WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Site Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to automate traffic to your website using WordPress.

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

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

(With an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, all you have to do to begin bringing web traffic is add new content consistently!)

In Part 2, we focus on the setup phase of this system. We help you understand the best way to get started if you don’t have a web presence yet, how to set everything up if you already have a website, and what to do if your site was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we discussed the configuration phase. We explained how to configure all the settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you will configure all the settings (hosting, internal and external) that can affect your website’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your website when you begin to add web content regularly.

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

In this section of the WordPress web traffic automation blueprint article series, we discuss ways to optimize traffic generation using various tools and strategies.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Systems

In addition to getting your WordPress website or blog expertly configured, generating targeted traffic on a consistent basis comes from a clearly-defined business vision, great digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

(Optimizing traffic is the product of a business vision, sound planning, and systems)

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

These systems include:

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

(Use systems to grow and manage your web traffic)

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing/online marketing strategy?
• How will you apply your budget and resources to these channels?
• How will you create your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI of your 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 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your web presence up and running for receiving traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your site if your site is constantly down or your pages are taking too long to load.

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

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

• Who is looking after my server?
• Who looks after my website and keeps my site, plugins, themes, etc. maintained and up-to-date?
• Who will fix errors, troubleshoot problems, provide technical support and advice, etc. if issues arise?

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

Business Systems

You need good operational systems in place to help you manage and respond to the influx of new traffic. This includes:

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

If you plan to outsource your digital marketing and technical services, then you will need excellent systems in place for managing all outsourcing processes.

WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Strategies

With clear business objectives and great systems in place, all you need to focus on are ways to grow and optimize 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 illustration below …

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility

Step 1 of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as possible.

Useful Tips And Ideas

• 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 through your expertly configured WordPress site.
• As mentioned earlier, investing in some paid advertising can help generate some initial actionable and intelligent data such as the keyword phrases people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content targeted specifically to your audience’s needs.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to drive more visitors using methods like Pinterest ads, social media, updates, etc.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

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

Also, if you haven’t already, see other posts and tutorials on this site to learn more about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more content published is great, but to make this activity more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing better quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting it shared on other sites and viewed by more people and hence more visitors.

Useful Tips

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

Tools & Methods

We have created a complete email email-based training course designed to help you never run out of content for your website:

Also, if you haven’t already, look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:

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

Grow Influence And 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 forum or network.

With “Traffic On Demand,” your traffic will come from an audience of existing customers or subscribers – people who already know you and trust you. Your influence and credibility can be used to generate traffic with a single blog post or email broadcast.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Encourage visitors to leave comments and start discussions on your site.
• Add an autoresponder training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free or paid membership site, online forum, or social community.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools & Methods

Many solutions and plugins are available that are easy to implement and can help grow 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 And Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to find out what users are searching for, you should have no problem coming up with ideas for new products, services, and solutions, all of which provide new opportunities for generating additional web traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Create an online training program.
• Publish PDF guides that you can sell or distribute online.
• Consider adding e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Strategies

If you plan to provide solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), contact us to learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your website or blog:

• 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 the collection and analysis of data. Learning to interpret data gathered from existing traffic allows you to discover new ways to generate content that can bring you additional traffic.

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the process over and over again, 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 good marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (with some paid advertising to drive traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if needed to help 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, this information has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your WordPress website and improve your business online.

***

***