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 machine 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 is the key to generating automated traffic …

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

In Part 2, we focused on critical setup decisions. We helped you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your existing site was built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on configuring the system. We configured webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three we explain how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we explained how to set up various plugins that can help drive new visitors automatically to your website.

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Systems

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

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your digital presence remains operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Systems help you grow, automate, optimize, and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review the importance of the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, PPC advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you allocate to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 you generate some initial data, such as the keywords 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 driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages take a long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look 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. should anything go wrong?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, you can expect problems. 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 new traffic. These include:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as you can.

Traffic Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically distribute your content to places 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 can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring more web visitors using methods like Twitter ads, banner ads, joint ventures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We’ve covered a number of useful tools, plugins, and strategies in earlier sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• 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, slides, etc.)

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more 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 authoritative content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Focus on creating 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 educational guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you need endless ideas for posting content on your website or blog, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series on content marketing here:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

• 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 demand.” You can achieve this by building a list or starting an online forum or network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single post or broadcast.

Traffic Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a paid or free membership site.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

There are many solutions and plugins that are easy to implement and can help grow your influence and improve engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what your visitors are looking for, you can develop new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create an online training program.
• Publish a training guide that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide services and products online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• 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 opportunities to generate additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – 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:

• 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 as necessary to 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 more successful business online.

***

***