Category: WordPress Configuration

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part One of this series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do to begin attracting more traffic is publish new content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we focused on the setup phase. We explained the best way to start 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 existing site was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on configuring the system. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can bring visitors automatically to your site simply by adding fresh content.

(Publish content one-time and automate your content distribution to all other services!)

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with a number of different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Automated traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, planning, and great systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your online presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

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

Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and 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 to help you generate some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your pages take a very long time to load.

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

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

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 process and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

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

Traffic Optimization Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts 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. Facebook ads) can help you generate actionable and intelligent 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.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring website traffic using methods like Twitter advertising, videos, email ads, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for many excellent tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content out there 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 views from social sharing and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Focus on content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

We have created an entire email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, 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, ask us about plugins that let you 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 & Engagement

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

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

Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools & Strategies

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

• List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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 Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users need, you can develop new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new streams of traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Create a free or paid online training course.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress 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 allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

You should already have installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – 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 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 required 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 post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress website and build a more successful business online.

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