Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generating machine using WordPress.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part One of this series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain 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 attract web traffic is post fresh content on a consistent basis!)
In Part 2, we look at the setup phase of the blueprint. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website has been built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part 3, we discussed important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three we show you how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, you learned how to set up various plugins that can get traffic automatically to your site just by publishing web content.
(Publish once to WordPress 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 generation using a number of tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the outcome of a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems in place.
(Optimized traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, and manage your web 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 online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to your marketing channels?
- How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the results 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. Facebook ads) to help you generate some initial actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who is looking after my server?
- 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. As with all technology, however, there will always be problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of new 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 excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Loops
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is developing, optimizing and further automating your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(Implement, automate, and optimize your traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow 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 on your site.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate actionable 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.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract more web site traffic using methods like Facebook ads, solo ads, Reddit, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Display 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 a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content 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 traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
If you need topics for posting content on your website or blog, then subscribe to our email training course on content marketing here:
Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about 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 Trust
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 will come from an audience of existing 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 blog post or broadcast.
Useful Tips
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
Many solutions and plugins are available that can help grow your influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, image galleries, etc.
Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are looking for, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create a free or paid online training course.
- Consider publishing instructional PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.
Plugins, Tools, And Strategies
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- 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. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary
Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the cycle, 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 good 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 if required to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your 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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