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This is part II of the "Why Blog" series. For more from this series check the following link:
Why Blog? Part I - Obstacles to Blogging
When I first started blogging I had no idea what I was doing. I humbly wrote amazingly hilarious articles and did little to promote them. I thought having a site was enough. Then, as I started go forth and examine the world of blogging I started to notice patterns, styles, interesting widgets and sidebar goodies. I still didn’t know what all the little buttons on peoples blogs meant, but I knew that I needed to learn more about blogging and how to effectively market myself to compete with other blogs out there.
In this post I have compiled some useful tips that will help speed you through the learning curve of marketing your blog through the internet—Joeprah style. Keep in mind, we won't be looking at social media or bookmarking just yet, that is an entire post unto itself.
Meta Data
Meta data are the key words and phrases associated with your website or blog and the individual posts on your blog. There are ways in the backend of your website to enter meta data and there are also many plug-ins that will help draw attention to keywords and phrases in your individual posts. Meta data is fundamental to blogging and blogs in general—if you are concerned with readership. Make sure your site’s list of keywords and phrases is extensive and strong. If you would like examples of meta data simply google the topic and you will find countless websites and blogs dedicated to just that. All of this has to do with SEO (search engine optimization) and is a powerful way to ensure your page is near or at the top when searches are conducted in the internet.
Networking
As a blogger, you will come to find that many of your readers are in fact other bloggers. Bloggers in general read many other blogs besides their own. In order to reach out and find other bloggers with similar backgrounds and interests, I found three tools to be the most useful. First, Blog Catalog. This was the first community based blogging directory I joined. Blog Catalog allows you to join or form your own blogging groups. In doing so, you will be able to meet other bloggers of you “genre” so to speak and start creating your own blogroll (more on this later). Blog Catalog, is a good starting place, but it is largely trafficed by bloggers less interested in content and more interested in spamming money making blogs and quid quo pro link sharing techniques. Facebook is another fantastic tool for bloggers. It allows you to let your friends and family know about your blog and add your blog to the growing list of Networked Blogs at Facebook. Facebook is the most popular social networking site on the web (barely edging out Dad Blogs), so it wouldn't hurt to have a Facebook presence as a blogger. I would recommend checking out the Networked Blogs app at Facebook at the very least. Finally, another excellent networking tool is Twitter. With all its server issues and downfalls it remains one of the best ways to gain readership and network with bloggers and potential readers. I will get into using Twitter as a tool to drive traffic to your site in a couple weeks.
Blogging Protocol
If I only knew more about this topic when I started blogging over a year and a half ago I would easily be six to nine months further entrenched in what I would call successful blogging habits.
Comment Other Blogs
Find blogs you enjoy. Don’t read anything that isn’t in your wheel house. If you are into unicycling by all means read blogs about unicycles. Whatever your interests are find blogs that entertain and educate you pertaining to those interests and frequent them. When you are compelled to do so, comment the blog. Comments need to be sincere. Your comments aren’t simply read by the author of the post but anyone that reads that blog. Do you want to be known as the dude that left “good post” as a comment? If you can’t think of anything substantial to say—skip it. When you comment another blog you are essentially networking your own blog. More times than not, you will get readers for your own blog by commenting on other ones.
Comments on Your Blog
When someone leaves a comment on your blog it is important. There are many ways to say you appreciate this input. You can reply to the comment via another comment on your blog. This does two things. It shows the world what your response is to the comment, but it also shows that you take the time to continue the discussion that your blog post may have generated. Another way to respond to a post is by way of email. Email is more of a personal touch. It allows you to have a one on one with your reader and intimately respond to the points in their comments. It is more time consuming, but worth considering. No response. I have seen many blogs where the author simply writes something to get the discussion going and steps back. That is also a cool strategy, but one to employ less seldom. Nasty comments are different. The best thing to do with nasty comments on your blog is to keep them up. If you have readers, they will come to your defense. Also, email the commenter directly and talk to them about their comment. They will be shocked that you did so. More often than not they will see the error of their ways and back pedal, but be sure to be tactful. If you aren’t tactful try to respond via another post highlighting the comment and post your response. If you have an arch enemy that means you are super hero right? Remember, nasty comments indicate you are doing something right—or that you are a gigantic ass.
Blogroll
What is a blogroll? A blogroll is a listing of links to blogs you read or recommend for others to read that appears on bloggers sidebar. Blogrolls accomplish a few different things. They allow other readers to see what you like to read thus giving them a better understanding of what you are all about. Blogrolls also are usually reciprocal and you can often ask another blogger to post your sites link on their blog and in return you will do the same. Having your link on other sites throughout the internet will make your blog stronger--a real 'competitor.' The more sites linking to your blog; the greater your ‘reach’ & ‘authority.' 'Reach’ and ‘authority’ basically determine the monetary value your site has to advertisers--next week I will go over both in much greater detail.
Have Fun With It
Blogging is demanding and if you don’t stay positive it is basically impossible to keep it up. If blogging ever gets too stressful, take a step back. I personally think that sometimes a couple days off from blogging are helpful. I think a good way to have perspective in blogging is to have a goal or mission for your blog. Ask yourself, “Why am I blogging?” You may find that answer will evolve over time. Every few months or so, look over your answers to see where you were, where you are and where you may be going in the future. Stay focused, but don’t lose sight of the fact that blogging is largely an outlet. If you ever feel that blogging is becoming too much like work…then you need to find out how to get paid for your efforts.
Next week I will cover the issues of site rank, authority and reach and how they all effect how you can make money with your blog.
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written by jonnytam13, May 26, 2009
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written by mwfrantz, May 26, 2009
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written by The Devoted Dad, May 26, 2009
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