Category: WordPress Optimization

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to grow your business online automatically using the WordPress CMS.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to drive more web traffic is add content on a consistent basis!)

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of the traffic automation process. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we focus on the configuration phase of the blueprint. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate traffic to your website with different WordPress plugins.

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

In Part Five of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint series, we look at ways to optimize the traffic system using different tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating high-quality traffic consistently is having a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems in place.

(Generating regular traffic is the product of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your business.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your digital 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 traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels do you plan to use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you allocate your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI of your online marketing 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 generate some intelligence. 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 site, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who will look after my server?
• Who will look after my website and keep my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. should things 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 new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems to help you manage traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented great systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools And Strategies

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

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

(Implementing, automating and optimizing your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to sites 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. Facebook ads) can help you generate some initial actionable data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to bring traffic using methods like Twitter ads, banner ads, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

See earlier sections of this article series for a number of useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

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

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your 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 authoritative content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it with others and hence more traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Focus on content that will add value to potential users and showcase 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 (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools And Strategies

We have created a complete email training series aimed at helping you never run out of content for your website:

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that let you 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

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

With “Traffic On Demand,” all 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, forum post you add, or email you send out.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools And Strategies

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

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

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users are searching for, you should have no problem developing new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new streams of traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Create a free or paid online training course.
• Publish a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), then some of the more useful WordPress plugins you may want to add 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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics program (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation 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 improve your results.

In summary:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (with 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 as necessary to help build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your WordPress web site and improve your business online.

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