Category: WordPress Optimization

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your site using WordPress.

So far, here is what we have covered 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 web site, all you have to do is add great content on a consistent basis to start attracting web traffic!)

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

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

In Part Three, we focused on important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

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

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

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

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

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating high-quality traffic on a consistent basis is the result of a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and great systems in place.

(Generating consistent traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create traffic for your business.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your web traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• How will you allocate your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create 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 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 to help generate some actionable 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your web pages take a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. when issues arise?

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

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have implemented good systems for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 can help generate actionable data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more web traffic using methods like Twitter ads, videos, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

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

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and hence more visitors.

Tips

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

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about WordPress 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 Recognition

Grow Influence & Engagement

At some point, 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 comes from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every blog post you publish, forum post you add, or broadcast you send out.

Traffic Ideas

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

Tools & Methods

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

• List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors are looking for, you can develop new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Consider publishing educational guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

If you plan to provide 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 website:

• Membership Site plugins (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 the collection and analysis of data. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

You should already have installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is rinse and repeat, 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 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 needed 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and improve your business online.

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