How to Improve Blog Traffic through Content and Marketing
March 25th, 2009 Posted in Blogging
A successful blog first relies greatly on solid, passionate content. From there, online marketing tools such as RSS feeds and SEO can generate significant traffic for your site. Numerous sites create an exhaustive list of rules and steps that try to help bloggers create a successful site, but in doing so cause confusion for first-time bloggers, like myself, who can feel overloaded with so many thoughts and new concepts. I have therefore compiled a simple list for bloggers to stick by.
With so many sites to compete with, I am now wondering, how could anyone rise to the top?
“SEO can generate significant traffic for your site.”
Through content and marketing. That’s how.
Successful blogging to some has become a mere formula which an endless amount of articles try to define. Sifting through articles describing the ins and outs of blogging, I’ve seen the same rules repeated over and over – but with the same catch… there are no rules. Except these.
Below are simple guidelines to follow to help you expand the flow of traffic to your blog. Before the masses visit your blog, you have to start with the basics of establishing good content.
Content Advice from the Pros of Blogging
Blog Rule #1 – Define what a “successful” blog means to you.
Success is relative. Not everybody wants to be a raging millionaire, nor does everybody want to go out and improve the world. Your approach to your first blog should reflect this. Decide first if you want your blog to be a worldwide hit or a nook in the vast web, and go from there.
Blog Rule #2 – Take time to discover what your passion is and stick to writing about that.
Although you may find Percy (your cat) and the excellent fiber you are getting from your daily bowl of cereal the most interesting point of your day, chances are slim anyone else will. The most visited blogs pertain to single subjects. Find your one subject to write passionately about and a successful blog will follow.
“Choose a subject that people will want to follow.”
Blog Rule #3 – Consistently update your blog to keep and attract new readers.
Frequently updating your blog lets readers know that you are dependable and interested in the topic of choice. The more the readers know about you and your interest and growing expertise in the subject, the more they will expect from your site.
Beware, though, of consistently updating and then not updating as this can have a disastrous effect for any growing site. So, continually update and see how your loyal readers keep coming back for more.
Blog Marketing Rules to Live By
With content set, now comes the fun part – marketing your site to attract a higher flow of traffic.
Blog marketing is essential. Don’t put yourself out there just hoping people will stumble upon your site – make them fall hard for your site! Generating traffic is a carefully crafted technique that the experts, and even you, can perfect.
Once again, the experts have established some basic rules to live by, which I have carefully broken down so even the most computer illiterate users can understand.
Blog Rule #1 – Catchy titles are a must.
In order to show up in search engines so readers can easily find your blog – titles need keywords. Still though, razzle dazzle ‘em, because titles need to be catchy enough for readers to click on your blog out of all the other listings that also show up.
“Titles should be catchy, with keywords.”
Blog Rule #2 – RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds, which are supported by the majority of modern blog hosts, are a key component in spreading and protecting your blog’s content.
These feeds give users the ability to subscribe to your site, whereby a separate program will provide the reader with updated material, like a newsletter, without them having to sift through your blog. Not only that, but your work also gets ‘syndicated,’ meaning that it will be publically available all over the web, but you are always credited.
Blog Rule #3 – Trackback links to generate Search Engine Optimization.
Simply put, a trackback link in our context is a ‘reference’ to one blog found in another. But rather than you having to copy or reiterate the post being referred to, you can simply post a trackback link, (yay shortcuts!) creating interaction between the blogs. In the grand scheme of things, this will help expand your blog’s scope, as search engines can find your blog by its connection with another blog in their index.
| Jessica Presutti
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