Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part One, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is publish fresh content regularly to automatically begin attracting more web traffic!)
In Part 2, we discussed the setup phase. We helped you understand the best way to start 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 site has been built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase of the blueprint. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-getting process with different plugins.
(Publish once, automate the rest!)
In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website with different tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems and process in place.
(Generating automated traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage this traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your business.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow 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 strategies used to drive new traffic to your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
- How will you create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and 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 initial data, such as the keyword phrases 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 ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking a long time to load.
Your systems need to handle technical 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 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 things go wrong?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will always arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then you will need systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on how to grow, optimize, and automate your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility
The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as you can.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get more visitors using methods like LinkedIn, PPC advertising, email, etc.
Tools And Strategies
See earlier sections of this article series for many excellent plugins, tools, and strategies 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 let you easily add the following to your website:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and 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 for this activity to be really effective, your content 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 it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips
- Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
If you need endless content ideas for your website or blog, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series 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 Recognition
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting a group.
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 reputation can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.
Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools & Strategies
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & 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
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.
Tips
- Create an e-learning program.
- Publish educational guides that you can sell or distribute online.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your business.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website or blog include:
- Membership Site plugins (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
- e-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. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to 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 site. Make sure you also learn how to 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 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 if necessary to help build authority, trust, 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and improve your business online.
***
"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
***