Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS.
So far, we have covered the following in this article series:
In Part One, we described 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 blog, all you have to do to generate traffic is publish new content regularly!)
In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase of the traffic automation system. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website is built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)
In Part Three, we discuss the configuration phase of the blueprint. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can help bring new visitors automatically to your website just by posting content.
(Publish content once and automate your content distribution to all other marketing channels!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize your traffic using various tools and methods.
Contents
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Generating consistent traffic is the product of a business vision, planning, and systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage this traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your digital presence up and running for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to new traffic.
(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your web traffic)
Let’s briefly review how important these systems are for optimizing traffic:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
- How will you measure the results of your 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 to help you generate some initial 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.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.
Your systems include handling 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 is looking after my webhosting?
- 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 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 new problems to arise. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
You need good operational systems to help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer training/service
- etc.
If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have implemented excellent systems for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to focus on implementing a “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …
(Traffic loop)
Increase Reach & Visibility
Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.
Useful Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate data, which you can use to create 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 increase more web site visitors using methods like paid advertising, YouTube, cross promotions, etc.
Plugins, Tools, And Methods
We’ve covered a number of useful tools and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.
Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- Share your posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.
Tips
- Focus on creating content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
We have created a complete email email-based training course designed to help you come up with unlimited content ideas for your web site:
Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about 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
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting your own community.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or email.
Useful Tips
- Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Start or join an online group on Facebook.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help grow your online 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 And Provide Solutions To These
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.
Useful Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add an e-commerce store to your business.
Tools & Methods
If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
- e-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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.
You should already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. 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 if required to 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 automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress website and expand your business online.
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