Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to automate traffic to your website using the WordPress CMS.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part One of this series, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to start generating more traffic is post web content regularly!)
In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase. We explained 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 website has been built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)
In Part 3, we discussed important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you will configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate traffic generation with different WordPress plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other services!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic generation process with a number of different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis comes from having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.
(Generating consistent traffic is the product of a business vision, planning, and systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage your traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review the importance of the above systems:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your website. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- How will you assign your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
- How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you 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 to help generate some initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your digital presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your web pages take too long to load.
Your technical systems need to handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing 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 webhosting?
- Who will look after my website and keep my site, plugins, themes, etc. 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 completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to 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 your digital marketing and technical support, then you will need to put good systems in place for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Methods
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to develop your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …
(Traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content online.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate actionable and intelligent 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’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to drive more web visitors using methods like Pinterest advertising, solo ads, StumbleUpon, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
We’ve already covered a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.
Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing special guides that can be sold or distributed online.
Tools And Strategies
We have created an entire email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:
Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online forum, community, or even your own social site.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most 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 new traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email you send out.
Useful Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join an online group on Facebook.
Tools & Strategies
Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow 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 and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, image galleries, etc.
Identify Problems & Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are searching for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.
Tips
- Create a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
- Add e-commerce to your site.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), contact us to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress 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. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics 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 same process, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better your results.
In summary:
- Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good marketing, technical and business systems,
- Implement a content marketing strategy (with 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 methods as required to help 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your website and build a better business online.
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