WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic generation machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

So far, we have covered the following in this series:

In Part One, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to start generating more traffic is post content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at critical setup decisions. We explained 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 site was built using WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three we show you how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate the traffic-generation process using a number of plugins.

(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation using different tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Optimized traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and great systems)

Let’s briefly review the systems that will help you grow and manage all traffic.

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review the importance of the above systems:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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 actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take a long time to load.

Your systems include handling technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating software (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, troubleshooting, etc.

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• Who will look after my website and keep 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 completed correctly. As with 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 and processes to help you manage the influx of traffic. These include:

• Communication systems
• Resources management – human, financial
• Handling leads and sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer service/training
• etc.

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then you will need systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization Tools & Methods

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to focus on developing a “traffic loop”.

Let’s go through an example of implementing, optimizing, and further automating a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive web traffic using methods like SEO, solo ads, StumbleUpon, etc.

Tools And Strategies

We’ve covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies in previous sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really 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 visitors.

Tips

• Focus on creating content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

We have created a comprehensive email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and how to never run out of new ideas for web content that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:

• 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 growing a list or starting a network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” all 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 traffic with every blog post you publish or broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• 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.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help grow your online influence and improve engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors are looking for, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning program.
• Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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 consider adding to your website or blog include:

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the cycle, 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in some paid advertising to drive initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods if necessary to build authority, trust, 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 traffic to your WordPress web site and build a better business online.

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