WordPress Traffic Automation Blueprint – Part 5 (Optimization)

Welcome to Part 5 of our Web Traffic Blueprint article series, where we explain how to turn your website into an automated traffic generating machine using the WordPress CMS platform.

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

In Part 1 of this article series, we provide an overview of the traffic automation process, and explain why using an expertly configured WordPress website is the key to automating traffic to your site …

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

In Part 2, we discuss the setup phase. We explain 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 website was built using WordPress.

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

In Part 3, we focused on the configuration phase of the blueprint. We explained how to configure all the settings (hosting, WordPress and external) that affect your site’s ability to generate traffic automatically …

(In Part Three you will configure hosting settings, WordPress settings, and external settings that can affect your site’s traffic-getting ability)

In Part Four, we discussed ways to automate traffic generation using plugins.

(Publish content one-time, automate the rest!)

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

WordPress Web Traffic Automation Blueprint – Traffic Optimization Systems

In addition to having an expertly configured WordPress website or blog, generating consistent traffic of high quality is the product of a clear business vision, great digital planning, and great systems and process in place.

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

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

These systems include:

• Marketing Systems – The processes and methods used to drive new traffic to your website.
• Technical Systems – How you keep your web presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic.
• Business Systems – How you manage and respond to new traffic.

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

Let’s briefly review the above systems:

Marketing Systems

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

• What channels will you use to drive traffic (e.g. blogging, video marketing, etc)?
• How will you assign your budget and resources to these marketing channels?
• Who will create and optimize your content, sales funnels, and marketing campaigns?
• How will you track conversions and measure the ROI of your campaigns?

During the setup and configuration phase, you should 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. Google AdWords) to help generate some initial 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.

Technical Systems

Your technical systems and processes keep your digital presence operating efficiently for receiving new traffic. There’s no point sending traffic to your website if your site is experiencing problems or your pages take too long to load.

Your technical systems need to adequately handle areas like webhosting, site 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 looks after my server?
• 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 issues can be minimized if your website planning and setup and configuration phases have been completed correctly. As with all technology, however, you should expect new problems. You will need the right technical systems in place to handle these.

Business Systems

Your business systems help you manage traffic. These include:

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

If you plan to outsource areas of your digital marketing and technical services, then make sure you have implemented good systems to manage all outsourcing.

WordPress Web Traffic Blueprint – Optimizing Traffic Generation

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

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

(An effective traffic loop)

Increase Reach And Visibility

The first step of the process is to get your business exposed to as many potential users as your resources allow.

Traffic Optimization Tips

• Your expertly configured WordPress site allows you to instantly notify and publicize your content to traffic-getting sources like Facebook, Twitter, GooglePlus, 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 can help generate actionable data, which you can use to create content better targeted to your audience.
• Repurpose your content to leverage the power and reach of different media formats.
• Continue learning about ways to get website visitors using methods like Facebook advertising, banner ads, Reddit, etc.

Tools, Plugins, And Methods

We’ve already covered a number of excellent tools, plugins, and methods in previous sections of this tutorial series.

Also, if you haven’t already, learn more about plugins that let you easily add the following to your site:

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

Build Authority And Credibility

Getting more of your content out there is a great first step, but to make this more effective, your content needs to be building authority and credibility with your audience.

Publishing higher quality content improves your chances of getting more people to link to it and share it around and hence more traffic.

Useful Tips & Ideas

• Focus on content that will add value to potential users and showcase your expertise. This includes content that informs and educates readers, training content, user reviews, adding testimonials, etc.
• Consider publishing an instructional PDF guide that can be sold or distributed online (e.g. sell on on the Amazon Kindle store.

Tools And Methods

If you need help coming up with great topics for posting content on your site, we recommend subscribing to our FREE email training series on growing your business online with content marketing here:

Also, learn more about WordPress 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 & Engagement

At some point, you may want to consider developing “traffic on tap.” You can achieve this by growing a list or starting your own online community or social network.

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

Useful Tips

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

Tools, Plugins, And Strategies

Many solutions and WordPress plugins are available that can help increase your influence and improve user engagement. For example:

• Autoresponders/Email Newsletters (e.g. Aweber, GetResponse, etc.)
• Contact Forms, Live Chat
• Forums and Discussion Groups (e.g. bbPress, BuddyPress)
• Polls and Surveys
• Webinars (e.g. Webinar JEO)
• Comment sharing
• Add media, video galleries, etc.

Identify Needs/Problems And Provide Solutions To These

By taking advantage of incoming traffic to discover what users are looking for, you can have an endless funnel of ideas for developing new products and services, all of which can provide you with new opportunities for generating new streams of web traffic.

Tips

• Consider creating a free or paid online training program.
• Consider publishing an e-book that you can sell or distribute online.
• Add e-commerce to your site.

Plugins, Tools, & Methods

If you plan to provide products, services, and solutions online (as opposed to just providing information), look for plugins that allow you to easily add the following to your WordPress site:

• Membership Sites (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. Gathering and interpreting data from existing traffic allows you to discover new traffic opportunities.

Hopefully, by now you have already installed an analytics tool like Google Analytics on your site. Make sure you can also understand the data.

WordPress Web Traffic Automation 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 improve your results.

In summary:

• Begin 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 traffic and generate useful data) to increase your reach and visibility online,
• Add plugins, list-building strategies, and other solutions if required to help build authority 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 automate and optimize the process of driving traffic to your web site and build a more successful business online.

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