Category: WordPress Optimization

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn a website into an automated web traffic machine using WordPress.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is add web content regularly to automatically generate traffic!)

In Part 2, we discussed the setup phase of the automation process. We helped 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 site, and what to do if your existing site has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we look at important configuration decisions. We explained how to configure all the settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you learn how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help bring new visitors automatically to your site.

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we look at ways to optimize traffic generation with a number of different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

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

These include:

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

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

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you allocate your budget and resources to your marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your 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 you generate some initial 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 better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

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

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

• Who will look 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. As with all technology, however, you should expect to face problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems and processes to help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implementing, optimizing and automating a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.

Useful 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help you generate actionable data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more traffic using methods like Twitter ads, social media, forum ads, etc.

Tools And Methods

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of excellent plugins, tools, and methods 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 website or blog:

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for shares/likes,
• Display 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 content out there is good, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with users.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Focus on creating and publishing content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to 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 And Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online group.

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

Useful Tips

• 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, online forum, or social community.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

There are many solutions and plugins 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, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors want, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services, products, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Consider creating an e-learning program.
• Publish a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and 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 site:

• 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 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 (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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 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 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 methods if necessary to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to increase engagement with visitors,
• 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and grow your business online.

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