Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn your website into an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to begin bringing more web traffic is add fresh content regularly!)
In Part Two, we look at critical setup decisions. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your site is built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part Three, we discuss the configuration phase of the automation system. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help bring new visitors automatically to your website just by posting web content regularly.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other services!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process with a number of different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating targeted traffic consistently is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Optimized traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage your new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to ensure that your digital presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, 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 drive traffic to your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate 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 online 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 to help generate some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your pages take a very long time to load.
Your systems include handling technical 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 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. if you experience difficulties?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is focus on growing, optimizing and further automating 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 processes illustrated below …
(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources 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 can help generate data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get more visitors using methods like Facebook, podcasts, forum ads, etc.
Tools & Methods
See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content published is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Trust
Grow Influence And Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting your own online community or social network.
With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of 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 post or email.
Tips
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your online 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 & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs And Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are searching for, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Consider creating an online training course.
- Publish special guides that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add an e-commerce store to your site.
Tools & Methods
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your website include:
- Membership Sites (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 learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. 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:
- Start 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 traffic automatically to your WordPress website and grow your business online.
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"I was absolutely amazed at the scope and breadth of these tutorials! The most in-depth training I have ever received on any subject!" - Myke O'Neill, DailyGreenPost.com
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