Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is publish content on a consistent basis to automatically start generating more web traffic!)
In Part Two, we looked at critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to start 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 site was built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase of the traffic automation process. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system with different plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other channels!)
In this article, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Automated traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage your new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Systems help you 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 drive new traffic to your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
- How will you allocate your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness of your online marketing 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. pay-per-click ads) to help you generate some intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages are taking too long 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.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who looks 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 process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you can expect problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems in place to help you manage traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need to put systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Methods
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is how to grow and optimize 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 …
(An effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as you can.
Traffic Ideas
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate data, which you can use to create web 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 drive more website traffic using methods like Twitter ads, solo ads, Reddit, etc.
Tools & Strategies
See previous sections of this tutorial series for many excellent tools and methods 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 site:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for likes/shares,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content out there is great, but to make this more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to share it around and hence more traffic.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Create and publish content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an instructional e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Tools And Methods
If you need endless content ideas for your website, then subscribe to our email training course on content marketing here:
Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress site:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
Grow Influence & Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting your own online community or social network.
With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or broadcast.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site.
- Start or join an online group on LinkedIn/Facebook.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, image galleries, etc.
Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors are searching for, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.
Traffic Ideas
- Create a free or paid e-learning course.
- Consider publishing special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your business.
Tools And Methods
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- 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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web 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 improve your results.
In summary:
- Start 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 initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
- Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions as 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 web site and get better results online.
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"This is an awesome training series. I have a pretty good understanding of WordPress already, but this is helping me to move somewhere from intermediate to advanced user!" - Kim Lednum
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