Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated web traffic generation machine using the WordPress CMS platform.
So far, we have covered the following in this 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 automating traffic to your site …
(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to begin bringing web traffic is add new content on a consistent basis!)
In Part Two, we discussed the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started 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 site was built using WordPress.
(In Part 2 we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)
In Part 3, we focused on important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the 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 can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)
In Part 4, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can bring web traffic automatically to your website.
(Publish once and automate your content distribution to all other services!)
In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic to your website using different tools and methods.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems
In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating high-quality traffic consistently is the result of having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems in place.
(Optimizing traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)
Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage new traffic.
These include:
- Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your website.
- Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
- Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.
(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, and manage your web 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 business. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:
- What is your content marketing strategy?
- What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
- Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
- How will you test and measure the ROI of your marketing 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 actionable data, such as the keyword phrases 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 ensure that your online presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your web pages are taking a long time to load.
Your technical systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.
You can test your technical systems by questions such as:
- Who is looking after my webhosting?
- 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 things go wrong?
Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.
Business Systems
Your business systems help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:
- Communication systems
- Managing human and financial resources
- Handling leads and sales inquiries
- Order fulfillment
- Customer service/training
- etc.
If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.
WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies
With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to grow, optimize, and automate your “traffic loop”.
Let’s walk through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …
(Implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)
Increase Reach And Visibility Online
The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources will allow.
Traffic Tips
- Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to places like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) can help you generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
- Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
- Continue learning about ways to increase more web visitors using methods like Twitter advertising, social media, forum signatures, etc.
Tools, Plugins, & Strategies
See previous sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful plugins, tools, and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.
Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:
- Share your posts online,
- Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
- Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
- Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)
Build Authority & Credibility
Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with users.
Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.
Traffic Tips
- Create and publish 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 expert reports that can be sold or distributed online.
Tools, Plugins, And Strategies
If you need help coming up with unlimited great ideas for content that you can post on your web site, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series here:
Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site 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 And Engagement
At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online group.
With “Traffic On Demand,” all of 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 broadcast.
Tips
- Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
- Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
- Add a free or paid 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 are easy to implement and can help increase your influence and improve engagement. For example:
- Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
- Contact Forms, Live Chat
- Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
- Polls and Surveys
- Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
- Comment sharing
- Add media, video galleries, etc.
Identify Problems And Provide Solutions
By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.
Tips
- Create a free or paid online training program.
- Consider publishing educational guides that can be sold or distributed online.
- Add e-commerce to your site.
Tools, Plugins, And Methods
If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to add to your website include:
- Membership Sites (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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new ways to generate additional traffic.
You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you can also understand the data.
WordPress Traffic Automation System – Summary
All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the process over and over again, fine-tuning and refining your methods as you go to grow your traffic and get better your results.
In summary:
- Start 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 help build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 website and build a better business online.
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"If you're new to WordPress, this can stand on its own as a training course and will stay with you as you progress from beginner to advanced and even guru status." - Bruce (Columbus, Ohio)
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