- Be an expert on a particular topic - Share your knowledge about a subject many people may not know about in depth. If you're a nurse, you can provide information about hospital protocol. Or, maybe you know how to make macrame.
- Offer promotion to others - Let your readers show off their own talents and they'll love you for it. Invite them to comment about their books, if it's a writing blog, or maybe about recipes if it's a cooking blog.
- Hold a contest - Extend a reward to lure people to your blog. This one works for the time being, but I don't like to do it often. It's nice to offer rewards to people for visiting, but you want people who will come back for more than freebies.
- Choose a layout that reflects what your blog is about. I'm constantly changing my layout and am never completely satisfied with it. It's still a work in progress, as are my WIP and my website. On the same lines, if you have a standout layout with some great pics, that will draw readers back again once they've seen it.
- Post to egroups, Facebook and other social networks when you have a blog you really want to promote. Make sure you send the posts to places you think would have members interested in the particular topic on the post; so don't send emails to mystery groups if your blog is about how to make chicken soup.
- On the subject of egroups, respect their rules. Some, like Kindle Korner, don't want any posts with links to blogs.
- Visit other blogs and make comments on them. Blogger do notice this, and many of them will reciprocate. When I had Wednesdays off work, I was able to do this more often. I really miss this interaction. Now, it's hit or miss. When I can, I'll dash off to a blog and comment, but time is of the essence.
- Be a nice person. If you treat online friends well, they're likely to come over to your blog just to be nice back to you.
- Set the mood. Let your blog reflect the image you wish to project. Don't put on a dumb act if you want people to respect what you have to say. On the other hand, don't act like a know-it-all. That's a sure way to turn people off.
- Have a bestseller. This is something I'm still working on. (g) People are drawn to success, hoping some of it will rub off on them in some way.
Morgan Mandel -
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
26 comments:
I agree with your ideas. Visiting and commenting on other blogs seems to really help. I know fellow bloggers who visit a hundred blogs a day and they get a lot of followers in return. Personally, I don't really know what the key is except to be yourself.
I like the changes you make to your blog, Morgan. This soft brown background is soothing.
MORGAN-Yes, I am the blog junkie. Every item on your list is exactly right, especially number 10. I can pretty much do 1-9, but number 10 throws a kink in my plan. I need to work on that one--how to write and sell a Best Seller! Good advice! Celia
Lots of good ideas here, Morgan. Thanks so much for sharing them. Although I must admit when i read your header the little devil in my head said, oh, sure, what with? Bullwhips and sheepdogs? I mean, how else?
Christiane France
Great advice, Morgan!
As always, Morgan, you've given some great advice. I try to do most of what you've said, but haven't had a contest from my blog yet, though I've had them when I'm on a blog tour.
Marilyn
I left out about 5 more ways, one of them being blog tours. I see if anyone can think of any other ones before I mention them.
Morgan Mandel
http://myfearlist. blogspot.com
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
All great points, Morgan. Though I need a time machine to get everything done each day! Having day jobs, writing, and promoting published books are three fulltime activities.
So I'd add to have a sense of humor and more than a little patience. Also, pictures help, as well as timely topics. If you blog about someone's pet peeve or fav topic, they'll click over in a heartbeat.
This was great, Morgan. Especially, the have a best seller:)
This is an excellent list, Morgan. I especially like the part about having a best seller. Wouldn't we all love that!
Great advice, Morgan, esp. the addendum on blog tours. I also think being funny, if you can be, is a good way to attract followers.
As for No. 10...I'm off to work on it.
Morgan-- Thank you for sharing these great ideas. Now if I could only make tome to post on my blog again after neglecting it for six months. Maybe one day when life allows.
Great advice, as always, Morgan!
Thanks for the advice. I always enjoy looking at the book covers that run vertically on your blog. --BrendaW.
Great post, Morgan! I am new to blogging and your suggestions gave me a lot to think about. Thanks.
I visited your blog and signed on to follow it.
--Michelle Black
Www.Victorianwest.blogspot.com
Thanks for going the extra step and visiting my personal blog, Michelle, and becoming a follower.
When I get a chance, I'll post this listm along with a few more tips I thought of afterwards, on my personl blog for reference at http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
Morgan Mandel
I like your suggestions: very practical. It's fun seeing how they are applied by various bloggers (writers and reviewers) because there are so many ways to do it.
Whether one calls it one's platform, brand or personality, each blog is rather like the living room of a friend's home, so different, yet also inviting.
Malcolm
Would love to have a best seller! That would be a blog attraction, especially if you could advise your readers how to do it themselves!
I would also love to be able to visit 100 blogs a day, but how would you get anything else done? I tend to get hooked and want to read more about the people I visit. It's been so much fun to meet and get to know a lot of you through your blogs!
Thanks for the advice, Morgan...
Monti
MaryMontagueSikes
Good advice. I'd like to get more outside the box in terms of getting the word out about my blog, Suspense Your Disbelief (see? trying to get the word out :)
One idea I think would be fun is a conversation between bloggers--readers would go from one to the other to foll and participate in a discussion on some relevant topic.
I love the way blogs extend and create a community.
Great checklist, Morgan - you hit key points.
You are so right, Morgan. But especially the thing about the time factor! With the P/T jobs, the POA for Mom, the 4 kids, the college bills, the husband...what I really need to do is figure out how to cut my sleep back to about 2 hours a night! THEN I'd really get something done!
Hi Morgan,
Thanks, a lot of helpful suggestions there.
Regards
Margaret
Hi, Morgan,
Excellent suggestions! I have two to add:
1. When you announce your post on loops etc., use an intriguing title, something that will draw readers to look. Don't just say "Guest today at..." or "I blogged" (I know, it sounds goofy but I see that a lot.) Instead, come up with something like "Do we really need men?" or "The dangers of success" or "Sex and death..."
2. When you announce your post, include the direct link to the specific post you're announcing, especially if your blog is updated frequently. Some readers, particularly people on digest, might not see your announcement until after a new post has been added. The direct link should allow them to go to the post you announced and not get confused.
Best,
Lisabet
You saved the best until last, Morgan--write a bestseller. But then, if you do that, you don't really need to do the blogging bit, do you?
Cheers, Donna
Very helpful tips. Thanks Morgan.
Pat Bean
Hadn't thought about mentioning the blogs I've just read but will add it to that misc/unfiled stuff between my ears LOL Mostly agree with Helen - be yourself - I read what catches my eye or make me smile or best of all help in some way.
Cheers!
Jackie Griffey
Morgan: Thank you for you great tips. I've only been blogging for a month now (still learning how to become more technologically savvy) but my readership is growing. I've gotten readers from other countries though I'm not sure how they've found me. (Don't know how to link to 'keywords') Something I've been doing that my followers enjoy -- after each article I offer up a fun quiz. Feel free to check it out at www.vivianrhodes.blogspot.com
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