How Can Twitter be used to promote a blog? In this guest post Chris Brogan gives a few tips on blog promotion.
Twitter is a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it’s a virtual water cooler. For others, it’s a great way to get answers to questions. Since I started using Twitter, I have more than doubled my blog traffic over the last several months, and I can tell you how.
Some people just dump their blog posts into Twitter automatically, with a simple “New Blog Post: Money is Better Than Dirt” and away you go. I’ve found a way of using Twitter to encourage participation on my website, and it’s better than easy; it’s tasteful.
Ask a Question
Instead of telling your Twitter audience that you’ve published a new post, ask them their opinion on the core topic you’ve covered. “Do you think banner ads are dead?” followed by a link to your site is much more appealing than posting to Twitter, “Banner Ads Are Not Dead.” Asking a question engages your Twitter followers and solicits their experience.
If Comments Flow, Remark on It
I genuinely believe that the comments section of my blog is better than anything I write on my own. To that end, when a topic seems to take off, I send a note to Twitter alerting people to the quality of the conversation in the comments. It’s not pitchy in nature. I’m simply sharing that the best stuff came after the initial post.
Sometimes, I Even Dare to Ask for a Stumble
My number two referrer to my site on most slow-medium traffic days is StumbleUpon. Because I seem to get “better” response from people who visit from that site than from other traffic sources, I sometimes will send a third post to Twitter, asking if someone thinks X post is worth a Stumble. Because I do a lot of sharing and promoting and helping others, I usually get a lot of willing people to Stumble something for me from time to time.
I don’t over-do it, and I know that not every day is a “killer blog post” day. With that in mind, when I do ask, it makes a huge difference.
Those Three Touches Help Lots
So in the end, I ask my following in Twitter for love three times: once when I post the blog, again if it takes off well in the comments section, and sometimes a third time if I want to really amp the traffic via StumbleUpon. I mix these requests in liberally with all the various ways I help others using Twitter, and so it doesn’t come off like I’m perpetually pitching my own stuff. My current monthly rate of pitching others vs. promoting my own site is 75 / 25 in other people’s favor. That sounds fair, right?
Have you experimented with Twitter in this way? How did it work for you? What other tips did I miss?
— Chris Brogan writes about social media business strategy and tools at [chrisbrogan.com]. He enjoyed the heck out of meeting Darren at SXSWi in Austin, TX.
Further Reading
Read more about how to use Twitter to grow your online presence in Darren’s post – How to Use Twitter – Tips for Bloggers.
Thats an interesting Post about Twitter. Because of your Twitter-Post i’m reading this right now, coming in from “The Beauty of Imperfection”
Great suggestions. I have used Titter (http://twitter.com/mrohde) to announce blog posts but your suggestion is much better.
I have also had some pretty good success promoting mt site via Facebook groups that I participate in. This is a probably my best social media source.
http://marc.rohde-net.us
Hi Chris
I certainly have had the same experience and found twitter to be a fantastic way to drive traffic. For me it has at times been a little hit and miss. I was wondering to myself today if it was the time of day I posted or that some of my posts possibly sound a little to much like solicitation (yuk), will keep your thoughts in mind.
Thanks
PS Great blog by the way :-)
I’ve twittered about a bit but twittering takes time. I’ll use this advice and hopefully twitter more tactfully :)
Hi!
Thanks for sharing Twitter’s role in blogging. I recently opened a Twitter account and would definitely look forward to using Twitter effectively.
Since I am also a first time blogger, I have got my blog accepted by some good Blog Directories, but this sure is a unique approach too.
Thanks,
T3c-n0-cr@t: the Blog-e-zine
http://coolonline.wordpress.com
I find twitter and stumble upon a great source of extra traffic and links.
Thanks again for a great post
Cheers
Josh
i havent figured out the working of stumble upon and twitter as yet but after reading this post surely i ll try and implement it for my site http://onlinetvlive.blogspot.com
I have recently fallen in love with Twitter…but I haven’t used that strategy yet. I will definitely put it to the test…Thanks for your post, it was very helpful.
Exceptional tips as always! I especially liked the bit about starting engagement by asking a question relating to your new blog post . . . goodbye twitterfeed!
A great article, I love using Twitter, and I have always found the people on their always friendly my twitter handler: athenadesignuk by all means add me :-)
I have only just signed up with Twitter today, but I can already see how it can be very addictive. Bad, baaad Twitter!
https://twitter.com/EvelineTimeless
Hey, Like it!!! I just signed up with twitter too.
http://twitter.com/eragongal44
i consider myself a newbie. My site was started in Jan 08 . I am about to use Twitter but i have implemented some strategies from this site. As at today my site about 450 unique visitors daily ,i started reading problogger in 2006 (thereabout) . I am still learning but the tips and articles from here is of immense benefit .
just signed up with twitter for a few months but still lacking in those kind of thing.. thanks for the valueble information
Great post, I havn’t used twitter before, got most of my success from Stumbleupon, digg, and propellor. I just started a new blog – http://oraclemask.blogspot.com , and it is all about masks. This is a small niche I am targetting so I guess I will need al the help I can get. This is one of my first non-video blogs that I began, so this is still pretty new for me, would love if you could comment or give me some advice on this new blog idea of mine.
Thanks
Bertus
Thanks, Darren. Earlier, I was wondering whether to use social marketing for my company’s blog (http://blog.heusinte.com)!! Now you have put all my doubts to rest. I am starting out my social marketing with ‘Twitter’ and ‘Stumbleupon’. Technorati is next on my list.
If these actions help me pull some decent traffic to me, I know whom I am indebted to.
Thanks, once again.
Excellent post. I appreciate the admission that “not every day is a killer blog post day” since this tactic can be abused. But for those that use it with discretion, I think it’s a great arrow to have in your quiver.
http://www.closed-loop-marketing.com/blog/
http://www.twitter.com/schogrefe
“Instead of telling your Twitter audience that you’ve published a new post, ask them their opinion on the core topic you’ve covered.”
This made me think… I have been using a wordpress plugin called Tweet My Blog because someone recommended it to automatically post to my Twitter when I made a blog post.
BUT now I have put some thought into what Twitter can really be used for, plugins such as Tweet My Blog are pretty pointless. They defeat the object of actually engaging with people.
Plugin is now deactivated!
Thanks
Dave
http://www.davedunnonline.com
I just recently started using Twitter. I’ve been spending some time online finding Twitter feeds for people who have interesting things to say about marketing and are using it to encourage worthwhile discussion and interaction. I’ve been pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the response. It seems that people on Twitter really are encouraging conversation, not just promoting themselves. Here are a few sites I’ve found helpful in case anyone who is new to Twitter wants to find some interesting people to follow:
http://www.asourceofinspiration.com/2009/01/16/twitter-power-150/
http://www.invesp.com/2008/top-100-marketers-of-2008.html
Certainly have to try Twitter out. Thanks for tip.
Thank you for the great informatoin on how to drive traffic to my blog by twitter. I am going to twitter.com now.
Just started with Twitter and found you in a Google search. Does it work. Sure does. Thanks for the tips. Nearing 6o and old cars are my past time. Two sites I am still working on at http://www.streetrodmemories.com and http://www.americascorvette.com. Your Twitter tips will be a big help to a lot of people following your posts. Keep it up.
I started to use Twitter a couple of weeks ago. At first I thought the whole idea was kind of dumb. I mean, What are you doing? I’m thinking, reading this silly question. Anyway, Now I enjoy Twittering everyday. I tell my followers what a Successful Real Estate Investors Day looks like. The challenges that I face daily and the wonderful Accomplishments! If interested I blog for indepth on Real Estate Tips at http://youcanbuycashflowrealestate.com
I opened an account on twitter but it still seems a little foreign to me, I will keep trying to work it out !!
Great blog!! I got this news and impressed from this. Really its a odd thing and can you explain me with much more details? We also need some other way to increase our blogs!!! Thanks for the post!!!
Thanks for the twitter tips…I have struggled to see a noticeable increase in traffic thus far with it, but I’ll give these a shot.
Thanks for the informative post! I just signed up with twitter a few days ago and already my traffic has doubled. I’m impressed with your ‘tips’. Your quite right, going overboard is the problem, so many people just hit right out there with their own blog..
I have almost read all the comments for this post, I think most people are skeptical of the usefulness of Twitter yet would like to try it out and see if may be they will get the magic. Seems like twitter is making wonders only for the big guns..
I’ve never imagined to use twitter as a promotion for the blog..right now I try facebook, friendster and stumbleupon..maybe its time to test the twitter..thanks man..
Thanks for your advice. I have also signed up on twitter.com & will also try stumbleupon Still a lot to learn Hope i will make a lot of money Blogging :)
I have doubled my traffic to my blog site as well using twitter. However, my comments are low and want to encourage my readers to post comments and questions regarding questions they have on real estate investing.
Thank You for the tip on how to encourage my readers to participate in my posts.
cashflow Cindy
I have not exactly doubled my traffic to my blog using Twitter, but it certainly brings in more visitors. On my personal development blog I have a couple of posts with quotes on topics like self-esteem or by people like Warren Buffett and Jim Rohn. I sometimes tweet a quote and then link to the particular post (which contains more quotes on the same topic) on my blog. It’s always good for some new visits.
I also started using twitter. Dont know whether it will improve my blog hits. But i have to develop my followers first.Plz tell me how to increase the followers.