WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

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

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

In Part 1, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is add content on a regular basis to start generating traffic!)

In Part Two, we discuss the setup phase. We explain the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your site is built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we look at configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can drive web traffic automatically to your site as you begin publishing content regularly.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating targeted traffic consistently comes from having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Optimized 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 include:

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

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

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies 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 apportion your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes ensure that your online presence remains 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 are taking a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my server?
• 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. if you experience difficulties?

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

Business Systems

You need good business systems in place to help you manage traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to implement your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize your traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 can help generate data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive more web site visitors using methods like Twitter advertising, PPC advertising, joint ventures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

See previous sections of this tutorial series for many useful plugins, tools, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

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

• Share your comments and posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
• Display user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting more people to share it around 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 reports that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools And Methods

We have created an entire email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress 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 do this by growing a list or starting an online group.

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic will come 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 new traffic with a single post or email.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & 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 find out what users want, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

• Membership Sites (e.g. Wishlist Member, S2 Member, etc.)
• e-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 interpret data gathered from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new ways to create content that can generate you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Web Traffic 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 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 adding 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 solutions as necessary to 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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