Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive visitors automatically to your site using WordPress.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part One, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do is post great content consistently to start generating traffic!)
In Part 2, we discussed the setup phase of the traffic automation system. We helped you understand 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 with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, you learned how to set up various plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your website or blog just by posting web content.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic generation process with different tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Consistent traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage new traffic.
These systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence 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 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 drive new traffic to your business. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the results 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 actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking too long to load.
Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who looks after my webhosting?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be 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. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement excellent systems for managing all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on is how to implement your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(WordPress can help implement and optimize your traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to places 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 data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to bring traffic using methods like Pinterest ads, social media, email ads, etc.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
See earlier sections of this article series for many useful tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for likes/shares,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content out there is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.
Tips
- Focus on content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We have created an entire email training series aimed at helping you never run out of great content for your site:
Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to 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 Recognition
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 an online group.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes 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 or broadcast you send out.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
There are many solutions and plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (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 Needs And Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are searching for, you can develop new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of traffic.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid online training course.
- Consider publishing a training guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your business.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.
You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can 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:
- Start 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 methods if necessary to help build authority, trust, 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 automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your website and build a more successful business 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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