Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part One of this series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your website …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically begin attracting new web traffic is post fresh content regularly!)
In Part Two, we focused on the setup phase of the traffic automation process. We explained 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 was built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part 3, we discussed configuring the system. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can bring new visitors automatically to your website.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other channels!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using a number of tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Automation 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 well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Optimized traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to 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 strategies 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, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 you generate some intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some 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 ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your pages are taking too long 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 looks 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 anything go wrong?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect to face problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems and processes help you manage traffic. This includes:
- 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 services, then you will need to put systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is focus on how to implement a “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …
(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.
Traffic Ideas
- Your 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 and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get more visitors using methods like Twitter, solo ads, email ads, etc.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
We’ve covered many excellent plugins, tools, and strategies in previous sections of this article series.
Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts or 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 published is a great first step, but to make this more 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 hence more traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We have created a comprehensive course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and how to never run out of new web content ideas that you can plug into for free here:
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about 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 & Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email you send out.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help grow your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- List-Building Software (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 & Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are looking for, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.
Tips
- Consider creating an online training course.
- Consider publishing special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Plugins, Tools, & 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 or blog include:
- 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Summary
Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the cycle, 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 if needed to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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 post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and build a better business 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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