Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part 1 of this series, 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 web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do is add web content on a consistent basis to automatically bring more traffic!)
In Part Two, we looked at the setup phase of the blueprint. We helped you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site was built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress site on your domain)
In Part 3, we looked at the configuration phase of this blueprint. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate your traffic using WordPress plugins.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other channels!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis is the result of a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Generating regular traffic is the result of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s review the systems that will help you grow and manage this traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)
Let’s review the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. Your 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 channels?
- How will you create 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 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. Facebook ads) to help you generate some 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.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your online presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your pages are taking too long to load.
Your technical systems need to adequately handle areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- Who will look after my server?
- Who is looking after my website and keeping my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should any problems arise?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement good systems to manage all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Methods
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to develop a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the illustration below …
(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to places like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
- As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate 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 bring traffic using methods like paid ads, solo ads, joint ventures, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We’ve covered a number of useful tools and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.
Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.
Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.
Useful Tips
- Focus on creating and publishing 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 PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
Tools & Strategies
If you need endless content ideas for your web site, then subscribe to our email training course on content marketing 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 Trust
Grow Influence & Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting your own community.
With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic comes 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 post you publish or broadcast you send out.
Useful Tips
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
There are many solutions and plugins that can help grow your online influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls & Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, image galleries, etc.
Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions To These
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are looking for, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.
Useful Tips
- Create a free or paid online training program.
- Publish special reports that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- 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 the collection and analysis of data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Traffic System – Summary
Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the same process, 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 needed to help build authority, trust, 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 visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and build a better business online.
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