Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new traffic automatically to your site 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 site is the key to automating traffic to your website …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add web content consistently to start driving traffic!)
In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase of the automation blueprint. 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 site, and what to do if your existing site was built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase. We explained how to configure 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 traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic to your website using WordPress plugins.
(Publish once and automate your content distribution to all other marketing channels!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic-getting process with different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems in place.
(Optimized traffic is the product of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for optimizing traffic:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your campaigns?
During the setup and configuration phase, you should 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’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a long time to load.
Your systems need to handle technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who is looking after my webhosting?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 issues can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, new problems will arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good business systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. This includes:
- 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 Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is growing and optimizing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(WordPress can help implement and optimize a traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts 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 you generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract more traffic using methods like LinkedIn ads, podcasts, updates, etc.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
We’ve covered a number of useful plugins, tools, and strategies in previous sections of this tutorial series.
Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for likes/shares,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content out there is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.
Tips
- Focus on creating content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Tools And Methods
We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
Grow Influence & Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single post or email broadcast.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, 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 To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users want, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of web traffic.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Create an e-learning program.
- Consider publishing a special report that you can sell or distribute online.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools And Methods
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Membership Site plugins (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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation 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 as required to help build authority, trust, 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 drive more traffic automatically to your website and expand your business online.
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"These tutorials have so much information and are easy to understand. If you use WordPress or plan to in the future these will help you with everything you need to know." - Valisa (Mesa, Arizona)
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