Category: WordPress Sales Funnel

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1 of this article series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add new content on a regular basis to automatically attract new web traffic!)

In Part Two, we discussed critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to start 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 site was built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discuss the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

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

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis is having a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.

(Generating regular 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 all traffic.

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review how important these systems are for traffic:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you apportion your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and run your 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 actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

Your systems need to handle technical areas like webhosting, site 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 will look after my server?
• 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 things go wrong?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

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

• 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 support, then make sure you also implement good systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on how to implement and optimize a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract traffic using methods like LinkedIn advertising, solo ads, forum ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

See previous sections of this article series for many excellent plugins, tools, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

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

• Share your posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content published is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating 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 instructional PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 & Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting your own online community or social 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 new traffic with a single blog post or broadcast.

Useful Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools & Strategies

There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors need, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Publish a special report or even an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website include:

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 good 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 solutions as necessary to build authority 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 WordPress web site and build a more successful business online.

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