Category: WordPress 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, we have covered the following in this article series:

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do to automatically start attracting web traffic is post great content on a regular basis!)

In Part Two, we focus on critical setup decisions. We help you understand 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 existing website has been built with WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you where to set up a WordPress website on your domain)

In Part 3, we discuss configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we explained how to set up various WordPress plugins that can bring traffic automatically to your website or blog whenever you begin adding new content.

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

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic to your website using a number of tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic 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 clear business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

(Automating traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and excellent systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – How you drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your web presence remains up and running 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 the importance of the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
• How will you apportion your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, 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 (e.g. pay-per-click ads) to help generate some results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable 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.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, there will always be new problems. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have good systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies

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

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

(WordPress can help you implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your business and website.

Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more web traffic using methods like SEO, PPC advertising, StumbleUpon, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We’ve already covered a number of excellent plugins, tools, and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.

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

• Share your posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, infographics, 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 your audience.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on creating content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools And Methods

We have created an entire course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and ways to never run out of new ideas for content that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, 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 And Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Tap,” all of your traffic will come from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with every post you publish or email you send out.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Encourage users to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on LinkedIn/Facebook.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and 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 and Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid online training program.
• Consider publishing a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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:

• Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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 methods if necessary to 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 article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your website and build a better business online.

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