Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive new visitors automatically to your website using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your website …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do is add fresh content consistently to automatically start generating more traffic!)
In Part 2, we focus on critical setup decisions. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things 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 site on your domain)
In Part Three, we focus on configuring WordPress. We configured hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 we show you how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate your traffic with plugins.
(Publish content once, automate the rest!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Automating traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)
Let’s review the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels will you use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you allocate your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
- Who will create your content and 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 you generate some intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable 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.
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 experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.
Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who is looking after my server?
- 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, new problems will arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic System – Optimizing Traffic Generation
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on implementing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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. Facebook ads) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract visitors using methods like paid advertising, social media, updates, etc.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
See earlier sections of this tutorial series for many excellent tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, ask us about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more of your 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 authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Focus on content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing educational guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
We have created an entire course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and how to never run out of new web content ideas that you can plug into for free here:
Also, ask us about plugins that let you 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 Recognition
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting a community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or email.
Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site.
- Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.
Tools, Plugins, And 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 Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, image galleries, etc.
Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors need, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.
Tips
- Create an e-learning program.
- Consider publishing an instructional e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
- Add e-commerce to your business.
Tools And Methods
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your site include:
- 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – 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 get better 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 also investing in 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 necessary to help build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress website and expand your business online.
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