Any tips for building traffic?

dboshea · Oct 25, 2009

So I wrote me a book and I got me an agent. Then the agent tells me to get my ass on twitter and to start a blog, on account of the publishers expect me to be out there beating my chest and drawing attention to myself. Fine and dandy -- done both.

Now, how to I build traffic (I did see the "suggestion" of a violent, first-person rape story, but it sounds like maybe that ain't the best way to go).

So what have you peeps done to build a fan base?

One thing I'm doing now is shamelessly dropping my link anywhere it seems even halfway appropriate, so here you go:

http://danielboshea.wordpress.com/

Any comments on form, function, etc. more than welcome. I am a babe in these here woods, but my wife'll tell you I do soak shit up like a sponge (she might also mention that, like a sponge, some unsavory stuff ends up growing in there, but no need to get into that.)

Thanks in advance,
Dan

veinglory · Oct 25, 2009

The bottom line is to think of the type of reader who would enjoy your book, and kind of "profile" them to think of thing they would want to know or would find entertaining. Once you have a bunch of content like that is is about linking, keywording, social networking etc.

BigWords · Oct 25, 2009

Links, links, links. Useful ones, mind you, because people get annoyed at spammy-type stuff. Leave comments on other people's blogs which add to the conversation, with a link back to your own blog. Even if you don't leave a link back to your blog, you should be reading other people's blogs.

Forums. Pimp your blog in your sig. You might get some people sticking around if you have good stuff to say. There are about twenty different forums I check in on, so I have a lot of people coming to me from forums.

Provide a different view on things which are going on in the world, throw up pictures on your blog, share ideas, be creative... All stuff which you are doing already, right? There is no surefire way to get thousands of people to listen to you, but you will improve your readership by being an active web presence.

Liosse de Velishaf · Oct 25, 2009

On any forum you belong to, put a link in your signature.

Sign up for Technorati.

Give updates on new posts on Twitter and any other social-networking site you use. (Hint: Use as many as you can comfortably maanage.)

Look for other blogs by people with similar interests or on similar topics. Leave comments using openID so they can click your name to get to your blog.

When you write a post, find other posts on other blogs that talk about the same thing, and if they are good, put an in-line link to them in the post.

Pick really catchy titles, and make sure to use tags that are going to be common search engine terms.

Go read this. Ignore the parts about making money, that is not your goal.

Hope that helps.

veinglory · Oct 25, 2009

p.s. if you want comments on your blog, post here: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=169

Matt Willard · Oct 25, 2009

Let's get the two cents from the awesome Steve Pavlina:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/01/how-to-build-a-high-traffic-web-site-or-blog/

bsolah · Oct 25, 2009

I think you need to let people know your blog exists and that's by commenting on other blogs with thoughtful comments, and post links to new posts on Facebook and Twitter.

This is how I do it and hopefully linking will go beyond me and if other people link to your blog, you're set.

IndieWriter · Oct 30, 2009

dboshea said:
Now, how to I build traffic
...
So what have you peeps done to build a fan base?

I wrote an article (on MY blog) about this a little while ago. It's a distilled version of what I've learned about marketing yourself on the Internet.

Hope it helps.

xyxablink · Nov 8, 2009

Here's what...

I think what other bloggers there have stated... were truly right when it
comes in increasing your blog's visitors...

As for me, I use the same method as well... and that's by using my
twitter and facebook account... that was I think the easiest method to
let people know and share with them what you have written there,...

Next thing I did is that, I keep my blogs updated and that's by adding
fresh and new content...

laharrison · Nov 10, 2009

As others have said, join in the conversation online. Also, try submitting your blog to a few blog directories and RSS feed directories.

Also, don't forget to add your blog to your sig in forums - check the stickies in each forum to make sure it's allowed first, but most communities do allow established members to promote their personal blog in their sig.

Any tips for building traffic?

dboshea

New kid, be gentle!

veinglory

volitare nequeo

BigWords

Geekzilla

Liosse de Velishaf

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Matt Willard

Inquisitor of Zork

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

IndieWriter

Procrastinating Writer

xyxablink

laharrison