How to Create a Successful Blog
Part Four: Get More Traffic

If you’ve followed along with part one, two, and three of this series, by now, your blog is popping like a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne! You’ve figured out a structure for your blog. You’re listening closely to find out what your ideal clients want most and you’re writing posts that are custom-tailored to their needs. You’ve published several pieces. You’re getting a positive response. Things are rolling along.

Now it’s time to get more people reading your blog. While having patience is a must while you build your audience, there are a number of things you can do to increase traffic to your blog.

For starters, here are 12 steps you can take:
 

1. Publish frequently

The more frequently you post, the more traffic you get because search engines are indexing your content more frequently. If you’re just starting out, try to post at least once or twice a week. But of course, do whatever is realistic for you. If two posts a week is going to stress you out and send you into hysterics, then forget about it! Set a reasonable goal that you can sustain over the long haul.
 

2. Add your blog to your email signature

At the bottom of your email signature, add something like, “Check out my latest blog post” with a link to your blog. Most people send more than 100+ emails every week. That’s 100+ opportunities to let people know about your blog.
 

3. Add your blog to your marketing materials

Same idea here. Add the URL for your blog at the bottom of your company profile, bio, FAQ sheet, on your business card, etc. So many opportunities to let people know, “Hey, I’ve got a blog!”
 

4. Include multiple subscription options

Most blog platforms have RSS feeds built in, but make sure you offer an email subscription as well. Email subscription services include Feedburner, Feedblitz and AWeber. This way, people can be automatically notified whenever you’ve got a new post, which makes it way more likely that they’ll pop over and read your new piece.
 

5. Comment on industry blogs

Read other influential blogs in your industry and comment and contribute to the conversation when it feels appropriate. When you leave a comment, you have the option to include the URL address to your own blog. Then, other readers can click the link to scope out your work.
 

6. Write a few guest articles

Many popular blogs feature “guest bloggers,” also called “guest writers” or “guest “contributors.” You can write a post that’s published on someone else’s blog, which is a great way to introduce yourself to a new audience and drive traffic back to your own blog.

(This is kind of like when an actor appears as a guest on a late-night talk show. They pop onto the show for a few minutes, say hi, share a funny story, plug their latest movie, and then they depart. Their goal is to get people heading to the movie theater. Just like your goal is to get people heading to your blog.)
 

7. Set up a Google profile

Set up your profile on Google and include links back to your blog and website. Whenever someone searches for you, a link to your profile will be featured at the bottom of the first page of search results.
 

8. Announce new posts on social media

You just posted something new on your blog? Great! Make sure to announce this on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social platforms you use. Your Instagram followers might have no idea that you’ve got a new blog post for them to check out—so let them know!
 

9. Add share buttons to your blog posts

There are a variety of widgets that you can add to your blog to make it easy for readers to spread your content all across the web. Posts can be shared on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Delicious, Stumbleupon and more. Find one that you like and add it as the footer to all of your posts. The one that I use and like is called Sexy Bookmarks.
 

10. Distribute video on multiple platforms

If you enjoy “vlogging” (video blogging as opposed to writing your posts), make sure you distribute your video to multiple video sharing platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Blip.tv and more. Don’t forget to include a link back to your blog home page.
 

11. Swap links with other bloggers

Ask a few of the bloggers that you read and respect if they would be open to swapping links. In other words, you link to them, and they link back to you. The higher their traffic, the more likely you will optimize your own site in the search engines.
 

12. Create social proof

Ask your favorite clients for raving testimonials about you and your blog. Post these testimonials on your blog to establish credibility and validity and build authority.
 

There are so many different ways to drive traffic to your blog and get more people reading your work. I just laid out 12 suggestions for you to try. If you do all 12 things I just mentioned, you will definitely get results.

At the end of the day, though, the best way to get more people reading your blog… is to create a really excellent blog. A blog with personality. A blog that’s honest and inspiring. A blog with strong opinions. A blog that’s not vanilla, not watered down and safe. If you put courage into your blog, and take creative risks, that’s how you build a devoted fan base. Sure, link-swapping can help, and making a Google profile is great, but one of the MOST important questions you want to ask yourself is: “How can I make my blog a work of art?” “How can I make my blog really special, truly valuable to my readers, a blog that’s worth sharing and talking about?”

Stay focused on those questions and in time, you won’t have to constantly drive more traffic to your blog. In time, your fans will do the talking, raving, and marketing for you—they’ll recommend your blog to friends and bring new people to the party every week. Why? Because your blog is just so damn good.

 

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Catch Up:

To catch up on everything you might have missed, here’s part one, part two,
and part three of this series on how to build a successful blog.