Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain 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, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to start attracting web traffic is post fresh content regularly!)
In Part 2, we look at the setup phase of the automation system. We help you understand 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 existing site is built with WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website or blog on your domain)
In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase of this blueprint. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …
(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part Four, we explained how to set up various plugins that can help bring new traffic automatically to your site.
(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)
In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using different tools and strategies.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems
In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Automating traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)
Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your business.
- Technical Systems – The systems used to ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving traffic.
- Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your traffic)
Let’s briefly review the above systems:
Marketing Systems
Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
- How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content and 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 to help generate some initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
Technical Systems
Your technical systems keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving 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 technical systems need to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new 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 looks after my website and keeps my site maintained and up-to-date?
- Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should things go wrong?
Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems and processes help you manage the influx of traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Resources management – human, financial
- Handling leads and sales enquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization
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 automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the flowchart below …
(Implement and optimize a traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as possible.
Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts 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 can help generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to bring more visitors using methods like Pinterest, podcasts, joint ventures, etc.
Tools And Strategies
See previous sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.
Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
- Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)
Build Authority And Credibility
Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.
Useful Tips And Ideas
- Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
- Consider publishing special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
Tools, Plugins, 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 new web content ideas that you can plug into at no cost here:
Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site 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 Recognition
Grow Influence And Engagement
As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online forum, community, or even your own social site.
With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic will come 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 post or email broadcast.
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 paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
- Create or join an online group on LinkedIn.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help increase your online influence and improve user engagement. For example:
- List-Building Software (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, video galleries, etc.
Identify Problems And Provide Solutions
If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new sources of traffic.
Useful Tips
- Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
- Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.
Plugins, Tools, & Strategies
If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:
- Membership Site plugins (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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.
You should have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.
WordPress Web Traffic Automation 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
- Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress website and get better results online.
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"These tutorials have so much information and are easy to understand. If you use WordPress or plan to in the future these will help you with everything you need to know." - Valisa (Mesa, Arizona)
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