Here is the latest entry in my "Blog Basics" series.  Someone asked about promoting your blog on the Blog-City mailing list, thus the inspiration for this post.  To view all the "Blog Basics" posts click here.

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Once you setup your blog and get it all decked out, you want to share it with the world.  We all have to admit we blog because at some level, we want others to read our stuff.  Some just more than others.  In this post I will talk about methods to increase traffic to your site that I have/do/used/tested/attempted/etc. 

Reviewing my stat counters on a regular basis show that the following works for me.

Leave comment on other blogs:  When you visit another site and you have a comment to make, leave your link to your blog.  This will generate at least one visit from the owner of the blog, but also other reader from their blog my visit you. 

Trackbacks:  If you have a substanial amount to words to comment on others posts, create a post of your own and trackback to the post of interest.  I trackbacked to a post on popular blog a few months ago and it is one of my top 10 pages viewed.  If you don't really have anything to comment on, you can find blogs that do memes.  These are very easy and will get hits from the trackbacks.  For myself, I don't like to use memes in my blog since I think they are mostly filler.  However, Prochein Amy officially sponsers "It's Blogcess" from Uptown Girl.  She does a good job of making memes that are informative.  And no, I do not get paid for my sponsership.

Join a Carnival:  This is like a blog party.  Bloggers with common interests get together to share posts, insights, and/or information.  They do not cost any money to join, usually just an email with a link to your post.  I participate in the Carnival of Recipes.  If you really want to increase your traffic, volunteer to host.  This can be some work, since you have to compile the links into one post, but I have seen my traffic increase, so it is worth the time and effort.  Below are a sampling of Carnivals:

Carnival of Recipes - My favorite and started by Beth at She Who Will Be Obeyed.
Carnival of the Capalists
Carnival of the Cats
Christian Carnival (details are on the right gutter)
Carnival of the Vanities
Here is a good round up from King of Fools and Watcher of Weasels.  These are post from this current week, so if you are viewing this after January, then I would go to their main site from the links about to see if there are current posts.

Traffic Earning Programs:  These are sites that you earn traffic from by visiting other member's blogs. 

Blog Explosion has an extensive FAQ on their site, but the basics are you surf other member's blogs for 30 seconds.  Once the 30 seconds is up, you can move on to the next one.  For each visit you make, you get credits, and then you increase the number of times your blog is viewed by other members.  You can advertise your blog by "purchasing" banners with your credits.  While surfing, you can rate other blogs, add them to your Blog Explosion bookmarks, and leave comments.  Now for my take on Blog Explosion.  It is a traffic generator, but I am not sure what the quality is.  I am sure there are a bunch of people who just keep the screen up for 30 seconds, then quickly move on.  What I would like to know is how many people visit my site and then come back?  I think it is excellent for new bloggers for some quick exposure, but for me long term, my goal is to have repeat traffic.  I want people to come back. 

Another site is BlogClicker.  I just signed up a few minutes ago and surfed.  Same principle as Blog Explosion, they even have the same layout including banners.  I will update more on this after I have used it for awhile.

This entry at Uptown Girl has a good discussion about the differences in the comments.

With StumbleUpyou download a little tool that works like Blog Explosion, but it is not just for blogs and credits are not involved.  It has all types of websites.  You can pick what type of sites you like, and if you find a site you like, you can add it to the Stumble Upon community.  This is in my top 15 of referers and I have found some great blogs and non-blogs through it.

List your blog in "Blog-books":  Like yellow pages for blogs, see this previous entry.  These do not generate a high volume of traffic, but I do get hits here and there.  Worth the time to get listed, but don't expect much from them.

Blogroll 'em:  If you find a blog that you REALLY like, put them on your blogroll.  When you go to visit their site (from the blogroll) , they will see that someone came from your blog in their stats*.  Then they will visit your site.  If they like what they see, they may even come back.  Or even better - add you to their blog roll!!!!

Blab, yack, tell it to the world!  If you have no concerns about who reads your blog, tell everyone about it.  Your friends, co-workers, family.  Add the link to your email signature.  You could even create a t-shirt with your blog link.

In summary -
PARTICIPATE!!!

If you just post entries and do nothing else, you will get minimal traffic.  You have to put into the "blogosphere" to get some back.  Visit other sites, leave comments, and try the suggestions above. 

If you have any suggestions or ideas to add, please email me at procheinamy (at) gmail (dot) com.

*Post related to stat monitoring here.

Category: Blog Basics