Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a site into an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part 1 of this series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically begin attracting new traffic is post web content regularly!)
In Part 2, we look at critical setup decisions. We explain 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 was built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part 3, we focus on important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-getting process using a number of WordPress plugins.
(Publish once, automate the rest!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using different tools and strategies.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.
(Optimizing traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – How you keep your online presence optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your website. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the results 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 actionable 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’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.
Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who will look after my server?
- Who looks after my website and keeps my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should things go wrong?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and 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 have implemented great systems for managing all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to focus on implementing and optimizing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(An effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website.
Useful Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on places 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 keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract web traffic using methods like LinkedIn ads, videos, forum signatures, etc.
Tools And Methods
We’ve covered a number of excellent plugins, tools, and methods in earlier sections of this article series.
Also, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create and publish content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We have created an entire email series aimed at helping you never run out of great content ideas for your website or blog:
Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:
- Legal Pages
- Testimonials
- Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
- Ratings
- User Reviews
- Badges/Certificates Of Trust
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting a community.
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 reputation can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or broadcast.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help grow your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are searching for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
- Publish PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your site.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
If you plan to provide 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic allows you to discover new opportunities to create additional traffic.
You should already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – 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 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 (with 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 required 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your website and grow your 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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