Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated web traffic generating machine using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part 1 of this article series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to automatically attract more traffic is publish content on a regular basis!)
In Part Two, we discussed the setup phase. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing website has been built with WordPress.
(In Part two we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase of this process. We explained how to configure all the 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 explained how to set up various plugins that can drive new traffic automatically to your website or blog whenever you begin publishing web content regularly.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other marketing channels!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system using a number of tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Automated traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and great systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage your new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to create new traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your online presence optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
- How will you allocate your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
- How will you create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness of your online 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 to help you generate some intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your systems need to handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who will look after my server?
- Who will look after my website and keep my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if problems occur?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, new problems will arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to new traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling 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 for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Methods
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is growing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as you can.
Useful Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help generate actionable data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get web visitors using methods like Twitter, YouTube, cross promotions, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
See previous sections of this article series for a number of excellent tools and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a special report or even an e-book 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 course designed to help you come up with limitless content for your web site:
Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to 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 Recognition
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting a group.
With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic comes from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know 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 email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join an online group on Facebook.
Tools & Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve user 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 & Provide Solutions
By taking 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 to generate new sources of web traffic.
Tips
- Create a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing a PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
- Consider adding e-commerce to your site.
Tools & Methods
If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:
- 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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret 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 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 (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 methods as necessary to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to increase 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress website and build a more successful business online.
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"I am beyond impressed with what you have put together. I can tell that you put a ton of hard work into building what you have. You have the absolute best content on WordPress I have ever seen!" - Robert T. Jillie
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