Category: WordPress Optimization

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

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

In Part One of this article series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your website …

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

In Part Two, we focus on the setup phase of the automation process. We help you understand the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site is built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we look at the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can bring new traffic automatically to your website whenever you begin adding new content on a regular basis.

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating quality traffic on a consistent basis is the product of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – How you create new traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – How you ensure that your digital presence remains optimized 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 review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these channels?
• How will you create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you test and measure the results of your 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 (e.g. Google AdWords) to help you generate some results. 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 web content targeted specifically to your audience.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages take too long to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my server?
• 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 things go wrong?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage traffic. These include:

• 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 maintenance, then you will need good systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implementing, optimizing and automating a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate actionable and intelligent data such as the keywords people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create content targeted specifically 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 more web visitors using methods like Pinterest ads, videos, cross promotions, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We’ve covered many excellent plugins, tools, and methods in earlier sections of this article series.

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with visitors.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting more views from social sharing and hence more traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

• Focus on creating 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 educational guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, contact us to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your WordPress website:

• 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 achieve this by growing a list or starting your own online community or social network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” most of your traffic will come from an audience of customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or email.

Useful Tips

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

Tools And Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs & Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are searching for, you should have no problem developing new products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating additional traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning program.
• Consider publishing a “how-to” e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic allows you to discover new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can interpret 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:

• Begin 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 as needed 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and build a better business online.

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