Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generating machine using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part 1 of this article series, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your website …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add new content consistently to attract more traffic!)
In Part 2, we discuss critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website has been built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase. We configured web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you will configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic to your website using plugins.
(Publish content once and automate your content distribution to all other marketing channels!)
In this article, we look at ways to optimize your traffic with different tools and methods.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Generating regular 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 your traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your online presence up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow and manage your web traffic)
Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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 keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages are taking too long to load.
Your systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing 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 process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage the influx of new traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is implementing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(WordPress can help you implement, optimize, and automate your traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, 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 drive more visitors using methods like Pinterest advertising, PPC advertising, email, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads 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 activity more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Focus on content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Recognition
Grow Influence And Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting a group.
With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools & Methods
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (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, image galleries, etc.
Identify Needs And Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users want, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.
Tips
- Create an e-learning program.
- Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add e-commerce to your business.
Tools And Methods
If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Membership Sites (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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to discover new ways to create additional traffic.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary
Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process over and over again, 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 (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 methods as needed 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your web site and get better results online.
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