Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated traffic machine using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to start generating more web traffic is add web content regularly!)
In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase. 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 website is built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we discuss the configuration phase of the automation system. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, you learned how to set up various plugins that can get web traffic automatically to your website or blog.
(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 the traffic system with a number of different tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the product of a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Generating automated traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s briefly review 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 – The systems used to ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review the above systems:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
- How will you allocate your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the ROI of your 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. Facebook ads) to help you generate some initial actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who is looking after my webhosting?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 issues 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
You need good business systems in place to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is growing, optimizing and automating your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Traffic Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 can help generate actionable 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 attract traffic using methods like LinkedIn, solo ads, forum ads, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content published is great, but to make this more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Create and publish content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing educational guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
If you need endless ideas for posting content on your web site, then subscribe to our FREE email training series here:
Also, learn more about WordPress 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
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online 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 credibility can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or email.
Tips
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join an online group on LinkedIn.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
There are many solutions and plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 And Provide Solutions To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of web traffic.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Create a free or paid e-learning course.
- Consider publishing PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your site.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- 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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new ways to create content that can help you generate additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the cycle, 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 good 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 required to 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and improve your business online.
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"I have used the tutorials to teach all of my clients and it has probably never been so easy for everyone to learn WordPress ... Now I don't need to buy all these very expensive video courses that often don't deliver what they promise." - Stefan Wendt, Internet Marketing Success Group
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