Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your website using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, we have covered the following in this series:
In Part 1 of this article series, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is add fresh content on a regular basis to automatically begin bringing more web traffic!)
In Part 2, we discuss critical setup decisions. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a website 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 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress site on your domain)
In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …
(In Part 3 we explain how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)
In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system using various plugins.
(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)
In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using various tools and strategies.
WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating targeted traffic consistently is the result of having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.
(Automated traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.
(Systems help you grow and manage your 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 new traffic for your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:
- What is your online marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to these channels?
- Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
- How will you track conversions and measure the ROI 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 initial 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.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your pages are taking too long to load.
Your systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who looks 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 you experience difficulties?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you will run into new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage the influx of traffic. This includes:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented great systems for managing all outsourcing.
WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Loops
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to grow 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 …
(Traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business.
Useful Tips
- An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on social media accounts 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 actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to get traffic using methods like Pinterest ads, banner ads, joint ventures, etc.
Plugins, Tools, & Methods
We’ve covered many excellent tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.
Also, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:
- Share your comments and posts online with others,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
- Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more content out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.
Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Focus on content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing instructional PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
Plugins, 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 content ideas that you can plug into for free here:
Also, 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 Recognition
Grow Influence & 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 group.
With “Traffic On Demand,” most of 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 blog post or email.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
- Create or join an online group on LinkedIn/Facebook.
Tools & Methods
There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help grow your influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & 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 find out what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you can develop new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional traffic.
Traffic Tips
- Create an e-learning program.
- Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
- Add e-commerce to your business.
Tools And Methods
If you plan to provide services and products 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.
Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret 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 (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 build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and build a better business 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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