Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated web traffic generation machine using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part 1, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically attract more web traffic is add great content on a consistent basis!)
In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site was built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)
In Part 3, we look at configuring the system. We configured web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate your traffic using a number of WordPress plugins.
(Publish content one-time and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process with a number of different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Optimized traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving 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 above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- How will you apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the results of your online 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. Google AdWords) 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 online presence up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (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 things go wrong?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, new problems will arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- 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 Optimization Strategies
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to grow and optimize a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …
(An effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility
The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many traffic generation sites and channels as you can.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 you generate data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to increase visitors using methods like Pinterest, videos, forum signatures, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
See previous sections of this article series for a number of useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more of your content out there is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Create and publish content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing expert reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We have created a comprehensive email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and ways to never run out of content ideas that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting a group.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single post or broadcast.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
- Publish special guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools & Strategies
If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to add to your website or blog include:
- Membership Site plugins (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 learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation 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:
- Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by solid marketing, technical and business systems,
- Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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 necessary to help 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 get better results online.
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"If you're new to WordPress, this can stand on its own as a training course and will stay with you as you progress from beginner to advanced and even guru status." - Bruce (Columbus, Ohio)
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