WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

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

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

In Part One, we provided an overview of the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your website …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do is post web content consistently to automatically start generating more traffic!)

In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase of the traffic automation system. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we explain how to configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we discussed ways to automate the traffic system using a number of plugins.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic-getting process using a number of tools and methods.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the product of a clear business vision, careful digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow 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 drive traffic to your website. Your marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI 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 data, such as the keywords 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 keep your web presence 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, site maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new applications (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

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

• Who will look 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. when problems occur?

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 new problems. 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 traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Tools & Methods

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to do is focus on implementing, optimizing and automating your “traffic loop”.

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many members of your target audience as your resources allow.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content on your site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate actionable data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more website traffic using methods like LinkedIn, videos, cross promotions, etc.

Tools & Strategies

See previous sections of this tutorial series for many useful plugins, 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 site:

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts/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 of your content out there is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips

• Focus on creating content that adds value to potential visitors and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing expert reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle book store.

Tools & Strategies

We have created a detailed email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, and how to never run out of content ideas 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 WordPress plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

• Legal Pages
• Testimonials
• Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
• Ratings
• User Reviews
• Badges/Certificates Of Recognition

Grow Influence And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online membership site.

With “Traffic On Demand,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with every blog post you publish 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 or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help increase your online influence and improve engagement. For example:

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

Identify Problems & Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you can develop new services and products, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning program.
• Publish instructional PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

• Membership Site plugins (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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you understand the metrics 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 initial traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if necessary to help build authority 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and build a more successful business online.

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