WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

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

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

In Part One, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress website, all you have to do to automatically begin bringing more web traffic is post content on a regular basis!)

In Part 2, we looked at the setup phase of the blueprint. We explained the best way to start if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set things up if you already have a website, and what to do if your existing site has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at the configuration phase. We configured all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part 4, you learned how to set up various WordPress plugins that can get new visitors automatically to your website or blog as you begin to publish fresh content.

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

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

WordPress Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website expertly configured, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the result of a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

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

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

Let’s briefly review how important the above systems are for traffic:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your online marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your campaigns?

During the setup and configuration phase, you would 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) to help generate some data, such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems ensure that your web presence remains up and running for receiving new traffic. There’s no point driving traffic to your website if your site is down or your web pages take a long time to load.

Your technical systems need to handle 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 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. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you should expect new problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

If you intend to outsource key aspects of your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have good systems in place to manage all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to focus on are ways to grow your “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing an effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

Step 1 of the process is to increase visibility for your website or blog.

Traffic Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to automatically publish your content on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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. pay-per-click ads) 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 the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to increase more traffic using methods like Twitter advertising, podcasts, StumbleUpon, etc.

Plugins, Tools, And Methods

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

Also, learn more about WordPress plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

• Share your comments and posts online,
• Run contests, offer downloads or discounts for shares/likes,
• Accept user generated content, feeds, etc.
• Publish and distribute content online in various media formats (e.g. videos, PDF guides, audio, etc.)

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more of your content published is a great first step, but for this activity to be really effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing authoritative content improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• 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 an instructional e-book that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We have created an entire email course aimed at helping you come up with endless content ideas for your website:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to 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 And Engagement

As your business grows, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can do this by growing a list or starting a membership site.

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic comes from 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 blog post or broadcast.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder newsletter and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

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

• List-Building Solutions (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums & Social Communities (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls & Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And 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 solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create an e-learning course.
• Consider publishing PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your site.

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 WordPress plugins you may want to add to your website or blog include:

• 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.

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

WordPress 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 get better your results.

In summary:

• Start with an expertly configured WordPress site backed by good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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, 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and build a better business online.

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