Category: WordPress Optimization

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to create an automated web traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part One of this article series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

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

In Part 2, we discuss critical setup decisions. 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 website, and what to do if your website was built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we look at configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we looked at ways to automate traffic to your website with different plugins.

(Publish once to WordPress and automate your content distribution to all other channels!)

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation using different tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress site expertly configured, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is achieved by having a well-defined business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Generating regular traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and excellent systems)

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.

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

Let’s briefly review how important these systems are:

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 channels do you plan to use to generate new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the cost-effectiveness 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. pay-per-click ads) to help you generate some 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages are taking too long to load.

Your 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 anything go wrong?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect 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 new traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement excellent systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on is how to grow, optimize, and further automate your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many members of your target audience as your resources allow.

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically syndicate your content to sites like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, 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 drive traffic using methods like LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content published is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing instructional PDF guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, look for 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 And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online community or even your own social network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from an audience of existing 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 blog post or email broadcast.

Useful Tips & Ideas

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

Tools & Strategies

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

• Autoresponders (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 & Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what problems your users are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Consider publishing special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and 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 the collection and analysis of data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Traffic 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (with 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 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 traffic automatically to your WordPress website and build a better business online.

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