Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn a site into an automated traffic generation machine using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add new content regularly to automatically start generating new web traffic!)
In Part 2, we look at critical setup decisions. We explain 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 site was built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase. We configured hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 we show you how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive web traffic automatically to your website as you begin publishing content regularly.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)
In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system using various tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Automated traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s briefly 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 business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, 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 strategies used to drive new 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)?
- How will you apply your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the results of your 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 you generate some actionable data, such as the keywords 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 ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your systems need to be able to adequately handle 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 looks after my server?
- Who will look after my website and keep 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 problems can be minimized if your website planning 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 and processes to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have systems in place to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to develop, optimize, and automate 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 …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Useful 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 online.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Facebook ads) can help 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 better targeted to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to increase more visitors using methods like LinkedIn, social media, joint ventures, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
We’ve covered a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this article series.
Also, look for WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content published is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips
- 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, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a “how to” guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
If you need help coming up with topics for posting content on your web site, we recommend subscribing to our email training series here:
Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to 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 tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting your own community.
With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of 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 post or email.
Useful Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and 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 To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users need, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create a free or paid online training course.
- Publish educational guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools And Strategies
If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your website include:
- Membership Site plugins (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 interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 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 solutions if needed to help build authority 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 visitors automatically to your web site and get better results online.
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"These tutorials have so much information and are easy to understand. If you use WordPress or plan to in the future these will help you with everything you need to know." - Valisa (Mesa, Arizona)
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