Did you know that there are an estimated 152 million plus blogs currently on the Internet, with hundreds more being created each day? As a new blogger, it can be difficult to make a name for yourself and attract readers. However, following the steps listed below will set you on the right path for success.
Add Images to Posts
If you aren’t adding images to your blog posts, you are missing out on one of the easiest and most effective ways to attract new visitors. Images enhance blog posts so they are more appealing, and thus visitors are more likely to stay and read the content rather than clicking the back button in their web browser. But the real benefit of having images in your blog posts is that it creates new listings under the search engines’ image index. People may stumble upon your blog’s images from Google Images or Bing Images, funneling huge amounts of traffic to your blog.
Link to Other Websites
Some bloggers avoid linking to other websites, assuming it will send visitors away from their blog. While there’s some truth to this statement, you have to realize that most visitors will return back to your blog if you provide consistent, high-quality content that’s appealing to them. Linking to other websites will often improve your blog’s visibility because when the other site notices the new link you’ve created, they may link back to your blog in return. It’s a you-scratch-my-back-and-I-scratch-yours kind of deal. The key thing to remember, however, is that you should only link to authoritative, relevant sources that are not riddled with spam or other questionable content.
Submit Your Blog to Directories
Another simple way to get noticed as a new blogger is to submit your blog to various directories. There are literally hundreds of blog directories on the web, some of which are free while others require a payment. You submit your blog’s title, description, and URL, and then wait for approval. Once approved, your blog’s listing will be displayed within the directory, putting in front of new users who would otherwise not know about your blog.
Comment on Other Blogs
Don’t underestimate the traffic-generating power of blog commenting. While its SEO value has diminished in recent years, this is still a viable method for generating traffic and visibility. Just search for blogs that are closely related to your niche/industry, read through the posts, and submit a meaningful and constructive comment along with a link pointing back to your blog.
To find blogs that are related to your niche, simply search for the following “blog +[insert your niche here]” Keep in mind that you should only comment on blogs that allow you to add your blog site URL. If the comment area doesn’t have a field for your website, skip it and move on to the next blog.
Post Your Blog Updates on Social Media
Many blogging platforms make it easy to automatically update your social media accounts each time you add something new to your blog. Check to see if yours does, and take advantage of it. Each time you add a new post, the blog image (if it includes one), the post title and the first few lines of text appear on your social media accounts such as Facebook.
Have any other blogging tips that you would to share with our readers? Let us know in the comments section below!
Image attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/81117606@N06/
I’m setting up my first blog and just came across your site. This is a great resource for me.
Are there any specific blog directories that I should use?
Some of the directories I’ve used are Blogged.com, Blog Catalog, Spillbean. There are many. I try to take advantage of the free ones though.