Yesterday’s task in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge was to write a ‘list post’ on your blog. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to write that up and publish it by now.
Today we’re going to take that post and attempt to drive some readers to it.
Today’s Teaching on Promoting Blog Posts:
Blog Promotion is something that most bloggers have tried to do in many ways – however one mistake that I see a lot of bloggers making in their attempts to find new readers is that they only ever promote their blog as a whole. Their promotion is all about driving traffic to their blogs home page URL.
While there’s nothing wrong with this – I personally have had A LOT more success in promoting individual posts than my blogs front page. That’s what we are going to do today.
Having hit publish on your post yesterday – don’t just leave it to chance that your post will be read by people. Be more proactive than that and spend a little time today giving it some ‘nudges’ to help it on its way.
I know quite a few have already done some of this by leaving a link on our previous post promoting your link (some of your are reporting quite good traffic from doing it) but lets go a step further and find some ways to promote your post in other networks outside of ProBlogger.
11 Ways to Promote a Blog Post
note: please be careful in using these techniques. Don’t use them all with every post you write. Choose your best posts and promote them selectively and in ways that are useful to other people.
1. Pitching Other Bloggers – asking another blogger to consider linking to your post. note: there’s a real art to this – read more on how to do it at 11 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Being Linked to By a Blogger.
2. Social Messaging – what social networks like Twitter and Facebook are you a part of? Attempt to leverage these to promote your post. The key is not to incessantly spam your followers and friends with your link – but use your network to ‘seed’ the link and let your followers spread word of it for you (this won’t happen every time but as your network grows it can become more and more powerful).
3. Social Bookmarking – promoting selective links on a site like Digg or StumbleUpon can lead to amazing results. Further reading on this topic at How to Get to the Front Page of Digg and Using Social Media Sites to Grow Your Blog’s Traffic.
4. Internal Links – don’t just promote your post on other people’s sites – think about where you can link to it from within your own site. Perhaps you’ve written on the topic before and can add a link for further reading, perhaps adding a section in your sidebar for ‘latest posts’ could work. Internal linking won’t drive heaps of new traffic but it can help with SEO and increase page views.
5. Newsletters – if you have an email newsletter list – shoot out an email to your list about your latest post.
6. Other Blogs Comments Sections and Forums – leaving helpful and insightful comments on forums or other blogs can be great at driving traffic if your comment is genuine, relevant and sensitive to the discussion. Leaving a link is sometimes also appropriate if highly relevant.
7. Email Signatures – Adding links to your blog to your outgoing emails is fairly common place – but whatever including links to recent posts instead of just your blog’s front page URL.
8. Followup Posts – write a new post on your blog that picks up where your last one left off. This builds momentum and if you inter-link the posts drives more page views.
9. Advertise Your Post – for posts that you’re particularly proud of and that are well received by readers you might even consider a mini ad campaign with a small budget using a service like AdWords or StumbleUpon advertising. Further Reading on this at Run a StumbleUpon advertising campaign on your blog.
10. Pitch Mainstream Media – occasionally posts will be relevant to mainstream media. You want to really pick a highly interesting post for this – it’s not something for every day.
11. Article Marketing – I wouldn’t recommend submitting exactly the same article you’ve posted on your blog to article marketing sites (this can get you into trouble with Google penalties for duplicate content) but I know of a few bloggers who rewrite their key articles for article marketing.
Of course there are many other ways to promote posts. Feel free to tell us how you do it in comments below.
Please note: don’t do all of the above things for every single post on your blog. I personally tend to pick 1-2 posts a week to give a push and let others grow organically.
Today’s Task – Promote a Post:
Take a little time to look at yesterdays post and ask yourself where it might be appropriate to promote it. If you look at the post and don’t think that it is really worthy of promotion anywhere – feel free to choose another relevant post to do it with. If you don’t have one – spend some time today writing something that you feel IS link worthy and then try promoting that.
For most of you I’d start with point #1 above – pitching to other bloggers. Choose another blog with highly related content to your post and politely submit it as a suggested link to that blog. Again – check out 11 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Being Linked to By a Blogger for tips that will help increase the likelihood of it being successful.
Feeling Timid?
I know that many new bloggers often feel quite timid and wary of promoting themselves. Don’t worry – you’re not alone. I have felt that myself many times and have at times not put my work forward where perhaps I should have. However – the times that I have been willing to push myself out of my comfort zone have often paid off.
While I’ve had a few times in my blogging life where I’ve had lucky breaks that result in traffic – most of the times traffic has arrived at my blogs in numbers have been a direct result of me doing some promotional work. Don’t just leave it to chance – put yourself out there and see what comes as a result.
Once you’ve done it – I’d love to hear how you went about promoting your post and what the result was in comments below. Lets learn together how to get this task right!
Update: There are lots of folks talking about this over at the forum, you should check it out! Day 3 – Promote a Post
Want More?This task is a sample of one of the tasks in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook – a downloadable resource designed to reinvigorate and revitalize blogs. Join over 14,000 other bloggers and Get your Copy Today. |
Darren,
Thank you for the first class education I am getting. You walk your talk. You produce results.
Okay, flexing those promotion muscles. I’ve got my list post running, it’s http://tinyurl.com/9mistakes (9 Mistakes to Avoid in Creating the Perfect Domain Name), and I had two fresh comments on it straight from this group. Nice!
I created a post on my Examiner column to support this post, linking over to it.
Then I went to Facebook. I wrote on my home page and then posted about it with a link on two groups I belong to. These things all felt marginally effective, but maybe that’s because I haven’t been doing it and don’t know the results.
I also posted about it on Twitter.
I’d love to start some reciprocity between appropriate blogs here. If any of you write for the Boomer demographic, or are involved in helping non-techy people get up to speed online, or do career coaching, I could appropriately share links with you and possibly share newsletter juice in some cases. Just send me an email and let’s roll on it.
Thank you Darren! I’ve been singing your praises on Twitter too. I don’t know how you manage these big group things. Wanna tell us?
Cheers
Suzanna
[email protected]
Great suggestions for promoting Darren.
I took the plunge and, for the first time, sent an email to a blogger I admire to ask for a mention of my 5 Great Things for Mother Earth list post. Every week I put great energy into gathering up good news about the environment. It’s my most draining post of the week, but I’m proud of it and I’d love to see it get a mention!
Today I posted an easy recipe for doing with kids that includes chocolate and Easter eggs. I put it up on Facebook and also Stumbled my own post. I also referred to other related posts within this one, which I often do. Usually people who come in take the time to look around when I have these links to related posts.
I’ve got to tell you though, I can’t wait to reach something in the challenge that will give me a key to getting more traffic. It’s really hard to keep up even with writing daily posts when you blog part-time, never mind to be worrying about how to get a bit of attention. After a while you begin to get burn-out.
Well, if anyone reading this is interested in the environment and/or has kids, I’d love a visit. A link would really make me feel loved!
I tweeted my post. I had a quick increase in comments for that post. Woohoo!
Sweet, the challenge keeps on coinciding with my blog!
My interview about the 6d6 Adventure Writing Competition (interview here: http://allgeektout.com/2009/04/07/interview-write-your-own-adventure-with-6d6-fireball/) got me linked on 6d6 Fireball itself (http://6d6fireball.com/rpg/competition-thank-yous/). So my duties are done for the day!
Aaron
allgeektout.com
Don’t rule out reddit.com for bookmarking. I’ve received decent traffic from them but they are sensitive, as most bookmarking communities are, to over-posting from your own blog.
Oddly, when I think I’ve got a “winner”, it typically doesn’t do as well as a post that I think is mediocre. I’ve definitely noticed that the less cerebral posts get more traffic from reddit.
Also, Stumbleupon lets you purchase campaigns with which you can set spending budgets.
I spent ~ $20.00 recently testing different types of content. The results were “ok”, but I will definitely return to them when I think I’ve got one with viral potential.
The list post I wrote yesterday (and went live today) was probably one of my most successful posts ever.
I promoted it on DotNetKicks (a social network specific to my niche) and it got quite a lot of “kick” in less than 12hrs.
It also got twitted by a few influential blogger/twitter of my niche and even got on the “popular” page of deliciuos for today (getting 43 “saves” in 10hrs or so).
So for the post got 1100 views.
I also wrote a blogger in the niche to ask for a link (actually, not that brutal): I got an answer back where he says that the content is great and that kind of content must be spread, but didn’t say anything about him actually linking to the post or not. We’ll see in the next days.
Probably the merit of that traffic and interest goes to the List post, not that much to the promotion itself as I never got such response before. This prove that the key to having “success” is writing quality content.
Here is the link to the post
http://codeclimber.net.nz/archive/2009/04/08/13-asp.net-mvc-extensibility-points-you-have-to-know.aspx
I wrote a post for today, but it’s probably one of the worst I’ve ever written. It was a tough day at work and while I LOVE this assignment, I want to redo the work and figure out a better approach for me.
I’ve been doing some of the promotional tasks – like linking to other related posts of mine. Since I interview other women and write their stories, I will link to their blogs, if they have one. I just noticed that my interviewee from last week hadn’t mentioned my blog on hers so I did contact her. I also contacted two bloggers from this list asking that they consider linking to a specific post on mine.
I have to confess that I’ve been avoiding twitter etc. but reading all the comments makes me think, it really is time to jump in the deep end. My big concern though is finding the time to do all this! Not sure what else will have to give.
Wow, I wonder if this comment will even be read…DANG lot of comments!!
Well, I promoted my post about “4 Fantastic Music Websites You Should Check Out.” You can see it here:
http://www.onlinemusicresource.net/2009/04/4-fantastic-music-websites-you-should-check-out/
I Tweeted the post using HootSuite, which works very well because you can use the “Hootlet” toolbar tool.
The other main reason for doing this is tracking. Using the ow.ly url shortener, you can see how many clicks you get. I haven’t checked my stats yet, but I’ve already gotten 2 ReTweets and 1 reply! (Just posted about 10 min. ago.) Very cool!
Twitter rocks.
Well, since an article here a few weeks ago I have been doing a list post of flickr photos.
I did 5 cat photos the other day and used this to promote tonight as your lesson.
Well its been 15 mins since I did the lesson and have had 4 hits i would not have otherwise had!!! Time will tell….
I also asked a few CAT bloggers to see if thier reader would look at the post and see if they were the kind of photo’s cat lovers liked… i wonder what they will say.
Here is the post
http://www.digital-scene.com/photograph-round-up/photographs-of-cats/
I have a couple of different ways that I promote some of my posts. I use my YIM message feature, that links right to any page. I use ning groups that I have rss feeds into, and I also publize my feeds on my blogs (at least, that is what I’m working on doing).
My message on YIM reads:
Why choose Conklin for your Home Business, see the answers here: http://homebusinessdm.com/questions-to-ask/
Hm… I liked my list post: But When Do You Do It? 7 Ways to Find Time to Blog and Social Network.
It automatically hits Twitter and Facebook, and I get some hits from that. One retweet, which was nice. We’ve also been talking 31-day Challenge over at BlogHer, so I linked it there as well.
I’ve been hitting other people’s posts and commenting and Stumbling. I’ve gotten a few comments on the post, which is nice.
No massive surge in traffic.
I’ve not tried emailing a request for a link to anyone. I’m still mulling that. Maybe waiting for the *right* post. Maybe should have done more of that with my post Flash Your Fempire. I confess to feeling shy/unsure about it.
This program is really worked well me. Not only I get to view so many bloggers blogs, it also give me great motivation to learnt blogging in a systematic way.
1) I have completed elevated pitch “How to Perform SWOT Analysis.” and my list post
http://perform-swot-analysis.blogspot.com
2) I did my promotion with article directory with elevated pitch as “Should Leaders Share Gains in Productivity Improvement?” It was published at
http://EzineArticles.com/?id=2178521
I have yet to do other promotion tasks
I appreciate your inputs.
thanks Darren
Thanks Darren,
Linking to other sites like mine has been a steady source of hits. For those that are shy about approaching others to link to, you are well received when you suggest adding their site to your blog. Another thing I’m trying recently is placing ads for my blog on an on-line publisher (in this case ‘Project Wunderful’) bidding on the sites that sell space for $0. I will get the results of this idea in a few days. I also participate in several discussion forums that relate to my blog. Thanks again, and I hope these ideas help others.
mark
http://www.backyardbrewer.blogspot.com
I have had success with posts when I post my entries in sites. I do anime/video game convention reports and if an anime convention wants to hear stories, videos, or a photo gallery, I would send my blog entry to the site. Soon I have been getting a good amount of viewers. Well, maybe not a lot, but more than my normal amount (which is usually zero).
Forums relating to your blog’s topic also works. Personally, I don’t like social networking sites like MySpace (had an annoying experience) and I have had trouble using social bookmark sites.
Hi Darren,
I was a bit anxious about promoting my posts but you have helped me gain some of the confidence i really need, I am new to blogging you see but it’s something im keen on doing and as an affiliate marketer i know that traffic comes first in every case, Thank You,
Ian
http://www.technopreviews.blogspot.com
Just hit the post up on Twitter – hopefully see an increase in traffic =).
http://www.pauljaques.net/blog/semi-permanent-2009-brisbane-wrap-up/
It has been about 8 hours since I posted this AM, and what a difference a little promotion has made. My blog is so new (about 2mos old) I haven’t even been picked up by the search engines yet. But, today I got more visitors than I have during the life of my blog. Amazing what a little focused effort will do. I also started a Stumble-upon campaign like you outlined in other posts. So I’ll see how this turns out. I realize that this is an on-going process, that relationship building is a must, and that it can be really rewarding. Thanks! If you want to check out my post and slideshow about what to bring on a trip to the park with kids:
http://www.organizing-life.com/planning-a-trip-to-the-park-with-kids/event-planning/
I use the twitter service that reads the rss feed and tweets, then it goes to friendfeed, facebook and all the other networks, I have never actually promoted my blog other than those services, but I think I might actually try to do that this time around.
Hell Yeah! I tweeted mine straight after posting it and have had a record number of hits in the last two days by the way.
check out my latest post:
http://www.tinyurl.com/mlwgblog
This is actually really funny. I planned last night to write a follow-up post today of yesterday’s post and link them to each other.
Yesterday’s post: 6 reasons why casual gaming is stupid.
Today’s post: 6 reasons casual gaming is good.
I have a Twitter account just for my blog, but I really hate Twitter so I just “tweet” my new post titles and a tinyurl link to them.
http://twitter.com/MsGameSnark
I’ve only ever gotten one hit from that, ever. I wonder if it’s because I’m not building relationships there?
Also, I’m having trouble finding amateur blogs in my niche. There are plenty of gaming blogs, but they’re professional, and they aren’t written by girls. The only girl gamer blogs I can find seem to have been abandoned. So who do I connect with?
Sorry for the long comment, just thinking out loud.
Hi Darren,
Hope this doesn’t sound dumb, but I am not good with a blog. A friend of mine online told me about pro blogger. I do read what I can (so much to learn…lol ). Anyway I would like to know is should I keep using google’s blogger or should I switch to godaddy? I have tried both blogger and WP, but neither one I get any comments on. I know there are millions of folks that do blog, however it must be me or since I’m trying to do a blog on houseplants and gardening, again I know there are thousands of this kind of blogs out there. I only work 3 days a week and just wanted something else to do. lol. sorry this is so long and now others can see this. I didn’t want to bother Darren by emailing him, he has enough to do with a REAL blog…lol.
Tony
Darren,
Thank you for pointing out all the ways to promote-market a blog. I have tried some of these and had moderate success. Replying to other bloggers, commenting in travel forums, and in twitter and facebook, promoting my blog when possible, however, the other areas I have not tried.
One of my articles has drawn some interest and I would like for those interested in visiting the Grand Canyon read my article on your first visit: http://www.traveltothewest.com/?page_id=35
Comments you all have are appreciated!
Thank you.
Wayne
I twitted my blog post yesterday right after I wrote it. I also posted it on my Facebook.
For my literary blog I tweet each and every post, I send them all to my Facebook and I list them on the Facebook group I created for my blog. I also send to Reddit. I Digg maybe every 3rd post. And I ping it at Technocrati daily. I hadn’t thought of using LinkedIn but maybe I’ll start using it more for publicizing my articles and blog posts.
There has been absolutely amazing discussion (over 40 comments) on my latest blog post – It’s the kind of discussion that really makes me take a step back and realize the power and impact one can have with words. I encourage you all to check it out and share your thoughts.
Work vs. Life: What Is Your White Whale?
http://www.lifewithoutpants.com/philosophy/work-vs-life-what-is-your-white-whale/
Thanx for all the excellent tips above me, everybody.
By nature I’m kind of a pessimistic smart aleck, but online I’m just a newbie. I ran with the first idea that came to mind, so my list was about “The Top 10 Reasons People Won’t Like My Blog”. If you think you can stand another TopTen, check it out at http://reallidycheck.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/15/
Let me know if I’m anywhere near right, ok?
Hope it’s okay to post once more, I keep forgetting to mention that my TWITTER ID:
@happynutrition
(because happynutritionist wouldn’t fit :-)
Have had a nice increase in visits to my blog/post today thanks to todays lesson, thanks!
Claudia
http://www.weedsandseedswap.com/10-hard-to-kill-garden-herbs-and-plants/
I did a “list post” on my top 10 favorite homes. I had 12 comments all together between this post and the post about my readers’ favorite homes. People sent me emails containing their list and I posted them on my website. All in all, it went pretty good and it was a great way to interact with my readers.
See the post here:
http://www.homesoftherich.net/2009/03/what-are-your-top-10-favorite-homes.html
Aloha Everyone!
Mahalo Darren for another great day of blogging!!
Here is my followup post to yesterdays list post:
http://lunchwithouted.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/1-eating-when-you-feel-hunger/
I would love feedback and suggestions…it’s all good :)
And now I am off to look at what everyone else is doing and hoping to find some new fellow bloggers to connect with.
Aloha, G
After posting
http://florida.ssimms.com/2009/04/08/characteristics-of-a-historic-st-petersburg-bungalow/
I blogged about the same topic on Active Rain, with a link to the original post. That caused a news item to appear on my Twitter account, and the post will also appear on RealEstateStPeteFL.com and on Localism.com
Darren,
Awesome information as always. I’m enjoying and learning a lot from your discussions. I’ve been doing some of the promotional tasks – like linking to other related blogs posts like mine.
This exercise couldn’t have worked out better for me, as I was writing a post (that contained a list) which promoted a tweetchat event helpful to content publishers.
After I posted it, I tweeted the post to the event moderators, which they appreciated and then retweeted.
Plus, my tweet (which links to the post) will show in Twitter search since I used the tweetchat ID, which is #editorchat.
Wow – looks to be quite a few other photography bloggers here to check out too! I have some work to do!
These comments are like a gold vein, I have spent a lot of time here and was well rewarded. Especially at the end, finding Mark Taylor’s home brew site. I am leaving to drop him a line. CHEERS! folks, I had a good time.
Ok, here is what I wrote for the List Post:
11 Different Things People Use Twitter For:
http://mediasosial.com/socialnetworking/11-different-things-people-use-twitter-for
I’ve had really good luck promoting on facebook. Since my blog is in a very specific niche (an extremely minor martial art), I know a lot of the people who practice it in various parts of the world. By sharing “feature” posts on my facebook, they get picked up and spread pretty quickly through the community. This typically results in double or triple my usual traffic over a few days.
I’m writing an anonymous blog so there are added challenges for me in promotion. Add to that the newness of my blog and it’s a project for the future. I’m enjoying the exercies and think it’s going to be incredibly helpful. thank you!
Great post Darren, I do alot of dofollow blog comments and top digg sites get my comments, It works because one of my sites is only 3 months old and came out a PR4 some of my best links come from blog comments of posts I am proud of. http://bambilashes.com/help-my-eyelashes-are-falling-out.php
I had some great luck today promoting my post from yesterday to a few of my twitter followers — even nabbed some comments on this post: http://desireefawn.blogspot.com/2009/04/five-things-i-have-learned-in-my-first.html
I’m writing an anonymous blog so there are added challenges for me in promotion. Add to that the newness of my blog and it’s a project for the future. I’m enjoying the exercises and think it’s going to be incredibly helpful. thank you!
I went the Twitter route. Sent off a tweet and will see what happens. Problem is that my blog topic is so new and unknown that my title might not catch people’s attention.
Here is my Twitter account:
@andrewmsmyth
I wonder how many people will complete all tasks over the 31 days?
– Andrew
My blog is new in a world of frugal, earthy crunchy blogs. I started it because my first blog was all over the place, and very personal. My list post had to do with honey – http://frugalcrunchychristy.blogspot.com/2009/04/honey-in-morning.html I am not sure it is the best I have ever written but it was certainly a great stretching activity. Just like posting the link here!
Thanks.
I’m also trying another promotion technique with Facebook. I have went through and joined photography groups, and added my recent photo posts to the group links section, or uploaded a photo to their album with a link to the post. Since the groups are about sharing photography, I feel it’s relevant to promote my photo posts there.
I also joined some groups about social bookmarking, and added my 8 Reasons to Use Delicious for Social Bookmarking to the links. Hopefully, these group promotions will bring some new traffic.
For me, challenge is an understatement for this one. I do tweet my new posts but I pretty much ignore every other aspect of promotion as a general rule. I’m terrified!
Being a food blogger that isn’t a food photographer I am a bit out of the loop – most foodie sites focus on amazing photos and I’m just not in the game there. Yes I know I should head over to Digital Photography School and get my ass into gear but my focus is really cooking and trying to lose weight at the same time – not necessarily awesome looking food.
I have however got benefit from this already, in that I discovered some great food blogs from this challenge and have linked to them from my site at http://beyondbeeton.com/weight/recipes-that-have-me-drooling-this-week . I hope I’ve helped them out and I will work on my own confidence!
Thanks for the encouragement that the lesson reminders bring.
Ok, I just posted to yesterday’s and realized I should put it here. Excellent advice on this lesson, sooo, I’m going to drop my list in for you and will make my goal to promote the first 10 great lists I find on here.
My list from yesterday was: 17 Totally Inappropriate Poker Pick up Lines. (It’s tongue in cheek and supposed to be funny).
http://sexandpoker.com/sex-and-poker-ed/17-totally-innapropriate-poker-chat-up-lines/
For the record, the use of the first name in the email subject was very effective. I thought for a minute that it was *really* a personal email – then realized obviously – but it’s a great and simple marketing trick.
Darren,
I definitely have to work on approaching other bloggers about posting a link to my blog. In the meantime, I will try some of your other suggestions. Here’s a “relevant” link to my most recent blog post in the comment section of this tutorial. LOL.
http://potholeschicago.com/2009/04/07/akira-is-chicagos-most-popular-fashion-hotspot/
-Philip Nowak
Darren,
Three days in and I’ve managed to find some new readers. I finished this post http://menopausemafia.com/9-authors-we-love/ last night and posted it on Facebook and tweeted about it on Twitter.
Next I am going to check out Stumbleupon. Thanks for all the help, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
Jodi
This is all new to me as well – even though I’ve been blogging since 2003, I have never had much of a following. Today I have been making a conscience effort in commenting & joining conversations on other blogs – in the process – linking to my site. I’ve already had an increase in traffic so I see it’s working.
It seems the most important factor in all of this is consistency. I can gain readers & have a wider subscription base, but if I am not updating regularly it will do nothing but impair my influence.
Thanks for this series – it’s been wonderful.