WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your website using WordPress.

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

In Part One of this series, we describe the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to generating automated web traffic …

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

In Part 2, we discussed the setup phase. 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 existing website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at configuring WordPress. We configured all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 we show you how to configure hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can drive web traffic automatically to your website or blog.

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

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Optimized traffic is the result of a business vision, planning, and great systems)

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

These include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to traffic.

(Use systems to grow, automate, and manage your traffic)

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

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to generate new 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 and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results 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 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’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your online presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your site if your site is down or your pages are taking a long time to load.

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

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

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• 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. 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, new problems will always arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems and processes to help you manage the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Traffic Loops

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

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

(Implement, automate, and optimize a traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

The first step of the process is to increase visibility for your website.

Useful Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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. pay-per-click ads) can help you generate some initial actionable and intelligent data, 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 increase more visitors using methods like Facebook ads, social media, email, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Strategies

See earlier sections of this tutorial series for a number of useful tools and methods we’ve already covered to help you reach more members of your target audience.

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

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, 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.

Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to potential users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created an entire course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, contact us 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 Trust

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 your own online community or social network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every blog post you publish or email you send out.

Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site.
• Create or join a Facebook/LinkedIn Group.

Tools And Methods

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

• List-Building Tools (e.g. Aweber, MailChimp, 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

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are looking for, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new services and products, all of which provide new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Publish special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

• Membership Sites (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 lets you discover new ways to create content that can generate you additional traffic.

You should already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your website. 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 process, 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 solid 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 required to help build authority and credibility, and also to increase 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 article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your website and get better results online.

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