WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your site using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part 1, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress site, all you have to do is publish content consistently to automatically attract web traffic!)

In Part Two, we focused on the setup phase of the traffic automation system. We explained the best way to get started if you don’t have a website yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site has been built using WordPress.

(In Part 2 we show you how to set up a WordPress web site on your domain)

In Part Three, we focus on important configuration decisions. We configured web hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic system using various WordPress plugins.

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

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

(Generating automated traffic is the result of having a clear business vision, sound planning, and great 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 create traffic for your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your online presence up and running for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to traffic.

(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to your marketing channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content 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 initial 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 ensure that your online presence remains up and running for receiving 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 adequately handle technical 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 looks after my webhosting?
• Who looks after my website and keeps 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 process and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect to face new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good business systems in place to help you manage traffic. These include:

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implementing, automating and optimizing a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to expose your business to as many potential users as your resources will allow.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising (e.g. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your site, which you can use to create web 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 increase more website visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, PPC advertising, updates, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

We’ve already covered many excellent plugins, tools, and strategies in previous sections of this article series.

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

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

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Create and publish content that adds value to your audience and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.

Tools & Strategies

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

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

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

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

Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an email newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Start or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools And Strategies

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

• List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors want, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Publish an instructional PDF guide that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

If you plan to provide services, products, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for WordPress plugins that allow you to 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. Learning to gather and interpret data from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the cycle, 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 solutions as necessary to help build authority 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 article has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your WordPress web site and get better results online.

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