Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generation machine using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part One, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is add web content on a regular basis to start generating web traffic!)
In Part Two, we discuss the setup phase of this process. We help you understand the best way to get started 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 website has been built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part 3, we discuss important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic generation using a number of WordPress plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using different tools and strategies.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating targeted traffic consistently is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.
(Optimizing traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your online presence up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your traffic)
Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What channels will you use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
- What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
- Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the results 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 you generate some initial 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 keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your technical systems need to be able to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who looks 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 anything go wrong?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will always arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Methods
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to grow 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 …
(An effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as you can.
Traffic Ideas
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to drive web traffic using methods like Pinterest, solo ads, email ads, etc.
Tools & Methods
See previous sections of this tutorial series for many useful tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content published is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
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 visitors.
Traffic 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 or special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
We have created a complete email course designed to help you come up with endless content ideas for posting to your site:
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to 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 Trust
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 a network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic will come from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or email broadcast.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools & Methods
Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help grow your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 Problems And Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can develop new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.
Tips
- Consider creating an online training course.
- Publish an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.
Tools & Strategies
If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to consider adding to your site include:
- 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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 solutions as required to build authority 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 WordPress website and get better results online.
***
"I love the way your email series "Infinite Web Content Creation Training Series" is documented and presented. It is very absorbing and captivating. The links and tutorials are interesting and educational. This has motivated me to rewrite my content following the concepts I am learning from the email series." - Mani Raju, www.fortuneinewaste.com
***