Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic generation machine using the WordPress CMS.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part One, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to begin attracting more web traffic is post great content on a consistent basis!)
In Part Two, we looked at the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started 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 existing website has been built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase of this process. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system using various plugins.
(Publish once 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 traffic generation using various tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic 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.
(Automating traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, 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 create new traffic for your business. 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 your marketing channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages take too long to load.
Your systems need to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing 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 maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should things go wrong?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your 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
You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Loops
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on how to develop a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …
(Implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.
Useful Tips
- 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create 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 get more traffic using methods like Pinterest, solo ads, cross promotions, etc.
Tools And Methods
We’ve already covered many useful tools, plugins, and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.
Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Share your 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, audio, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more of your content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.
Tips
- Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
If you need great content ideas for your site, then subscribe to our email training course on growing your business online with content marketing here:
Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 Trust
Grow Influence & Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting your own community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most 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 every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.
Useful Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site.
- Start or join an online group on LinkedIn.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (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 & Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are looking for, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.
Tips
- Create an e-learning program.
- Publish an educational guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your site.
Tools & Methods
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.
You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic 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:
- Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good 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, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and build a better 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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