Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your site using WordPress.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part One, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to automatically drive more traffic is publish great content on a consistent basis!)
In Part 2, we focus on critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing website is built using WordPress.
(In Part two we show you where to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)
In Part 3, we look at configuring WordPress. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you will configure all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate the traffic-generation process with plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize your traffic with different tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the result of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.
(Generating regular traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage your traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your 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 online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these marketing channels?
- Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages take a very long time to load.
Your systems need to be able to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who will look after my webhosting?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping my site maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if problems arise?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your 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 able to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then you will need systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation 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 and optimize your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …
(WordPress can help implement and optimize your traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Traffic Ideas
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract visitors using methods like Pinterest, social media, Reddit, etc.
Tools And Methods
We’ve covered a number of useful plugins, tools, and strategies in earlier sections of this tutorial series.
Also, learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also 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 your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing expert guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
Tools And Methods
We have created a complete email email-based training course aimed at helping you never run out of great content ideas for posting to your web site:
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us 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 demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online community.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most 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 every post you publish or email you send out.
Useful Tips
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Needs And Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.
Traffic Optimization Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
- Publish a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your site.
Tools And Strategies
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – 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 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 (with 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 as needed to help build authority 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 drive more visitors automatically to your web site and improve your business online.
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"This is AMAZING! I had learnt about how to use WordPress previously, but this covers absolutely everything and more!! Incredible value! Thank you!" - Monique, Warrior Forum
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