WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to drive new traffic automatically to your site using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

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

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

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We explain the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a site, and what to do if your website is built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on the configuration phase of the automation blueprint. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part 3 you will configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic to your website with plugins.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, generating traffic successfully on a consistent basis is the product of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

(Consistent traffic is the result of a 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 – The processes and strategies used to drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems used to keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems and processes used to manage and respond to 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 methods used to drive new traffic to your business. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels will you use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your marketing budget will you apportion to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness of your 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 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’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is down or your web pages are taking too long to load.

Your systems include handling areas like webhosting, site 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 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 any issues arise?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

You need good operational systems to help you manage the influx of traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement great systems to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Loops

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus your efforts on is developing and optimizing 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 …

(WordPress can help you implement, optimize, and automate a traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows 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 can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to attract more web visitors using methods like Twitter ads, banner ads, forum signatures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We’ve already covered many excellent tools and strategies in earlier sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content published is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to build authority and credibility with users.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• Create and publish content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing instructional PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

We have created a comprehensive email course on content creation that you can plug into for free here:

Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site 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 Recognition

Grow Influence & Engagement

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

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

Useful Tips And Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

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

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These

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

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an online training course.
• Publish an e-book that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools And Methods

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

• Membership Sites (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. By interpreting data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and features and can 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:

• 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other methods as required to build authority, trust, 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 website and improve your business online.

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