Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new visitors automatically to your website using the WordPress CMS.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically generate more traffic is add great content consistently!)
In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site was built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase. We configured web hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate your traffic using WordPress plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other services!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems in place.
(Generating consistent traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage your traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for traffic:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies 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 new traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you apply your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you 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 to help generate some initial actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages take a very long time to load.
Your systems need to handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, 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, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should any issues occur?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you will always run into many new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is implementing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web 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 bring more website traffic using methods like LinkedIn ads, YouTube, forum ads, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
See previous sections of this article series for many excellent tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for likes/shares,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more of your content published is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build 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.
Useful Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
We have created a comprehensive course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress 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
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online forum or network.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish or email broadcast you send out.
Useful Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools And Strategies
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (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 And Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users are looking for, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.
Useful Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
- Publish a special report or PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Add an e-commerce store to your site.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Membership Sites (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 opportunities to create content that can generate you additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the same process, 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 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and build a more successful business online.
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"I am beyond impressed with what you have put together. I can tell that you put a ton of hard work into building what you have. You have the absolute best content on WordPress I have ever seen!" - Robert T. Jillie
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