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 generation machine using the WordPress CMS.

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

In Part One of this article series, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website or blog is the key to generating automated web traffic …

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

In Part Two, we look at the setup phase. We explain 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 website has been built with WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we look at the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that affect your website’s traffic-getting ability …

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

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic to your website using various WordPress plugins.

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating successfully on a consistent basis is having a well-defined business vision, sound digital planning, and great systems in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – The systems and processes used to ensure that your web presence remains optimized for receiving traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

(Use systems to grow and manage your web 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 traffic to your website. Your online marketing systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• What is your content marketing strategy/online marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apportion to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and run your marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the results of your online marketing 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. pay-per-click ads) to help you generate some intelligence. 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 website, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical systems need to adequately handle technical areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing 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 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. should anything go wrong?

Many potential problems can be minimized if your planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. Like all technology, however, you will run into problems. Your technical systems need to be able to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage and respond to traffic. These include:

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

If you intend to outsource your digital marketing and technical maintenance, then make sure you have systems in place for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Loops

If your business objectives are clear and your systems and processes are in place, all you need to do is to implement a “traffic loop”.

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

(Implementing and optimizing your traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site will allow you to instantly notify and publicize your content to social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, 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 you generate data, which you can use to create content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive more web visitors using methods like Pinterest, PPC advertising, StumbleUpon, etc.

Tools & Methods

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

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

• Share your posts online,
• Run contests, offer discounts or downloads for likes/shares,
• Add 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 content out there is good, but to make this more effective, your content also needs to build authority and credibility with your audience.

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

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that will add value to your audience and showcase your expertise. This includes content that educates and informs readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing PDF guides that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Clickbank.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

We have created a complete email email-based training course aimed at helping you never run out of great content for your website:

Also, contact us to learn more 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 And Engagement

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

With “Traffic On Tap,” your traffic will come from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and reputation can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or broadcast.

Useful Tips & 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, online forum, or social community.
• Start or join an online group on Facebook/LinkedIn.

Tools, Plugins, & Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what your visitors need, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new solutions, all of which provide new opportunities to generate new sources of traffic.

Traffic Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning course.
• Publish instructional PDF guides or special reports that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools & Strategies

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your site:

• Membership Site plugins (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 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 tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you also learn how to interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the same 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 (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 required to 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, now you have a blueprint that will help you automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your website and get better results online.

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