Category: WordPress Optimization

Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we show you how to turn your website into an automated traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part 1 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 website or blog, all you have to do is post new content on a consistent basis to automatically attract web traffic!)

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase of this system. 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 site, and what to do if your website is built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we discussed the configuration phase of this blueprint. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your website.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In Part 5 of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the product of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

(Optimized traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, planning, and systems)

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

These systems include:

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

(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness of your online 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help generate some intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

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

• Who is looking 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. if any issues occur?

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

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes in place to help you manage and respond to new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Strategies

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on are ways to implement your “traffic loop”.

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources allow.

Traffic Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically distribute your content to places 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate data, which you can use to create web 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 increase more traffic using methods like Facebook advertising, social media, email ads, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

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

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

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to potential visitors and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing special guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We have created a detailed email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, 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, see other posts on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:

• 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 tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting an online group.

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

Useful Tips

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

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help increase your 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 Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create a free or paid e-learning course.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you plan to provide products and services online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful plugins you may want to consider adding to your site include:

• Membership Site plugins (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 interpreting 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 tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret 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:

• 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if required 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 visitors automatically to your web site and build a better business online.

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