KLCK Bloggers Network

October 11 2010

Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny

How to Grow Traffic to Your BlogHow to Grow Traffic to Your Blog

Why Blog?Why Blog?

Shows commitment

Shows passion

Positions you as an expert in your field

Determine Your NicheDetermine Your Niche

Position yourself as a niche expertIs it clear what your blog is about?Is it your passion?Helps you stay focused and on

track

Determine Your AudienceDetermine Your Audience

Craft your posts based on your audience’s needs

Write with your audience in mindWhat valuable content can you provide

them with?This will help you stay focused

Create Compelling ContentCreate Compelling Content

Brevity and Regularity

Google loves updated content

Post frequently but quality wins over quantity

Start with a Great HeadlineStart with a Great Headline“On average, 5 times as many people read the

headlines as read the body copy. It follows that unless your headline sells your product, you have wasted 90% of your money.” - David Ogilvy, founder of the Ogilvy & Mather advertising agency

Google: “Recent research suggests that users decide to stay or leave your site in 8 seconds or less — in that short amount of time, headlines are the one piece of copy that users will actually read.”

Source: Denise Fay: How to Write Killer Headlines – denisefay.com

Top Tips for HeadlinesTop Tips for HeadlinesShort and simpleDraw in the reader with your

headlineAsk a question10 ways, or 7 easy stepsHow to headline

Ask YourselfAsk Yourself1. Does your headline touch a nerve?2. Does it make a unique claim or statement?3. Does it provoke curiosity?4. Is it credible?5. Is it specific?6. Does it have a news element?7. Does it offer a compelling benefit for

reading?

Source: Clayton Makepeace teleconference, 12/20/06. (Courtesy of The Blog Squad)

A Note on SEOA Note on SEO

Use your SEO terms in your first line, and throughout blog post

Rule of thumb – 2 - 4% Anything more is keyword-stuffingRespond or guest post often

Create Interest with ImagesVisually interesting and relevantAttracts the eye, draws you inRoyalty free images- iStock, FlickrScreen capturesVideoVery Important: Include the credit and

link back to the photographer's page on Flickr, etc.

Drive Traffic: Build LinksDrive Traffic: Build Links

Links are web currencyGoogle considers each

link to your site a vote for the site

butWhere those links

come from is important

Creating LinksCreating LinksComment and post your url on

other relevant blog postsGuest post on other peoples

blogs or sitesAdd a hyper-link to your bio to

help increase links

Build Traffic with CommentsBuild Traffic with Comments

1. Readers leave comments on your blog

2. You leave comments on other sites

Leveraging CommentsWhat percentage of visitors leave a

comment on your blog?You want them to returnSo..Leave a reply, push the conversation,

answer a query, thanks and acknowledge

My Top TipMy Top Tip

Email directlyand/or

comment on the blog of

those that leave comments for you

Connect and EngageMake it personal - avoid automated softwareExclusive Free Offer - e.g. e-bookNo Signup Required Your Social Media Channels –include links to

your Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Their Social Media Channels - if they include a

link to their Twitter account, follow them AND add them to a List you’ve created. Most people feel flattered when added to lists and tend to follow back.

Source: Ivan Walsh via Bloggertone 11-10-10

Extend the ConversationIf the person writes a particularly

interesting responseCreate a new post and use their material

as the starting point Include the comments and use these are

the framework for the post. Or ask the person to guest post for you to

extend the conversation

Other CommentsAdd value – if you can’t add any value to

the post don’t post linksPush the conversationAs I leave comments on other peoples'

blogs I am building relationships Try to post comments on blogs that have

influence

Drive Traffic: Host a WebinarDrive Traffic: Host a Webinar

Demonstrate an aspect of your expertise.

Remind your audience they can continue getting the same great content by subscribing to and reading your blog

Run a ContestRun a ContestSocial Media Examiner offers this idea:Run a contest based on the content of your

blogHave an “answer hunt” where the answers

to win the prize are found within the blog posts

That will get people reading while attempting to win a prize

Then use Twitter to post questions and the winner(s)

Grow Your Online Community

Tips for Building CommunityTips for Building Community

Share knowledgeEngageIt’s not about broadcasting yourself,

it's about conversationDevelop a strategy to have them

WANT to become part of the community

Guest Blog PostsGuest Blog PostsInviting other bloggers to guest

post on your blog Offering to guest post on

complementary blogsMyBlogGuest

(myblogguest.com)

Benefits of Guest Blogging

Reach new audience Build your brand Network Build links to your site Get free exclusive content Get new fresh perspective

Promote Your Blog

How to Promote Your BlogHow to Promote Your BlogBlog directoriesWrite and post a media releaseSend an email announcement to your

mailing lists Create a video to promote Your blogRelease videos through YouTubePublish a blog post from your own website

with the video on itGoogle loves combination of video AND

WordPress

Share the LoveShare the Love

1. Make it easy for readers to share your posts

2. Share the love – return the favour

Promoting your Blog on TwitterPromoting your Blog on Twitter

Write a strong bioAdd a link to your blogPromote your posts to TwitterDon’t be a spammer!Engage with your Twitter communityUse a Twitter management tool such as

HootSuite, Tweetdeck to monitor conversations by setting up searches for particular keywords

Maximising LinkedINMaximising LinkedINCreate a groupJoin existing

groups Provide helpful

answers to questions

Also Yahoo Answers

LinkedIN Answers LinkedIN Answers Sign into your

LinkedIn account. Use search bar, select

Answers from the dropdown and enter your keyword.

Why not try answering some?

Use the Advanced Search option to find keywords specifically in questions only, and check the option to look for only open questions.

In Conclusion….

3 Keys to Success3 Keys to Success

1. Keep Blogging 2. Keep Promoting3. Keep Engaging