WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic generation machine using WordPress.

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

In Part 1 of this series, we described the traffic automation process, and explained why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress blog, all you have to do is publish content on a consistent basis to begin attracting traffic!)

In Part Two, 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 site, and what to do if your site has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discuss the configuration phase of the traffic automation process. We configured all the settings that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part Four, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your website or blog when you begin adding new content regularly.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation with different tools and strategies.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Systems

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

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and strategies used to drive traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to keep your digital presence optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to traffic.

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

Let’s review the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

Your marketing systems consist of the processes and methods used to create traffic for your website. You can test your marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What channels do you plan to use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to these marketing channels?
• How will you create your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the cost-effectiveness 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 you generate some initial data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence optimized for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is experiencing problems or your web pages are taking a very long time to load.

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

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who looks after my webhosting?
• 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems to arise. Your technical systems need to be robust enough to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage and respond to the influx of traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you also implement good systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

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

Traffic Optimization Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to automatically publish your content on places like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, etc. The easiest way to increase your reach and visibility online, therefore, is to simply publish more content online.
• 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 drive web traffic using methods like paid ads, YouTube, cross promotions, etc.

Tools And Methods

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

Also, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

• Share your posts online with others,
• Run contests, offer discounts/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 And 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 visitors.

Publishing better quality content improves your chances of getting it shared around and hence more visitors.

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a special report that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you need topics for posting content on your website, we recommend subscribing to our email training series on growing your business online with content marketing 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 tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting an online network.

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic will come from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate new traffic with every post you publish, forum post you add, or email you send out.

Traffic Tips

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

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

• Autoresponders (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 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 products, services, and solutions, all of which can provide you with new opportunities to generate additional web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Consider creating an e-learning course.
• Consider publishing special guides that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.
• Add an e-commerce store to your business.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

• 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 lets you discover new traffic opportunities.

You should have already installed an analytics program like Google Analytics on your website. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – 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 (with 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 as necessary to help 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, this post has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your website and get better results online.

***

***