WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part Five of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn your site into an automated traffic machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1, we explain why using an expertly configured WordPress site is the key to automating traffic to your site …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do to automatically begin attracting new traffic is post content consistently!)

In Part 2, we focus on critical setup decisions. 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 existing website is built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we look at configuring the system. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part Four, we looked at ways to automate the traffic-getting process with WordPress plugins.

(Publish content once, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Traffic Automation System – Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating consistent traffic of high quality comes from a well-defined business vision, careful digital planning, and good systems in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow and manage your traffic)

Let’s review the importance of the above systems briefly:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive new traffic (e.g. blogging, facebook advertising, video marketing, etc)?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you assign to your marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize 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 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 generate some 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 targeted specifically to your audience.

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 are taking a long time to load.

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

Your technical systems can be tested by asking questions such as:

• Who will look after my webhosting?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if you experience difficulties?

Many potential issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been done correctly. Like all technology, however, you can expect to face problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

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

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical support, then make sure you have implemented good systems for managing all outsourcing.

WordPress Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Tools And Methods

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

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

(Traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility Online

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

Traffic Optimization Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on 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.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help you generate some initial 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 paid ads, social media, forum ads, etc.

Tools, Plugins, & Methods

See previous sections of this tutorial series for many excellent tools, plugins, and strategies we’ve already covered to help you reach more potential users.

Also, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your website:

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

Build Authority & Credibility

Getting more content out there is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared around and viewed by more people and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create and publish content that adds value to users and that showcases your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing a PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools And Strategies

If you need endless content ideas for your website or blog, then subscribe to our email training series on growing your business with content marketing here:

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

• Legal Pages
• Testimonials
• Customer Support (e.g. Helpdesk, Live Chat, etc.)
• Ratings
• User Reviews
• Badges/Certificates Of Trust

Grow Influence & 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 Demand,” all of your traffic comes from customers or subscribers – people who already like you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single post or broadcast.

Useful Tips & Ideas

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

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

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

Identify Needs/Problems & Provide Solutions

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to listen to what users are searching for, you should have no problem developing new products and services, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips

• Create a free or paid e-learning course.
• Consider publishing educational guides or special reports that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding an e-commerce store to your site.

Tools & Strategies

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

• 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. By learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic, you can discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you already have installed an analytics tool (e.g. Google Analytics) on your site. Make sure you understand the metrics and can interpret the data.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Summary

All you have to do once you implement the above strategies is repeat the cycle, 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 solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider also investing in 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 if necessary to build authority, trust, and credibility, and also to improve 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and build a more successful business online.

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