WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated web traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One of this series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do is publish new content on a regular basis to automatically begin attracting web traffic!)

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase. We explain the best way to start 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 existing site has been built with WordPress.

(In Part two we show you where to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part Three, we focus on important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings that affect your site’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 or blog just by publishing new content consistently.

(Publish content once 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 the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis comes from a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems and process in place.

(Optimized traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to create new traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your web presence up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your online 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help you generate some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical systems need to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

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

• Who is looking after my server?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. when problems arise?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. These include:

• Communication systems
• Managing human and financial resources
• Handling leads and sales inquiries
• Order fulfillment
• Customer training/service
• etc.

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

WordPress Traffic System – 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 develop and optimize a “traffic loop”.

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as your resources allow.

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial 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.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more traffic using methods like Facebook ads, videos, cross promotions, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We’ve already covered a number of excellent plugins, tools, and methods in earlier sections of this article series.

Also, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for shares/likes,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in other 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 activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• 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 PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Tools & Methods

We have created an entire email course aimed at helping you never run out of content ideas for your website or blog:

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

• 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 community or even your own social network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish or email broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools & Strategies

There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:

• List-Building Software (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, image galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors need, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
• Publish special guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Plugins, Tools, And 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 plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• Membership Site plugins (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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

You should already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress 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 get better your results.

In summary:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good 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 solutions if 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and improve your business online.

***

***