WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn your site into an automated web traffic generation machine using WordPress.

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

In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is publish fresh content on a consistent basis to automatically start generating new traffic!)

In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. We help you understand 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 site has been built using WordPress.

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

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

(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive web traffic automatically to your website or blog.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize your traffic using various tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

(Automating traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and great systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently 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 importance of the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
• How will you create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results of your online marketing 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. Google AdWords) to help you generate some initial results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield 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’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your digital presence remains optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your web pages take a long time to load.

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

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

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if you experience difficulties?

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

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented excellent systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.

Traffic Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate actionable and intelligent data, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more web site visitors using methods like Twitter advertising, podcasts, forum ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

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

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/downloads for likes/shares,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, 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 also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a “how to” guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

If you need endless content ideas for your website, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training course on content marketing here:

Also, learn more about plugins that let you 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

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online community.

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

Useful Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid, free, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

• Autoresponders (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

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users need, you can develop new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Tips

• Create an e-learning course.
• Consider publishing instructional PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Membership Sites (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 to collect and analyze data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new opportunities to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is rinse and repeat, 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 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, 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 visitors to your web site and get better results online.

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