In this post we’ll talk the first two actual methods of promoting your blog that I love to use. Obviously this list could likely go on forever, but in the interests of saving us both a bit of time, I’ll just focus on the things I know work very well. You can insert other methods you run across elsewhere at your leisure.
This is part 2 of a 3 part series. Here is where you can find out why a marketing plan is important, in case you missed it.
Guest Posting
Just like what I am doing here, (courtesy of Alex) you can guest post on other folks’ blogs. There are of course some guidelines to follow if you want to get the most bang for your blogging buck.
You’ll want to choose blogs that are fairly well trafficked themselves.
Sure, it’s nice to guest post for your friends who may not have much traffic or readership. Unfortunately, it’s not going to help you grow your own blog too much.
However, if you’ve time to spare and that’s your thing, go for it. Just make sure you also include several blogs on your itinerary that can help you in your growth efforts.
You’ll want to pitch those blogs appropriately.
Simply popping of an email saying “Hey! Can I like… guest post for you or something?” and not including anything else relevant in your proposal likely won’t get you very far. Bloggers want to know who the heck you are, what you’ve done, and what you can offer them.
Especially when you’re hitting up blogs who may have a pretty high profile in the blogosphere. They will simply hit the delete button and ignore you. At the very least they’ll respond with a negative and your efforts at guest posting will fall flat.
You’ll want to create your very best content.
Hopefully that really goes without saying, but seriously… don’t give a blog that is willing to feature you anything less than your best stuff. I know it’s tempting to use your best stuff on your own blog, but really… you’ll get a lot more mileage from it elsewhere, at least when you’re first starting out.
Throwing together crappy content just to get a link on a high traffic blog is a quick road to getting the snub. They definitely won’t have you back a second time, and if it’s poorly written they probably won’t even post it at all.
Think of it like a job interview and always put your best foot forward. Blog owners will thank you and likely be happy to feature you again in the future.
Obviously this isn’t a comprehensive guide, but it’ll give you some key basics. And you can get more key basics straight from Alex himself.
The Unbeatable Benefits of Guest Blogging
Posting on others’ blogs is highly beneficial to your own blog. Many of the benefits below cannot be achieved if you do not get out there and post, so hopefully what I have listed below will get you a little motivated to get out there.
- Exposure to new audiences you wouldn’t otherwise get.
- Extra traffic that you can then (with your own great content) hopefully convert to subscribers.
- Link juice from obtaining a link from a blog higher up in the food chain than you.
- Experience writing for different audiences that allows you to cultivate your own “voice” even better.
- Amazing friends and new connections that can help you in your blogging journey.
- And then someday… the chance to pay it forward to another new blogger who needs a boost.
Blog Commenting
One of the best ways to get is to give. And in the blogosphere, one of the best ways to give is by participating in the community of a blog you love to read. You participate by leaving comments relevant to the post, and interacting with both the blogger and the other readers. AKA community.
What you DON’T want to do
- Don’t spam a blog with irrelevant comments just for the sake of a link.
- Don’t drop silly one-liners like “Great post!”
- Don’t leave comments with poor grammar and spelling.
- Don’t comment on blogs you don’t actually like to read.
- Don’t comment on a blog just because they commented on yours and you feel obligated.
- Don’t leave disrespectful or inflammatory comments.
- Don’t drop links in your comments except exactly where it says to input your link.
- Don’t comment on every single post on a blog. (Unless of course you really did enjoy every single post… but that’s not likely!)
What you DO want to do
- Do leave comments that are relevant and meaningful to the post.
- Do leave comments that are thoughtful and unique.
- Do read other folk’s comments to make sure you’re not just rehashing what’s already been said.
- Do participate in community with your comments… like answering questions of other commenter’s.
- Do subtly suggest your expertise and/or intelligence with your comments.
- Do make sure to leave a link to your site where appropriate. Keywords in the ‘name’ field are fine if you see it’s allowed.
So how about you? Is blog commenting and guest posting a part of your promotional arsenal? Or have you been a little nervous on putting yourself out there in the blogosphere to really start with these two methods? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and we’ll see how we can help.
And there ends part 2 of our epic little saga. Don’t forget to check out part 3, where I talk about the final two promo methods I personally use.
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?something that every blogger does in his lifetime…..
i comment everyday and guest post once a week and this is getting me good results
Most definitely!
And if it’s working for you, keep at it… don’t get too sidetracked by other things. Maybe set aside a time once or twice a month to implement a new tactic you’d like to try, and see how it goes…. if it turns out well, add it to your arsenal.
C
Hi,
Great tips. These are very useful as I do Blog Commenting a lot.
But could you please explain why we shouldn’t do this:
“Don’t comment on every single post on a blog. (Unless of course you really did enjoy every single post… but that’s not likely!)”
What are the drawbacks of this?
Also, regarding “Do make sure to leave a link to your site where appropriate. Key words in the ‘name’ field are fine if you see it’s allowed.” Should we use “Your Name | Your keywords” or Just “Your Keywords”?
If we use “yourname | your keyword”, do you think it make it less effective (in terms of marketing) than just “your keywords”?
Thanks,
Nabeel
Hey hun.. I wouldn’t comment on every single post simply because when you do it, and the blog owner happens to notice… he might become a bit perturbed in thinking your just spamming comments for a link.
It really depends on what kind of value you add with your comment, but I imagine it becomes more time consuming to leave a valuable comment on every single post, rather than the handful you really enjoy.. which then turns into a distraction more than it’s helping you.
And if you can’t leave value with each comment, then in essence you’re just doing it for the link, which is self serving and will tick off your blog owner.
As for keywords in the name field, some blogs have Keyword Luv enabled, which allow you to put yourname@keywords… and then it hyperlinks your keywords.
If they don’t have keyword luv, I wouldn’t leave keywords unless you notice other doing it and the blog owner doesn’t seem to mind or actually states it’s ok. Then you would just leave your keywords in the name field and omit your name, or sometimes I’ve done Name- Keyword.
Hope that helps clarify a bit. :0)
Hi,
Yeah that helps a lot!
Thanks so much for replying and answering my questions!
Kindest,
Nabeel
You’re welcome Nabeel, glad I could be of help!
C
Hi Cori,
Guest posting is something that I know that I need to do more of, but although I am motivated to do it, I have a hard enough time writing for my own site. But, I’ve really enjoyed the people who guest post on my site – they always bring in a lot more traffic and comments.
Speaking of comments, I like people who leave quality comments, but can’t stand when people try to use your site for their soap-box or own agenda. Contribute to the conversation or don’t bother leaving a comment.
These are great tips,
Karen
Hey Karen! Yes it can be tough doing both guest posting and keeping up with your own blog. Maybe try setting aside just one day a month to focus on writing 4-5 quality guest posts for blogs you’d like to guest on for that month.
Then you can submit them for review and in the mean time continue to focus on your blog from week to week. This will give you at least 1 guest post a week that you can submit and help to get you out there and seen.
And you’re right, soap-boxers be gone! LOL Know it all’s drive me crazy, and I hate when people use blog comments to show me just what a know it all they are… so I’m with ya there.
C
Cori
Another Awesome Post. Really Nice little saga
.
Blog commenting and guest posting works great for me. I think blog commenting and guest posting are easiest way to get targeted traffic. I’ve done 3 guest Post so far and i’m really with the results.
Thanks for sharing this great Post. Keep up the good work.
Looking forward to read the part three of this post.
~Dev
Thanks Dev! Glad you’re enjoying the ‘saga’. I agree it’s a great way to get targeted traffic as well, especially if your goals are to build a readership.
I’m always very happy with the results.
c
Guest posting is definitely the way to go, it does take up a fair bit of time though. But if you do get accepted on one of the bigger blogs, you’re traffic will shoot up! And the added link juice is a benefit!
Agreed, the bigger blogs can skyrocket traffic. I’ve found that it doesn’t bring a flood forever, but it does bring a fair amount depending on size of the blog, and then usually a steady trickle.. so I think the key is to keep doing it as part of your regular strategy (if you enjoy it) and it can really do great things for your growth.
C
I agree. Part of successful blogging is participating in the blog community.
C
Unfortunately as with everything else we find useful, Google has stated a general feeling of distaste for guest posting, and intimated that it smells of a link scheme, I guess we will see what happens.
Hey JR… yes, we’ll have to wait and see on that one. I think it’s also really what you intend on using it for. My main goal is not so much the link, but the exposure to new eyes, new readership, and possibly new subscribers. The added benefit is of course the link, but it’s not my primary goal.
A little contradictory, no?
How would you get the new readership, and possibly new subscribers without a backlink to your site?
Just sayin’
Hey Dennis.. I was referring to when you are garnering backlinks for the ‘link juice’ itself that Google awards incoming links to your site. Of course you would still need to link to get people to visit, but whether it impacts your sites ranking or not is not what my main goal is.. getting people to visit, hopefully like what they see, and come again is my main goal with guest posting, blog commenting, and scattering links to my stuff.
The link juice that impacts my ranking (for me) at the moment is a side benefit, so if Google decides they don’t like it, it wouldn’t impact my current strategy of guest posting and commenting. Make sense?
Thanks for getting me to clarify, I probably should have done that right off the bat. lol Keeping me on my toes you devil you. 
C
Absolutely makes sense, and it is the only real mentality to have. Link for the links sake and you will go nowhere fast; plus, you will be *found out* sooner then later.
Bye bye reputation.
Great post. The guest posting part is so true. I started doing guest posts for several blogs before I even started an actual blog which was kinda weird but fun.
And about the comments, I don’t see much advantage in adding links to the comments (other than the fact that someone posting a comment too, might find it interesting and actually click) considering that most blogs don’t have ‘dofollow’ for their comment links.
Shashank… that is awesome! And it doesn’t sound so weird to me..I’d say it’s a pretty good marketing strategy. Build demand for your content before you even have a home for it, and when you do build your home… instant family ready to visit! lol Sounds like smart marketing to me.
As to leaving a link in comments, again my goal with commenting isn’t to just pass along page rank.. my goal is to get people to drop by my blog. If a blog is dofollow and I get some link juice, that’s added benefit. Those folks that are commenting that may find my comment interesting and click.. that’s what I want.. those are folks who just may turn into loyal readers who stop by often.
So I would say it depends on your goals whether it’s a strategy that works for you. For myself, these are strategies I enjoy implementing, garner me the results I’m looking for, and are fairly simple to use. Appreciate you taking the time to comment!
C
Blog commenting IS my promotion, or 95% up to now. I’m definitely planning to move up to guest posting.
“Don’t comment on a blog just because they commented on yours and you feel obligated.”
You’re the very first person I’ve ever seen saying this is a bad idea.
If by “obligated” you mean crap like, gee thanks for commenting on my blog, then you’re right, otherwise returning the comment has always been deemed a great attention getter.
Lol.. yes, I’m referring to ‘crap’.. and I’m also referring to commenting on a blog you have no interest in reading on a regular basis, and leaving comments just because you feel you ‘should’ because they’ve left comments for you. Commenting should be done with a ‘giver’ mentality, not a ‘expectation’ mentality.
If someone leaves you a comment, and you have the time to drop by their blog, you like what you read, and you feel you have something interesting to say on the topic, then by all means, return the favor.. but I don’t think anyone should feel obligated to leave a comment anywhere they don’t feel they have something to contribute on the topic, or on a blog with content that simply holds no interests for them.
The blogs that I read and comment on are blogs I enjoy reading and commenting on.. they relate to what I do, they motivate or inspire me, they make me laugh, or even just tug a heart string or two for whatever reason. Maybe they teach me something I’m interested in learning, maybe they just update me on what’s new in the world. It’s not because they visited me, commented on my blog first, and now I feel I should do the same.
I look at it a bit like tithing at church.. you give because you want to, not because you have to or you feel you should. Or at least I’m told that’s how it SHOULD be. Whew. So there!
LOL
We do indeed think alike. I’ve written it several times trying to explain…
I only subscribe to blogs where I feel I can comment, and I only comment on blogs I subscribe to.
Perfectly said right there!
“I only subscribe to blogs where I feel I can comment, and I only comment on blogs I subscribe to.”
That’s not to say I haven’t dropped the random comment here or there on a particularly compelling post. But to get me commenting regularly you have to keep me coming back regularly, and if I’m coming back regularly, then I’m a subscriber, because it’s just easier to keep up with a blog that way. lol Well said!
LOL thanks.
Oh sure, there is that .01% but the other 99.9 I’m subscribed too.
I never knew how emotionally trying it is to give away your best content. I know that it’s the right thing to do – and a huge show of respect. But Blog Posts are like children and giving them away is like sending them off to school. You hope they are well taken care of…but…
I’ve started guest blogging and even have an article into Mr. Alex so I’m waiting to see firsthand how it works. I’ve seen it do extremely well for clients – now just want to see the magic for myself.
Hey Stanford! I KNOW. lol It’s more like birthing children and giving them away for me, lol but it’s definitely hard to do sometimes.
Good luck with Alex and your future posting, I look forward to seeing you around. I’m sure you will do great at it.
C
being a novice in blogging i always feel the problem of not having readers and also agree what you mentioned about feelings of give up the blogging you mentioned in part 1.I am surely going to follow the stratagies you mentioned here.I have a problem being not focussed on blogs.Would you share some tips for being focussed in blogging.In last a lot of thanks for sharing these valuable tips.
Hey Vishal! I think finding what you really love to blog about is important, first and foremost. And then as I recommended with Caitlyn, if you have other domains that have the potential to distract you, I would unload them so you no longer have access.
It’s important to focus on one site exclusively in the initial stages, because dividing your attention means that none of the blogs you’re working on will be getting your attention 100%.
If you are pretty proficient with blogging and you feel you can handle cultivating a second, then of course go for it… some folks do very well managing 2-3 blogs. But I don’t recommend it if you’re new it at all.
Also, it’s important to understand that where you start, even with all the focus in the world may not necessarily be where you end up. So don’t be too hard on yourself if you find your focus changes over time.
Another things is that you need to analyze your motivations for starting a blog in the first place. If it’s motivated just because you think a niche will make you money, but it’s not something you feel you can sustain over the long-term, it’s not a direction you should probably go in.
Some bloggers are committing suicide by not doing what you say, haha.
I’m sure.. but then again, everyone has their own views and methods and ideas on what works and what doesn’t, what makes a blogger and what doesn’t, etc. And nothing I’ve said here is the be all or end all of a blogger and their ‘blogging’ career. Different strokes for different folks. lol (Yes I love that idiotic phrase!) What I do is what I do, and it works for me.
Comment everyday, and subscribe to as many blogs as possible, create a guest post for a big player, and you’ll get the results as fast a possible.
Excellent Post Blogging is what blogger do for being successful in blogging we need blogging guru like you. Thanks for keeping us update give direction to the success
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