
Build your traffic My post about Monetizing My Blog sparked a lot of interest from bloggers and non-bloggers alike. Since so many are interested…I decided that I would start a series of posts titled “Monetizing Your Blog“. This series will serve as a helpful jump start for anyone wanting to begin monetizing their blog, or just to get some new ideas.
You can sign up for all the affiliate programs, have several Google Ad Sense banners running, and post your referral links until you are blue in the face. If you don’t have traffic, you can forget about making any money from your blog.
How to Get Traffic To Your Blog
So how do you get traffic? Well the internet is wide and vast and if you want traffic you have to go out there and get it. I recently wrote this article on Quick Online Tips about Why New Blogs Fail. First and foremost, make sure your blog isn’t making any of those big mistakes. Make sure you have a Twitter account and Facebook fan page associated with your blog. Promote your posts in social media. That is the easiest and most predictable way to get your content out to the masses.
What Else Can I Do To Get Noticed?
These are my 5 best traffic boosting suggestions as of right now. I have had good success with all of these methods.
- Promote your writing and your niche elsewhere. I freelance for Associated Content and Ezine Articles. At times I re-purpose content I write here to submit over there. Associated Content can also earn you some money. These sites rank very high in the search engines, so by association…your articles will get a boost. You can link to your blog from your bio, so if someone clicks on your author profile, they’ll land back on your site.
- Guest Post. I posted about why guest posting works for me already, but it bears repeating. Guest Posting has been my #1 traffic booster
- Comment GENUINELY on other blogs in your niche. This means you read what is written and you write a comment that says more than “Great Post! Rock On With Your Bad Self.”. No one expects a 3 paragraph monologue in their comment section, but well thought out comments make people take notice and might drive some traffic back to your site.
- Take the time to build up your email list. The more people who see you in their inbox every day, the more people that will come to your blog. I subscribe by email to VERY few blogs. Those that I do subscribe to, I visit almost every day. I’m currently running a monthly giveaway right now for those that subscribe by email. I’m also about to release my very first e-book! It will be free with email sign up (don’t worry, if you are already subscribed you will be the FIRST to receive the e-book!)
So I Have Traffic, Now What?
Now you have to keep your traffic. This pretty much means that whatever it took to get them there?
You need to deliver on.
Be a responsible, trustworthy blogger and you shouldn’t have much trouble keeping your audience. If you give your readers what they want, they will stick around! I love my readers, I think hard and long every day about what they want, and what they need from me. I’m here to help them and once I stop delivering on that promise…they’ll go elsewhere.
Another thing to think about is how targeted is your content? Be sure not to lose focus on what the primary content of your blog should be made up of. Family Friendly Frugality is a family blog about frugal living.
If it doesn’t fit in those categories, it shouldn’t be a part of my blog. Don’t get me wrong, my personality and my life is ever present.
I’ve learned through this experience that my readers expect a certain stream of topics from me. They want to see hot deals, money saving tips, frugal recipes & activities and ways to earn money!
Topics outside of that focus don’t do much for the blog or my readers.Be Patient!
You aren’t going to build an email list overnight. You aren’t going to have 60,000 visitors a day in a month. It takes time to build up a readership.
Have patience, keep plugging away and be an authoritative voice within your niche and you will succeed!
What a great post. Your advice and experience is priceless. I didn't realize until now that you were running 3 blogs at once. Love your ideas, still getting my feet wet and taking all of this blogging expertise to heart.
Thanks
Thank you Michele!!! Honestly, it's a hard road to walk and it's not a matter of too little info out there…there is too MUCH. I just want to help new bloggers out by giving them concise and clear info in one place.
Hi , ive recently became a stay at home mom & I am desperate to help my husband any way I can.. So I’m thinking about blogging . I need a lot of help and a better understanding of it all. You can email me at amberleighland@gmail.com if you’d like to help. 🙂 thank you.
Hi Amber! Unfortunately my life is super crazy right now. I would love to be a blogging mentor, but I just know I don’t have time to be a good one right now. If you have specific questions, I would be happy to help, you can just go ahead and email me at heather @ familyfriendlyfrugality.com (no spaces). Thanks!
Hi I'm a new follower via Be one fine day blog hop. I am still just building my blog and I'm looking for any advice to make a great blog. I will be back for sure to check out more of your posts.
http://www.canadiancouponmom.blogspot.com
You have fantastic articles! I am so thankful you aren’t charging for your gems of knowledge (though you could totally do an ebook) 🙂 Thanks for the tips. I am going to focus on a couple of these that I haven’t done yet 🙂 Thanks!
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Thank you for posting this, My site is fairly new, all though I have keep an old fashion journal – on paper! and now have to get it all into my blog. These tips will be very help and I will put them to good use. http://www.fitmom3girls.com
I’m glad to help Liz! Good luck on your new site. Be sure to ask questions!
.. looks like I didn’t read my post before hitting submit. sorry for the spelling errors 🙂
Don’t worry! I didn’t even notice!
Thank you Heather. This was very helpful. I have to agree that staying focused is extremely important. I am thinking of starting a blog – but I need to narrow down my topic.