Marketing a blog - how do you get started?

[Ali from The Office Diet]

Hi all,

I launched a blog -- The Office Diet -- on 1st Jan.

I've been getting a few readers, mostly from a couple of web forums that I'm active on. I've also submitted to a couple of blog carnivals in the weight-loss/health area, and wrote a guest post for diet-blog.com

I'm averaging perhaps 40-50 unique readers per day, according to Google Analytics.

My question is how to find more readers -- I believe I've got good, useful content, and I post each weekday, but I'm struggling to market the blog effectively. I don't want to post on forums that I'm not currently active on, as I'd rather not spam. I also don't have a huge amount of time to invest (I have a full-time job and write a lot of fiction as well as the blog.)

So, any tips on time-effective, ideally free, ways to encourage people towards my blog would be much welcomed!

Thanks in advance for the help,

Ali

[Adrian]

I made a post about this back in mid-January:

Path to Your Destiny » How to Successfully Advertise Your Blog

My post goes through the various ways that you can advertise your blog; obviously some methods may be left out ('cause new developments and methods are always being created), but at the very least you'll get a comprehensive view of the basics that can sprout some new, original ideas. Hope the post helps you out!

[Ali from The Office Diet]

Adrian, thank you!

That is exactly what I was looking for. So much so, I've reviewed it on StumbleUpon, and Path to Your Destiny is now firmly on my Favourites list. (I want to delve into your archives, but am short of time right now.)

It looks like an excellent, well-written and deeply thoughtful blog.

Thanks again. :-)

Ali

[jamestl2]

A few of Steve's articles may also help you out:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...-site-or-blog/
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...rom-your-blog/

[1000feet]

Getting good traffic just takes time - it has to build up. Sites like digg might bring a lot of new readers quickly, but most of them leave just as fast. I think getting genuine links from other bloggers and having your readers spread your content is the best way (of course at the beginning forum posts and comments on other blogs can get you initial traffic). To help this you could try to write articles that people will see and want to share with others, as well as email bloggers directly to get to know them better and maybe point out a couple of articles that could be interesting to their readers.

[Adrian]

Originally Posted by jamestl2

A few of Steve's articles may also help you out:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...-site-or-blog/
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...rom-your-blog/

Those links are useful, but if you don't do any marketing for your blog, does it matter how much value you provide? If nobody knows your site exists, it's like you're writing your posts on paper, and then throwing them into the fireplace.

(I'm not downplaying value - valuable content is what you should be aiming for, 100% of the time. If you don't provide a useful service that others enjoy and can take something from, it doesn't matter how much marketing you do or how popular your site is - you lose out pretty quickly. But I think basic marketing along with providing intrinsic value is a lot better route.)

[Ali from The Office Diet]

I had read Steve's posts, both of which were very valuable, but as Adrian says, my problem is more drawing readers in than writing valuable content. I do aim to write articles of solid, lasting value. :-)

I'd like to think that if the writing is strong enough, the blog will gain the readership it deserves -- but I've realised that I need to do a bit of work to get the ball rolling...

Best,

Ali

[jamestl2]

Originally Posted by Adrian

Those links are useful, but if you don't do any marketing for your blog, does it matter how much value you provide?

What else do you think the first link is all about?
Marketing and Value go hand in hand, IMO.

Here's some more marketing resources, right in this forum, Steve gives his take:
Still not making much money from site

And I give Mine:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/forums/b...ng-thread.html

[PatriceA]

Hi,
I've been on your blog, and I can see you post often.
BUT you don't promote any way to "keep updated" (ie : newsletter).

It's sad because the best traffic is fan-club-traffic. The guys who come to your blog (or at least read your articles) everyday are the ones who talk about it and bring other people. These "fans" bring LOTS of value to you. You should do everything at hand to keep them along.

(and don't say "i have this rss link on the right". it's not telling me to SUSCRIBE NOW, it doesn't tell me what RSS is, and RSS is used by so few people compared to email that you're actually losing LOTS of potential readers)

[BChris]

Originally Posted by Adrian

Those links are useful, but if you don't do any marketing for your blog, does it matter how much value you provide? If nobody knows your site exists, it's like you're writing your posts on paper, and then throwing them into the fireplace.

(I'm not downplaying value - valuable content is what you should be aiming for, 100% of the time. If you don't provide a useful service that others enjoy and can take something from, it doesn't matter how much marketing you do or how popular your site is - you lose out pretty quickly. But I think basic marketing along with providing intrinsic value is a lot better route.)

I like your posts so keep the good work!

Ive just subscribe to your blog!

[BChris]

Originally Posted by Adrian

I made a post about this back in mid-January:

Path to Your Destiny » How to Successfully Advertise Your Blog

My post goes through the various ways that you can advertise your blog; obviously some methods may be left out ('cause new developments and methods are always being created), but at the very least you'll get a comprehensive view of the basics that can sprout some new, original ideas. Hope the post helps you out!

I liked your posts so keep the good work!

Ive just subscribe to your blog!

[cadman]

Here is an article I wrote about blog marketing and SEO that could possibly give you some more insight. If the link doesn't work, just use the one in my signature and go to the marketing section. Here are the topics coverd:

1. Your blog should be a never ending novel
2. Make sure you have something worth saying
3. Get your visitors email addresses
4. Get links from blogs with similar topics
5. If you use other peoples content, give credit
6. If someone comments on your blog, give more than a thank you
7. If you are unsure about something, ask for help from your readers
8. Get your own domain name
9. Submit your sitemap to Google

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Cadman

[Ali from The Office Diet]

Thanks for all the great advice, guys!

Patrice, that's a great point. I will definitely try to sort out some way to "keep" my readers -- I really need to get to grips with RSS myself, and I've been thinking about doing a weekly email newsletter, so I'll give that some more pondering...

Best,

Ali

[jamestl2]

Originally Posted by cadman

Your blog should be a never ending novel

If you mean "Update it frequently" then sure

Originally Posted by cadman

Make sure you have something worth saying

Kind of a no-brainer

Originally Posted by cadman

Get your visitors email addresses

Absolutely not necessary, there's plenty of better ways to network with your visitors than through outdated "Email Marketing".

Originally Posted by cadman

Get links from blogs with similar topics

You shouldn't try to "Get Links" from others, if your content is linkworthy, others will "give you links", which are the best kind.

Originally Posted by cadman

If you use other peoples content, give credit

This doesn't really pertain to marketing or SEO, it SHOULD go without saying.

Originally Posted by cadman

Get your own domain name

Depends on the goals of the site, if you're not that into all the technical stuff behind it, you don't have to have your own domain, but....
if you wish to treat it as a business and make money, etc. then definitely register one.

(Also Note that Page Rank has next to NOTHING to do with your SERPs, the toolbar PR you see is useless for the most part)

Originally Posted by cadman

Submit your sitemap to Google

This is not necessary if the blog is coded correctly, and it doesn't guarantee it will be indexed, it can take months, even if a sitemap is submitted.

[cadman]

Jamestl2 - Are you basing your statements on the categories or on the content of the article? I appreciate the constructive criticism, but it would appear that you use some of the techniques I describe. Here is a post you made on another forum.

jamestl2
Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ummmmmm.........OK
Posts: 267
Link Building Strategies

First, I included a link to my site in my signature (To begin building links),

Second, where do I begin looking for sites who may want to link to mine (Since it is basically new), should I request links by sending them emails, or paying them to link, etc.

Any suggestions would help me out greatly, Thanks.
__________________
Toptenlisted.com - The Premier Source for Top Ten Lists
Conspiracy-Forums.com - Powered by vBulletin (& vbSEO)
Lightningshock.com - My Blog

In my article I state - "Linking gives your blog exposure and can help with the process of creating credibility to you and the content that you are giving your visitors. There are many ways to get links to your blog. When you post to a forum, you can include a link in your signature. Another technique is to get links from comments you make in blogs with that have similar topics."

Pertaining to emails, you stated-"Absolutely not necessary, there's plenty of better ways to network with your visitors than through outdated "Email Marketing"." The article explains email addresses are for sending out newsletters. People who subscribe to your newsletter have enjoyed what you have to say and they want more.

So I am just trying to provide information that people "might" find useful. Nothing is set in stone and everyone is free to make their own choices.

Again, thank you for the criticism jamestl2.

Sincerely,

Cadman

[jamestl2]

Okay............... first of all, to that "Link Building Strategies" Thread:
That was a loooooong time ago, when I was first starting out, just getting into the whole web development world (and I was *asking* about it, didn't say I actively participate with those techniques). I certainly don't think that way anymore.

Plus I rarely use that forum these days, the forum I hang out at the most often now is webmaster talk, if you want to know more:
Webmaster-Talk.com Webmaster Forum - Web Design, Coding, SEO Forums


Pertaining to the topic at hand:

Originally Posted by cadman

Are you basing your statements on the categories or on the content of the article?

A mixture of both, I suppose, you did get your categories from the content, right?

Originally Posted by cadman

In my article I state - "Linking gives your blog exposure and can help with the process of creating credibility to you and the content that you are giving your visitors. There are many ways to get links to your blog. When you post to a forum, you can include a link in your signature. Another technique is to get links from comments you make in blogs with that have similar topics."

What I'm saying here is that if you're doing link building here as part of your internet marketing strategies from the ground up, you're doing it wrong.

Originally Posted by cadman

Pertaining to emails, you stated-"Absolutely not necessary, there's plenty of better ways to network with your visitors than through outdated "Email Marketing"." The article explains email addresses are for sending out newsletters. People who subscribe to your newsletter have enjoyed what you have to say and they want more.

Anybody that uses email marketing tactics (newsletters, product sales, etc.), I automatically think of the email message as spam (even if it's really not), just due to the millions and millions of spams sent everyday.

Also, if your site has great content that people want to read and read again, there's no need for newsletters or emails, your visitors will return on their own.

[cadman]

Gratz to your current and future successes james. It is rare for someone to go from novice less than a year ago to a credible person who has tried many techniques with successes and failures, such as yourself. If I am not mistaken, these forums are here to give advice and suggestions, which is what I did. You are entitled to your opinion of strategies but that does not make yours right and someone else's wrong. Let's stick to trying to help others as opposed to one person bashing another person's advice.

Sincerely,

Cadman

[jamestl2]

Originally Posted by cadman

If I am not mistaken, these forums are here to give advice and suggestions, which is what I did. You are entitled to your opinion of strategies but that does not make yours right and someone else's wrong.

This can go both ways. Do you have any *evidence* that your strategies work effectively?

Originally Posted by cadman

Let's stick to trying to help others as opposed to one person bashing another person's advice.

Yes, let's do that, it's exactly what I'm trying to do. You could spend hours and hours and hours learning different marketing strategies, SEO techniques, etc. and still not ending up where you want to be.

[Ali from The Office Diet]

I expect that to some extent, different techniques will work for different bloggers and different audiences -- after all, my target readers (office workers aiming to lose weight and wanting quick, simple tips) are probably very different to the readers of other blogs (such as in-depth personal development blogs like Steve's).

I'll give a few different things a try -- thanks again for all of your tips and advice.

Best,

Ali