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By Rose DesRochers
You've finally created a blog and you've made your first post.
Now how do you get people to actually read what you're
blogging
about?
Here are some tips on promoting your blog.
1) Quality Content - Interesting content will keep your
readership returning. Update your blog regularly.
Googlebot, which is Google's web-crawling robot loves content.
The more you update your blog, the more frequent the search
engine spiders will return to it.
2) Take part in forums that are related to blogging. Ask other
bloggers for their opinion on your blog and take their
suggestions to heart.
Ask other bloggers for their opinion on your blog and take
their suggestions to heart.
3) Publish an RSS/Atom/XML feed. If you're using Blogger, you
can turn on RSS feed by clicking on settings in your dashboard
and then clicking on site feed and make sure that your
settings
are set to yes.
4) Carefully choose your subject titles, taking into
consideration what other internet users may be searching for.
Use keywords in your title. I suggest subscribing to Word
Tracker. Their report of the most popular searches is
published
each Tuesday and distributed to over 30,000 subscribers.
Technorati.com , is a blog search engine that also lists the
top search words. The more targeted your keywords are, the
greater your return in search engines will be.
5) Involve yourself in commenting on other blogs. You can gain
a loyal readership just by offering feedback to your fellow
bloggers. The comment feature allows you to add a link back to
your blog as well.
6) Be sure to include your blog address in forum signatures
and
in your email signature.
7) Submit your blog to directories.
Submit your blog's url to Technorati, Daypop, Blogdex and
Popdex.
8) Write articles. Include a resource box in your article and
submit it to article directories such as iSnare.com
9) If you're using blogging software such as Blogger, there is
an option to notify the central blog update services (such as
weblogs.com) whenever you've made a new entry to your
blog. Make sure that this option is turned on! In blogger,
click on publish in your dashboard and make sure that your
settings are set to yes under notify weblogs. Alternatively,
you can go to ping-o-matic.com and send out a ping each
time you update your blog. This lets everyone know that you've
just updated your blog.
10) Link to other blogs. Use services like blogrolling, which
is similar to linking. Blogrolling allows you to maintain an
updated list of your favorite blogs. But, don't build a long
blog roll of sites that you have no intention of returning to.
There is nothing more annoying then visiting a blog that has a
humongous blogroll.
Be patient, traffic doesn't happen overnight. The best way
that
I've found to increase traffic is by getting to know people.
Spend what free time that you have, reading blogs, leaving
feedback and building friendships. Try to leave comments on
the
blogs that you visit as often as you can. While you are
waiting
for the traffic to come, just enjoy blogging. You'll be
improving your writing in the process.
Eventually you'll build a network of not just readers, but
friends and loyal supporters. Blogging is not just about
marketing; it's about creating lasting relationships.
About The Author: Rose DesRochers is a published poet and
freelance writer. Rose has been writing poetry for more than
20
years. She is also the founder of www.todays-woman.net,
a
supportive online writing community for men and women over 18.
She is also the Assistant Administrator of
www.invision-graphics.com.
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