Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generation machine using the WordPress CMS.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part 1, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically attract new web traffic is publish web content consistently!)
In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of this process. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing site has been built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we look at configuring the system. We configured hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic generation using various plugins.
(Publish content once and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website with a number of different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating consistent traffic of high quality is achieved by having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Automated traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for optimizing traffic:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create new traffic for 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 budget and resources to your marketing channels?
- Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the results 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 you generate some initial data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your digital presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your systems need to handle technical areas like webhosting, site 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 will look after my webhosting?
- 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. if you experience difficulties?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done 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 new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Strategies
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is implementing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(Traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract traffic using methods like Pinterest, videos, email ads, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
See previous sections of this article series for many useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips
- Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
We have created an entire email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
Grow Influence & Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting a community.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or email.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Software (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs And Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools & Methods
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to add to your website include:
- 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the process over and over again, 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 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 as needed to build authority 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and get better results 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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