in this article series:

In Part 1, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is publish web content consistently to automatically begin attracting web traffic!)

In Part Two, we focus on critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site was built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase of the traffic automation process. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-getting process using plugins.

(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other channels!)

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system using different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating quality traffic consistently is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow, automate, 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 strategies used to create traffic for your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you assign your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results of your marketing 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

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

Many potential issues can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools And Methods

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

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

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

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your time and resources will allow.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to sites 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate 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.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get web visitors using methods like LinkedIn, social media, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We’ve already covered a number of excellent tools and methods in previous sections of this tutorial 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 posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

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

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating and publishing content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing expert guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

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

• 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 tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting a forum or network.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single post or email broadcast.

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.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

• Autoresponders (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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors are searching for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.

Tips

• Create an e-learning course.
• Publish an e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools & Methods

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful 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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create content that can generate you additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the process over and over again, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better 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 methods as required to 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 get better results online.

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