WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our Website Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to create an automated traffic machine using WordPress.

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

In Part 1 of this article series, we explained why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to generating automated traffic …

(With an expertly configured WordPress web site, all you have to do is post great content on a regular basis to automatically bring web traffic!)

In Part 2, we look at the setup phase. We help you understand the best way to get started 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 website has been built using WordPress.

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

In Part Three, we looked at configuring WordPress. We explained how to configure webhosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part 3 you learn how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your website’s ability to generate traffic automatically)

In Part 4, we showed you how to set up various WordPress plugins that can help get web traffic automatically to your website.

(Publish once, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Web Traffic System – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress site, the key to generating high-quality traffic consistently is having a clear business vision, sound digital planning, and good systems and process in place.

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

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

These include:

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

(Systems help you grow, automate, and manage your traffic)

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What is your content marketing strategy?
• What resources and portion of your budget will you apply to these channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content and marketing campaigns?
• How will you measure the ROI 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 to help generate some initial intelligence. If you’re tracking your marketing campaigns correctly, this should yield some actionable data, such as the keywords people are searching online to find your website, which you can use to create web content better targeted to your audience’s needs.

Technical Systems

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

Your technical systems include handling areas like webhosting, website maintenance and support, installing and updating new applications (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 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. if you experience difficulties?

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

Business Systems

You need good business systems and processes in place to help you manage the influx of traffic. These include:

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

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation System – Traffic Optimization

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

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

(WordPress can help implement and optimize your traffic loop)

Increase Reach & Visibility Online

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

Useful Tips

• An expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly share your content on traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 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 (e.g. Facebook ads) can help you generate some initial data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power, appeal, and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get more visitors using methods like LinkedIn advertising, YouTube, joint ventures, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

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

Also, if you haven’t already, ask us about plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress website or blog:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content published is good, but for this activity to be really effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with users.

Publishing higher quality content not only helps to establish your credibility, it also improves your chances of getting more shares and views and hence more traffic.

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 special reports that can be sold or distributed online.

Tools And Methods

We have created an entire email course on how to develop a content marketing strategy, how to promote your business with content, content creation tools, and ways to never run out of new ideas for web content that you can plug into at no cost here:

Also, if you haven’t already, contact us to learn more about plugins that let you 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 demand.” You can do this by growing a list or starting a group.

With “Traffic On Tap,” most 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 new traffic with every post you publish or email broadcast you send out.

Useful Tips

• Encourage commenting and discussions on your site.
• Add an email training course and encourage people to subscribe.
• Add a free, paid, or ‘freemium’ membership site.
• Create or join an online group on Facebook.

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

There are many solutions and WordPress plugins that can help increase your 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 and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, image galleries, etc.

Identify Problems And Provide Solutions To These

If you take advantage of incoming traffic to discover what your visitors want, you can develop new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new sources of web traffic.

Traffic Ideas

• Create an e-learning course.
• Consider publishing an instructional e-book that you can sell or distribute online (e.g. sell on Amazon.
• Add e-commerce to your business.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

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 site include:

• 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 to collect and analyze data. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic gives you the opportunity to discover new ways to generate additional traffic.

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

WordPress Traffic System – Summary

Once you implement the above strategies, all you have to do is repeat the cycle, 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 solid marketing, technical and business systems,
• Implement a content marketing strategy (consider adding 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 as 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, this article has given you a blueprint that will help you drive more traffic automatically to your web site and grow your business online.

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