How to make a popular
and successful blog??
People ask me about how to improve the traffic on their blogs. So I thought that I would share some blogging secrets. Some things that you can do for your own blog that WILL increase your traffic in no time.
Before you start reading, I want to make two things clear. I would like to thank a lot of people who gave me some of these pointers, but I am afraid I don't remember where I got all of this info.
The other thing is, that I haven't used all of these principles, since I am still sort of developing a style that works for me (and for my readers).
that being said, here we go....
Marketing
1.) Use Ping-O-Matic service to send to all blog sites that you have made an update. There are several services just like this one, but I think this one works just as well as any. (Remember not to ping to often or you might get blacklisted). Update only when you have made a update in your blog. (Look up Google blog search also.)
2.) Before you send your written post, use services like Googles keyword tool, Overture, Wordtracker and KeywordDiscovery to find out what phrases and words people use to search for the subject you are writing about.
3.) Communicate with people who are interested in the same things you are (and that you are writing about). For instance if you write about cats, hang at “catforums”, and other “catbloggers”. In your signature when you hang at blogs, post your blog address, and comment a lot (but only when you really have something interesting to say)
4.) Start networking with other bloggers. Write about them (and remember to write good stuff).
5.) Check out communities at Ning.com. For instance join Triond.com.
6.) Check to see if your blog can be found on search engines like: Google, Yahoo, Bing, Altavista, Webcrawler,
7.) Here is a smart tip. Write a gigantic post every once in a while, just to analyze what “phrases” and keywords lead to it. It will make you learn how people search for your information.
8.) Use trafficswarm.com, to multi-target traffic to your blog from search engines.
9.) Use Freetrafficsystem.com, to multi-target traffic to your blog from search engines.
10.) Use Mybloglog.com , to multi-target traffic from different communities.
11.) Stumbleupon.com, is something of a bubble. But several sources tell me it works. Check it out, because it’s hard to explain (and understand how it works). Also check out other digging sites, like digg, furl and reddit, propeller, yahoo buzz.
12.) Use socialposter.com , to multi-target traffic to your blog from search engines.
13.) Check out squidoo.com, to multi-target traffic to your blog from search engines.
14.) Ever heard of RSS feeds? Feedburner? Well if you don’t use it, you should try it. It’s a great way to “subscribe” to certain pages on the web. And your blog is no exception. Remember to view your RSS feed options, and choose full feeds. Put RSS feeds everywhere you can, Facebook, Twitterfeed etc.
15.) When you ping or market your posts, pick the best ones. Experience has taught me that if you ping to often, and ping bad posts, it will give a negative impact on your popularity.
16.) One important aspect of marketing a blog, is to often pay attention to your statistics. Use Google Analytics for instance. This will tell you a great deal about your readers. How they got there (what marketing seems to work well for your blog). How often they visit your blog, how long visits etc.
17.) Del.ico.us for tagging.
19.) Attach yourself to blogcatalogs like Blogcatalog, make friends there, and post comments.
20.) Spread the word about your blog on various social sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Mashable.
21.) Make it possible for readers to share the posts you write, but adding “share buttons” (connected to Facebook etc)
22.) Submit your blog to a blog contest like blog boost. Lots of free traffic here.
23.) Explore a concept called Linkbait. Basically this is a way to write good headlines that will make it almost impossible for readers NOT to click on the link. There are many guides for how to make this possible.
24.) I don’t like twitter. But it is so in right now. And you can MultiPost on both your blog and your twitter. Be sure to try it out.
25.) Make your own community (linked to your blog). Look at Ning.com, and make a community on facebook etc.
26.) Keep up to date with blog marketing ways on Blog success.
27.) If you are a good writer, try to write a article for Ezinearticles, because this site is highly rated according to google. And if you article is posted, so will your blog be. Another site like it is GoArticles.
28.) Add your blog to your profile on iGoogle.
29.) Put your RSS feed in MyYahoo.(add content).
30.) Add your blog to sites like Faves.com.
31.) Put a add for your blog in local news papers.
32.) Make bumper stickers, nice looking ads, calling cards etc. and spread them.
33.) Post videos (like podcasts) on youtube, and link to your blog.
34.) Make t-shirts with your blog name and address on it. And give them away.
35.) Join YahooAnswers, and add you blog.
36.) Have your own newsletter, that people can subscribe to. (have one on Facebook as well)
37.) Start a facebook fan page, and add a widget to it on your blog.
38.) Join bloggerForum.com to learn, make new friends and to get traffic.
39.) Join DigitalPoint.com to learn, make new friends and to get traffic.
40.) Join bloggeriesForum.com to learn, make new friends and to get traffic.
41.) Have a blogroll on your blog, and trade links with other bloggers. Yes of course you can add me!
42.) Post questions on Facebook with a link to your blog. Remember the more people “like” or comment on it. The more your post will spread, and be on top of peoples facebook news feed. (great tip!)
43.) If you are going to steal layout and content from other blogs, always remember to steal from the best ones. That’s what I always do (KIDDING!)
44.) Put a big nice RSS feed suscribe button on your blog (really works great).
45.) Most of your readers don’t know about RSS feed. Teach them, and make them suscribe to your RSS feed.
46.) Have your blog address as a status in whatever social network you belong to, whether it is Facebook, MSN live messenger, or Google talk.
Content
1.) Use a original name as a title for your blog. Like my blog title, AgnosLibertine. Before I started my blog, you could not find anything on google called AgnosLibertine. But it has to be short, and it has to be a good name that fits with the content of your blog. Check Google for different names, and see which ones are not taken yet.
2.) Make a personal logo, and slogan. And use it in every community you spend time.
3.) Post quality!! I mean it!! Don’t do what I do, and scribble like I do. You want people to keep reading your blog, you need to publish quality.
4.) Starting out with a blog, I would recommend not having the ability to write comments on your blog. Because at first you won’t have any visitors, and therefore no comments. A blog with 0 comments looks way worse than a blog without commenting possibility.
5.) Use a couple of links in your posts. I will tell you why. But first remember not to overdo it. Links have the potential to interrupt readers focus when they are trying to enjoy your words.
However, don’t just link to link something. Link with a agenda. Link appropriately. For instance everyone knows Wikipedia. No need to link to Wikipedia. The reason you should link, is something called backtrack. People who blog or analyze their sites, will look up every link to their page. And the other reason is that a well linked page ranks highly in search engines like Google. Check out Trackboost for more help.
6.) Before you start to make millions on your blog from advertisement. Begin your blog without ads. Because ads make blogs look commercial. And before you have a large group of people visiting your blog, focus on making your blog cool. And not filled with ads.
7.) Your post is supposed to “touch” a reader on a deeper level. Use pictures, use jokes, use emotions, insert a video. Don’t just write. And when you write, don’t do like I do (write long eternal posts). Write short.
8.) How often to write? Some would say at least once a day, some would say the more the better. Some would say post 3 times a week, and focus on making those posts great. Whatever rhythm you choose, remember to keep to the same rhythm. If you usually write every day, and then don’t write for a whole week, most readers will find that terribly disappointing.
9.) When you write your posts, write about what people want to read. What you would like to read. Give the readers what they want. Share that big secret how to become successful on the trade market, how to nail that perfect job, how to make that perfect martini that will make people love you.
10.) Write about current world news, things that people discuss.
11.) Really try to check your text for errors before you post.
12.) Tag your posts (look how your blogsite does this)
13.) Every time someone leaves a comment, or e-mails you, ALWAYS answer.
14.) Try to edit your posted pictures, to give them your personal style (to stand out from a very large crowd) and also to enhance the readers viewing pleasure.
15.) Some author once said about his books, that when he wrote, he wrote for a audience that would read it in 100 years. When you write a post, try to write something that will be interesting in 5 years.
16.) Blog candy, use things like adding a poll, or distribute wallpaper, or e-books etc.
17.) Try to post creatively and original. Not a easy task. But keep in mind that you should try to stand out from most blogs.
18.) Dress your blog every once in a while. For Christmas, use red colors, and Santa pictures etc.
19.) Ever heard of Podcasting? This is a great way to reach out. And you can analyze this with Traffic Geyser and TubeMogul. Also you can put this on RSSfeed.
20.) Ask Questions.
21.) Celebrate your blogs achievements. Tell your readers about new accomplishments.
22.) Post interesting and funny pictures (of pets and drunk people).
23.) When you write posts on your blog, it has to give the sublime message “keep reading me, and keep writing comments, and keep coming back.”
24.) If you can, make thumbnail function on your pictures(bigger when you click on the picture)
25.) Remember who your readers are (and remember that some of them are bloggers).
Well thats it. Those wore my two cents of information for anyone who wants to try and write a blog. I highly recommend it. It is a lot of fun. But it can feel demanding at times. Most important part of blogging is that it is supposed to be fun, otherwise, whats the point?
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