Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to drive visitors automatically to your website using the WordPress CMS.
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 site is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is post web content on a regular basis to automatically start driving web traffic!)
In Part 2, we look at critical setup decisions. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing website is built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic to your website with plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other marketing channels!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using a number of tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the product of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.
(Generating consistent traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s review 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 online marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
- How will you assign your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness of your online 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 initial actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your online presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your pages take a long time to load.
Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who will look after my webhosting?
- Who looks after my website and keeps my site maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. when issues 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 should expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems in place to help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need systems in place for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on are ways to implement a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many traffic generation sites and channels as your time and resources will allow.
Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to sites 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 can help you generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get web visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, solo ads, cross promotions, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
See previous sections of this tutorial series for many excellent tools 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 WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more of your content published is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Focus on creating content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates 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 on the Amazon Kindle store.
Tools And Strategies
We have created an entire email series aimed at helping you never run out of content ideas for your website:
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about WordPress 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
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online forum or network.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish or email broadcast you send out.
Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools And Strategies
Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (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 & Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional traffic.
Traffic Ideas
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
- Consider publishing a PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your business.
Tools & Strategies
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:
- 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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should have already installed an analytics program 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 same process, 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 if needed 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 drive more visitors automatically to your web site and get better results online.
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