WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part Five of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated web traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to attract more web traffic is publish fresh content on a consistent basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a site, and what to do if your site was built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we looked at the configuration phase of this blueprint. We explained how to configure web hosting settings, internal settings, and external settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three we explain how to configure all the settings that affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can get new visitors automatically to your site.

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

In this article, we discuss ways to optimize the traffic system using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating quality traffic on a consistent basis is the result of a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and excellent systems in place.

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

Let’s review briefly the systems that will help you grow and manage this 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 ensure that your web presence remains operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – The systems used to manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow 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 new traffic for your website. You can test your online marketing systems by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
• How will you assign your marketing budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create and optimize your content and 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 initial results. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable 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.

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 down or your pages are taking a long time to load.

Your technical systems need to handle areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing, configuring, and updating new software (e.g. plugins), integration, customization, troubleshooting, etc.

You can test your technical systems by questions such as:

• Who is looking after my webhosting?
• Who is looking after my website and keeping 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 issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. As with all technology, however, there will always be new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems and processes help you manage the influx of traffic. This includes:

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

If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then you will need excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

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

Let’s go through an example of how to implement, optimize, and further automate a traffic loop. Take a look at the processes illustrated below …

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

Increase Reach And Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as your time and resources will allow.

Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically syndicate your content to places like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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. Google AdWords) can help generate some initial data, which you can use to create web 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 web traffic using methods like Twitter ads, podcasts, forum ads, etc.

Tools And Strategies

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

Also, ask us about 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,
• Add user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in other media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, slides, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with visitors.

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

Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, case studies, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing expert guides that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

If you need endless content ideas for your website or blog, we recommend subscribing to our email training series here:

Also, ask us about plugins that allow you to 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 & Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by building a list or starting an online community.

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

Tips

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

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

Many solutions and WordPress 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 Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what problems your users are trying to solve, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of web traffic.

Traffic Optimization Ideas

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

Plugins, Tools, & 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 or blog include:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic lets you discover new opportunities to generate additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic Automation 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 get better your results.

In summary:

• Begin with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by solid 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 methods if necessary to help build authority, trust, 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 information has given you a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving visitors to your website and build a better business online.

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