Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new visitors automatically to your site using the WordPress CMS.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this article series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your website …
(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is publish content on a regular basis to begin bringing more traffic!)
In Part 2, we look at critical setup decisions. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing site is built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part 3, we look at important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system using a number of plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation using a number of tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Automated 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 – How you drive traffic to your business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your digital presence remains up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review the importance of the above systems:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) to help generate some actionable data, such as the keywords 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 and processes keep your online presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.
Your systems need to handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, 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 will look after my website and keep my site maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should problems arise?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is focus on how to implement your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …
(Traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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. pay-per-click ads) can help generate data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get website visitors using methods like LinkedIn, banner ads, cross promotions, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We’ve covered many useful tools, plugins, and strategies in earlier sections of this tutorial series.
Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content out there is great, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.
Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates 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, And Methods
If you need help coming up with topics for content that you can post on your web site, we recommend subscribing to our email training series here:
Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Trust
Grow Influence And Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting a community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.
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 LinkedIn.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
There are many solutions and plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- List-Building Software (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors need, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Consider creating an online training program.
- Publish a special report that you can sell or distribute online.
- Add e-commerce to your site.
Tools & Methods
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 site include:
- Membership Sites (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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to create content that can help you generate additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation 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 good 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 solutions as necessary to 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 visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and improve 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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