Category: WordPress Optimization

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 1 of this series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to automatically generate more traffic is add new content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things 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 3, we looked at the configuration phase. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate your traffic with WordPress plugins.

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

In this article, we look at ways to optimize your traffic using different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of 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 systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.

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

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the results of your 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 to help you generate some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical systems need to adequately handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), customization, integration, 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. should anything go wrong?

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

Business Systems

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

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to focus on growing, optimizing and further automating a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content online.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate some initial actionable data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive web visitors using methods like LinkedIn, PPC advertising, StumbleUpon, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We’ve already covered many excellent tools and methods in earlier sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for likes/shares,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in different media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is great, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

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

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report or even an e-book that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to 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 Trust

Grow Influence & Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting your own community.

With “Traffic On Tap,” 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 traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or email broadcast you send out.

Traffic Tips

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

Tools & Methods

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

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your visitors are trying to solve, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning program.
• Publish instructional PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), contact us to learn more about plugins that let you 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 to collect and analyze data. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new ways to create content that can generate you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the 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 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 if necessary to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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 drive more traffic automatically to your website and build a more successful business online.

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