Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to automate traffic to your website using the WordPress CMS.
So far, here is what we have covered in this series:
In Part One of this article series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your website …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to start generating more traffic is add content on a regular basis!)
In Part 2, we focused on the setup phase of the blueprint. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing site has been built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)
In Part 3, we look at configuring WordPress. We configured all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part Three we show you how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can help get new traffic automatically to your site when you begin to add web content on a consistent basis.
(Publish content once and automate your content distribution to all other services!)
In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize your traffic using a number of tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems in place.
(Generating automated 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 – How you create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s review the above systems briefly:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to create traffic for your business. You can test your marketing systems 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 assign your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the results of your online 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 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 site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is constantly down or your pages take too long to load.
Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by 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. when issues arise?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good business systems and processes to help you manage traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization
If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to focus on growing your “traffic loop”.
Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the diagram below …
(Implementing an effective traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.
Traffic Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to drive website visitors using methods like SEO, banner ads, email ads, etc.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
We’ve covered a number of useful plugins, tools, and methods in previous sections of this article series.
Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content out there is good, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Focus on creating and publishing content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
Tools & Methods
We have created a complete email email-based training course designed to help you come up with limitless content for your website:
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about WordPress plugins that let you 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 And Engagement
At some point, 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,” your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish or email you send out.
Tips
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
Many solutions and plugins are available that 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 Problems And Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional traffic.
Tips
- Create a free or paid e-learning program.
- Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools, Plugins, & Methods
If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress 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 learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 (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 as 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress web site and grow your business online.
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"I have used the tutorials to teach all of my clients and it has probably never been so easy for everyone to learn WordPress ... Now I don't need to buy all these very expensive video courses that often don't deliver what they promise." - Stefan Wendt, Internet Marketing Success Group
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