Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress 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 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 traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to automatically start attracting web traffic is post web content on a regular basis!)
In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase of the blueprint. We helped you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website was built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part 3, we looked at configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can help get new traffic automatically to your site.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other channels!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic generation process with different tools and strategies.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis comes comes from the combined outcome of having a well-defined business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Generating regular traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage this traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you 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 traffic to your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
- What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
- Who will create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the results of your 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 to help generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases 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 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 pages are taking a long time to load.
Your technical systems need to handle 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 will look after my webhosting?
- Who looks after my website and keeps 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 issues can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good business systems to help you manage and respond to new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need excellent systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Tools And Strategies
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is developing and optimizing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.
Useful Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 can help you generate actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create 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 more traffic using methods like LinkedIn, videos, email, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
We’ve already covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.
Also, learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
- Accept 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 of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.
Traffic Optimization 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 a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
Tools And Strategies
We have created a comprehensive course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- 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 demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting a forum or network.
With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or email you send out.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs And Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are looking for, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of web traffic.
Tips
- Create a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
- e-Learning 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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
- Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions as required to help build authority 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 drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress website 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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