Category: WordPress Optimization

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

So far, here is what we have covered in this article series:

In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is post new content consistently to begin attracting new traffic!)

In Part 2, we focus on critical setup decisions. We explain 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 has been built using WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you how to set up WordPress on your domain)

In Part Three, we look at important configuration decisions. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate traffic generation using various plugins.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the outcome of a clearly-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.

(Automated 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 new traffic.

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods 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 drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI 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 generate some initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is down or your pages take a long time to load.

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

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

• Who will look after my server?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should anything go wrong?

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

Business Systems

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

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is to implement a “traffic loop”.

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many traffic generation sites and channels as possible.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate actionable data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive website traffic using methods like Pinterest, solo ads, email, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

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

Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Distribute content online in different 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 for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with users.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more traffic.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing special guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Tools & Strategies

We have created an entire email course designed to help you never run out of content ideas for posting to your web site:

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts on this site to learn more about 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 growing a list or starting your own online community or social network.

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 reputation can be used to generate new traffic with a single post or broadcast.

Useful Tips And Ideas

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

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

• List-Building Solutions (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 And Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users need, you should have no problem developing new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create an online training program.
• Publish expert guides that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

• Membership Site plugins (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 the collection and analysis of data. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic lets you discover new opportunities to generate 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 Web Traffic 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 improve 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods as required to help build authority 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and build a better business online.

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