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So you decided to start a blog. For most people, the main purpose of having a blog is to drive traffic to it. You want people to read the stuff you took time to write. If no one visits your blog, clicking links to other articles or advertisers will not happen. Even if you have an ad-free blog, it is still rewarding to get your posts in front of a large audience. Increasing your blog's visibility is the only way to do this.
Share Each Post on Multiple Social Networking Sites
As soon as you post your latest entry, you should share the link on social media. Think places like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+ and any other social networking site that you belong to.
It is crucial to make the link worth clicking on. In order to do this, you should write a short and compelling introduction that prefaces the link.
Pay Close Attention to SEO
Google now penalizes sites that do not offer high-quality content. It is more important than ever to develop a solid search engine optimization (SEO) plan. If your posts are stuffed with links, they are more likely to get buried in Google's search engine results.
You should use keyword linking sparingly, and it is vital to ensure that each post is top notch. Remember, that Google is constantly changing algorithms to measure relevance and popularity in a more accurate way.
Keyword stuffing is simply no longer allowed if you want to be ranked by the top search engines.
Write Guest Blogs
If you can get a popular blog to give you a guest spot, you will be able to get your writing style in front of a much wider audience. At the bottom of your post, you should be able to put a miniature biography that includes the link to your blog.
If they like what you wrote, this will encourage people to read your blog as well.
Alternatively, you can ask well-known professionals from the industry that you blog about to write a guest post for your site. This will also capture the attention of new readers, and it could result in a larger overall audience.
Offering Something Unique Can Drive Traffic To Your Blog
It is important to be topical, but you should also provide a unique insight into current events. For example, if you run a literary blog and everyone else has been posting reviews about the latest bestseller, you could write a post that compares and contrasts the book to a classic novel with similar themes.
This will provide an interesting new angle, and it is more likely to capture attention than a regular review.
Offer Mixed Media
Blogging is primarily about the written word, but this does not mean that you cannot include images, videos, slideshows, and graphs. I actually encourage this. After all, everyone responds differently, and providing a mixed media experience will capture more attention.
The single most important rule of blogging is to provide quality content, but that is not enough to drive traffic to your site. Therefore, you should definitely use social networking and SEO to your advantage.
Additionally, it is important to take every free advertising opportunity that comes your way, including putting the link to your blog in your email signature.
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
I just realized that I neglected to post the URL on my FacebookPage to my latest post. GRRRRRR. First time at your site. Nicely done. I came here from Linkedin. Yes, I do need to pay more attention to SEO. So much to learn for a newbie
I like your post, Melanie. I think the first of your 5 Ways is the most important. Especially writing “a short and compelling intro to your post.” It helps to be a little sassy or controversial in your intro
Just to make things more interesting (maddening), Google says it is now paying attention to Google authorship, so you want to register your name with Google if you are writing internet content. I find that with this emphasis, I am now using my real name instead of the name of my blog or a cute nom de plume. Then there’s Klout.com which only lets you choose one Facebook, Twitter account to associate with your Klout score—so you have to choose which is more important — your real name or your brand. So, we’re back to quality content with as much readership interaction as possible by way of comments — because it’s virtually impossible to keep up with the Pandas and Penguins 😉
Krystle, as a blogger who dos it for the fun of it (no ads) I do still want the satisfaction of having people read my work. Your recommendations are spot on. I just wrote a small op-ed piece for the local on-line paper and had my largest view # ever. Now if I could just figure out what Goggle likes and doesn’t like today…
This is a wonderful article for anyone starting out in the blogging world or for the bloggers that have yet been able to establish themselves in a community. I have utilized the multiple mixed media on my site with my blog posts. Love the tips. 🙂
Really good tips! My Facebook doesn’t offer me much exposure but I still link posts to it. Learning SEO gives me a headache but I know I need to do it in order to survive and thrive as a blogger. Visiting from SITS.
All good tips, Krystle! and Melanie, of course – since she is the guest author as far as i can see 🙂
I would like to add also networking and supporting other bloggers and being a good member of the blogosphere is a great way to get started when putting your blog out there. But i guess you already know that – since i found you through the BHB grooup on LI 😉
I’m not sure that I’ll ever understand SEO. Maybe I do on a subconscious level. All I do is pick out a few keywords (labels on Blogger) that tie into my post.
Adding your blog link to your email signature is a brilliant way to reach more people. I have heard about spreading the word about a new post through social media but I haven’t heard the email suggestion yet. I love it.
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Great tips. I didn’t have my own blog, but I helped out a friend with hers. It’s important to network with other bloggers, I found.
That’s great you helped your friend with her blog!
Good ways to gain exposure. Brilliant secrets.
Thanks, Calvin! These days I find Pinterest the most useful in term of driving traffic to my blog.
Some bloody good tips here
I’m glad you found them useful! When I first started, I wish I would have had them.
Outstanding post. A blog service you should include in your list is blogionaire. It gives bloggers an opportunity to become famous instantly.
Sounds interesting. I will have to check it out.
I just realized that I neglected to post the URL on my FacebookPage to my latest post. GRRRRRR. First time at your site. Nicely done. I came here from Linkedin. Yes, I do need to pay more attention to SEO. So much to learn for a newbie
I need to too. Things get hectic with the kids though so I don’t always have time for everything I want to do blog wise.
I like your post, Melanie. I think the first of your 5 Ways is the most important. Especially writing “a short and compelling intro to your post.” It helps to be a little
sassy or controversial in your intro
That’s a good tip. Drawing them in is always a nice touch.
Just to make things more interesting (maddening), Google says it is now paying attention to Google authorship, so you want to register your name with Google if you are writing internet content. I find that with this emphasis, I am now using my real name instead of the name of my blog or a cute nom de plume. Then there’s Klout.com which only lets you choose one Facebook, Twitter account to associate with your Klout score—so you have to choose which is more important — your real name or your brand. So, we’re back to quality content with as much readership interaction as possible by way of comments — because it’s virtually impossible to keep up with the Pandas and Penguins 😉
Very interesting. How do register your name with google?
Krystle, as a blogger who dos it for the fun of it (no ads) I do still want the satisfaction of having people read my work. Your recommendations are spot on. I just wrote a small op-ed piece for the local on-line paper and had my largest view # ever. Now if I could just figure out what Goggle likes and doesn’t like today…
I know what you mean. Google is so picky at times. Congrats on piece in the local paper! That must of been exciting.
This is a wonderful article for anyone starting out in the blogging world or for the bloggers that have yet been able to establish themselves in a community. I have utilized the multiple mixed media on my site with my blog posts. Love the tips. 🙂
Your pod casts are awesome!
Really good tips! My Facebook doesn’t offer me much exposure but I still link posts to it. Learning SEO gives me a headache but I know I need to do it in order to survive and thrive as a blogger. Visiting from SITS.
With Facebook it just depends for me on who shares the post. It’s a toss up on whether or not it’s very useful to me.
All good tips, Krystle! and Melanie, of course – since she is the guest author as far as i can see 🙂
I would like to add also networking and supporting other bloggers and being a good member of the blogosphere is a great way to get started when putting your blog out there. But i guess you already know that – since i found you through the BHB grooup on LI 😉
Thanks! Yes, supporting other blogs is a great way to get your name out here too. I wish I had more time to visit more.
I’m not sure that I’ll ever understand SEO. Maybe I do on a subconscious level. All I do is pick out a few keywords (labels on Blogger) that tie into my post.
Haha that’s what I do for the most part. I don’t really understand either but hopefully my subconscious does.
Adding your blog link to your email signature is a brilliant way to reach more people. I have heard about spreading the word about a new post through social media but I haven’t heard the email suggestion yet. I love it.
I have my blog in my email. I wonder if there’s a way to tell if anyone actually clicks on it from there.