WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part Five of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your website using WordPress.

So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:

In Part One of this series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to generate web traffic is post new content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we focused on critical setup decisions. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website was built with WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress website on your domain)

In Part Three, we focused on the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 we show you how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we explained how to set up various plugins that can bring web traffic automatically to your site when you begin to post content.

(Publish once to WordPress and automate the distribution of your content to all other services!)

In this article, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating consistent traffic of high quality is having a clearly-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Consistent traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
• Who will create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you 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. Facebook ads) to help you generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages are taking too long to load.

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

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

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• 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. should problems arise?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning process and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you also implement good systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies

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

Let’s walk through an example of how to implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the chart below …

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips

• Your 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 generate some initial actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive more traffic using methods like Pinterest, banner ads, forum signatures, etc.

Tools And Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• 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 good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing special guides that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

If you need help coming up with endless great ideas for posting content on your web site, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series on content marketing here:

Also, ask us about plugins that let you 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 & Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most of your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single post or email.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Encourage users 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.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

There are many solutions and plugins that can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:

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

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors want, 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 sources of traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid e-learning course.
• Publish educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the same process, 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 (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 solutions as needed to help 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more visitors automatically to your WordPress website and grow your business online.

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