Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Site 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 article series:
In Part 1, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to automatically start attracting web traffic is publish web content regularly!)
In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase of the blueprint. We help you understand the best way to start 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 is built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress site on your domain)
In Part 3, we look at configuring the system. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive web traffic automatically to your website or blog.
(Publish once, automate the rest!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using different tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clearly-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems in place.
(Generating consistent traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and great systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important these systems are:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels do you plan to use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) to help you generate some 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.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.
Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who is looking after my webhosting?
- 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. should problems arise?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you will run into problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good business systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement excellent systems for managing all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Loops
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to grow, optimize, and automate your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate actionable data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to bring more website visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, banner ads, forum signatures, etc.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
See earlier sections of this tutorial series for many useful plugins, tools, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress site:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to share it with others and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips & Ideas
- Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
Tools & Methods
We have created an entire email course designed to help you come up with limitless content ideas for your web site:
Also, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress 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 demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online group.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or email broadcast.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start 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 a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are looking for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Create a free or paid online training course.
- Publish a “how to” guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.
Tools And Methods
If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your 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 interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create additional traffic.
You should 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
Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is rinse and repeat, 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 solid 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 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 web site and grow your business online.
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"I have used the tutorials to teach all of my clients and it has probably never been so easy for everyone to learn WordPress ... Now I don't need to buy all these very expensive video courses that often don't deliver what they promise." - Stefan Wendt, Internet Marketing Success Group
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