Dear Frugal Upstate,
Hi! I have followed your website for a while now and love it. I started my own blog about 6 months ago. I love blogging, but I was wondering how you got your name out there? It looks like you have done so well with your blog, How did you become part of the eleven moms? I just can’t figure out how to grow my blog- seems like when i find a deal it’s already on another blog.
Thanks for your time-Like I said I love your website.
Amber
Amber,
Thanks for writing! I’m so glad you enjoy reading Frugal Upstate and I am flattered that you are coming to me for blogging advice.
Long story short-there is no quick, easy, magical way to tell someone how to improve their blog readership & get more attention. I blogged very regularly and steadily for over 2 (almost 3) years before I got any real kind of attention. I worked hard, wrote a lot, tried to make it good.
In the long run it was a break that Walmart asked me to participate in the Elevenmoms-but that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t had the hard work, writing and audience to back it up. Even after I became a part of that groundbreaking group I had to continue to work hard and take the opportunities I was offered and make something out of them.
Are there people who start a blog and are wildly successful after just a few months? Yes-of course. But that combination of skill, audience, timing and luck can’t be replicated. They either happen or don’t.
That being said, there are a lot of little things that can be done to increase your chances-I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of them in other places, but here it goes.
#1-Write well. Ok, basic, but make sure what you are saying is interesting, well formatted (aka easy on the eyes to read) and spelled correctly. Really-use spell check! There is no excuse. Or use Firefox for your browser so you can automatically have it spell check everything you type on line. Oh, and use grammar correctly as well-unless you are making a conscious stylistic choice 🙂
#2-participate. Answer the comments of folks on your own blog. Go and make comments on other blogs (although not spammy link bait type comments) join relevant forums and become part of the community.
#3-Utilize other social networks. You can get info about your site and posts out on Twitter, Facebook,Stumbleupon, and Whrrl.
#4-Pitch yourself locally. This is hard for most of us to do, but don’t be afraid to try contacting local news outlets with ways you could be used in a story. Worse they can do is say no.
#5-Offer to guest post on other blogs. Now don’t go spamming everyone you know with a form letter offering guest post services! That is just annoying. But if you see someone doing a call for submissions then go ahead and offer to write, and make sure you put a nice little bio at the bottom with a link back to your site.
Ok, so those are the basics. Seems like a lot of work doesn’t it? Well, it is! I told you there wasn’t any quick and easy answer.
I’m not done with the advice yet. . .
You were absolutely right when you say most deals are available in many, many places online. To me it seems that the deal blogger market is getting over-saturated. Tons of folks doing it-and doing it well. What reason do folks have to come to YOUR blog? Should you expand your topics? Let more of your personality show? Maybe even consider switching topics completely? There is no right or wrong answer-just things for you to consider.
Great advice, Jenn! I love number 1. One of the reasons I don’t read certain blogs anymore is because of the actual writing. Typos and grammar mistakes are a pet peeve of mine, so I can’t really enjoy the post if it’s full of them.
Jenn,
I have been reading your blog for two years now. I think your blog has been a constant for myself because of the way you present the information. I read another blog occasionally and that is it, especially since I do a lot of academic reading on the computer, so a little break and tension releaser is reading the article or maybe listening to your podcast. Usually your topics interest me, and I have tried some of the recipes as well. My husband loves the asian chicken salad and takes it for lunch every couple of weeks. I appreciate all of your hard work, so thanks for putting it out there.
Heather
Nice tips Jenn! I especially like the tip about replying to your readers. It’s important to let your readers know that you care about their responses and that you appreciate their time…
I think participating in carnivals (like Works for Me Wednesday at http://www.wearethatfamily.com/) helps a lot, too. I always go through and read a lot of the links while I’m killing time in between chores or during a break at work. I’ve definitely added some blogs to Google Reader that way!
I agree the the market is getting oversaturated with blogs offering deals but they seem to have the most readers! I’m trying to find a happy medium between some good deals, money & finance articles, and frugal tips.
Amiyrah-Grammar is important! It’s one thing to make a stylistic choice. I do that-I tend to write the way I speak more or less. But it is totally another matter to just use poor grammar & spelling. If blog posts are difficult to read because of mechanical errors like that readers won’t stick around long!
Amyrlin-Awww, you so had me blushing with your comment. I’m honored that you enjoy my blog so much!
Kristen from FiLife-I think that the comments on a blog are a conversation, and I want to join in! By replying a blog author can have a much better and more personal connection with the folks who read. It is very important. Of course, I don’t always reply, sometimes life gets the better of me. But rest assured, I really do read every single comment.
Catherine-Great point. Carnivals can be a big traffic builder, especially if you are consistent. I seem to constantly forget to enter them!
Jenne-I haven’t had a chance to browse your blog yet, but I think your plan of having a balance between the different types of posts is a good one. It’s funny-I’m very jealous of the numbers some of my deal blogger friends have, but they are jealous of the loyalty & person relationship I have with my readers that they don’t get.
thanks for the great tips trying out the comment on other blogs today