Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to automate traffic to your website using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:
In Part One, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain 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 begin bringing more web traffic is post great content regularly!)
In Part Two, we discuss the setup phase. We explain 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 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. We configured all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three you will configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive new traffic automatically to your site as you begin adding new content consistently.
(Publish content once, automate the rest!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation using various tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Generating consistent 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 systems include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your digital presence optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review the above systems:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
- How will you apply your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your 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 initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly experiencing problems or your web pages are taking too long to load.
Your systems need to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, 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, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if you experience difficulties?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face 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 the influx of traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you also implement excellent systems for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to implement your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(WordPress can help you implement and optimize your traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.
Traffic Optimization Ideas
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to attract more visitors using methods like Pinterest, banner ads, forum ads, etc.
Tools And Methods
See previous sections of this tutorial series for many useful tools, plugins, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more of your content published is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.
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 around and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Focus on creating content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing a PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
Tools And Methods
We have created a comprehensive course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and ways to never run out of web content ideas that you can plug into for free here:
Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 Trust
Grow Influence & Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting an online community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes 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.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Encourage users to leave comments and start 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.
- Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help grow your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can develop new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.
Useful Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
- Publish a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools & Methods
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 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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to create content that can help you generate additional traffic.
You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies 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 (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 as necessary to build authority and credibility, and also to improve 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and get better results online.
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"This is an awesome training series. I have a pretty good understanding of WordPress already, but this is helping me to move somewhere from intermediate to advanced user!" - Kim Lednum
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