I haven’t done a Blogger Tip Tuesday in awhile so I thought I’d slip one in this week. I thought I’d share just a few tips on how to grow your blog. It seems that everyone is always trying for bigger and better on the blogging front (myself included), and so here are a few ideas on how to do so. I am by no means a BIG time blogger, but I’ve been able to slowly grow my blog through a few intentional actions.
- Engage. I see a lot of newer bloggers posting on facebook blogging communities and their questions usually go like this: “I’ve been blogging for _ years/months/days and I only have five followers. What am I doing wrong?” The answer is most likely engagement. I’ve discussed before how important your blogger tribe is. Start there and then keep going. Engage with people. Visit their blogs, follow them on social media and start developing relationships. I return over and over again to my favorite bloggers because of the relationship we’ve built, which starts with engagement.
- Be consistent. Decide how many days that you are going to post and stick to that. Of course, life happens. But if you are trying to go and build an audience they need to know when to expect your posts. I don’t think it matters much how often you post (but if you’re curious how I post 5x a week, here’s the answer) but rather how consistent you are in your posting.
- Promote other bloggers. I know that sounds like it defeats the purpose — but hear me out. When someone retweets or shares one of my blog posts on Twitter, I make it a point to check them out. I’ll follow them on Twitter, if I’m not already and I’ll go click around their blog. If I like their content, I’ll add them to my Bloglovin’ feed. All as a result of them promoting me. I’ve found that this is generally the case with most bloggers. The key here is to genuinely promote a post you connected with.
- Be proactive. Don’t just wait around for people to find your blog. Go comment on other blogs, join blogging communities (and don’t just join and ask “why isn’t my blog growing” — offer your tips and insight, answer other bloggers questions, be ACTIVE), try out a Twitter chat. Get out there and start engaging!
- Be patient. This isn’t really a tip, but I’m including it anyway. Don’t expect to have an offer to turn your blog into a book overnight. Focus on quality and be patient. If you try out the tips outlined in this post, I promise you, your blog will grow. Will it always grow at the breakneck speed you’d like? No, probably not. But it will grow!
What are your tips on how to grow your blog? Share in the comments.
Great tips as always Courtney. I’ve been following your tips and they are helping my following. Keep them coming!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Attend a baseball game without striking out on your diet
i’m so glad you find the tips helpful, deborah! 🙂
Yes! All around yes! One thing I notice lately is that newer bloggers come on the scene and want feedback on their posts but I never see them commenting on other people’s blogs. Connections are so important in this little universe of ours and it always gives you a warm fuzzy to know that there are people on the other side of the screen, reading and relating. 🙂
Mer @ Scoot a Doot recently posted…See Jess Run: Volume 3
yep – you hit the nail on the head. you can’t expect all this engagement if you aren’t willing to do so yourself!
Great tips! Thanks! I love the connections I’ve made through blog comments.
jan recently posted…Does the Internet Help or Hurt You?
glad they were helpful, jan!
I agree that connecting with others is key. I would also think good content has a lot to do with it. People are generally busy and I think they read to learn something new ( I would think). If you are posting the same news they’ve already heard 5 times today, they may not visit your site. But then again I could be wrong. I once read a post that said if you are lost on what to blog about, see what is trending and blog about it. For example, last year when that girl won the Biggest loser, that’s all everyone wanted to blog about. After I read one blog about it, I skipped the other 15 that were in my news feed. But again, I could be wrong. Whats your feeling on this?
Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Why Are These Foods Organic? And Another Winner.
i am with you on this one. sometimes if it’s a blogger whose opinion i really respect, then i will read their viewpoint on a commonly posted topic. for example, i sought out olive to run (cori) during the tutu fiasco because i wanted to see what she thought. but in general, it’s stuff i’ll skip over. but it does go back to the content and the blogger behind it! thanks, meranda!
Great tips! I think these are really helpful! I don’t really have a tip– just hang in there. It’s hard to keep going at first when you feel like no one’s reading your blog and what’s the point. Eventually you get to a point where it’s all worth it and you’re so thankful you kept up blogging. At least I am!
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie recently posted…Staying at Turtle Bay – Our Trip to the North Shore
yes – you are right. eventually it is all worth it, if you truly do enjoy blogging and the community (which clearly i do!) 🙂
And I realized I didn’t specify that was just a general tip, not directed at you! Ah sorry I read that again and was like… that’s confusing. haha
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie recently posted…Staying at Turtle Bay – Our Trip to the North Shore
Great tips! I love it when bloggers engage and I always go back to those blogs when the author chats/responds
Carmy recently posted…Black Toe Running Presents: Season 1 Rewards
yes, exactly! engagement is SO key!
Great tips.. and I love to see that you are using your own tips, too! Thanks for sharing one of my posts today, too!
my tips all pretty much come from my own experiences 🙂
These are all good! Especially the promote other bloggers one- at first I was like “I don’t want anyone to know about other amazing blogs- they need to only read mine!” but once I got over that weird phase I enjoy blogging a lot more and it has really helped get a bigger audience! Good tips girl!
Lindsay @brokeandbougie recently posted…Clean Eating (ish) BBT Pasta
sharing really does help you as much as it does other bloggers! thanks for stopping by 🙂
Great tips! My blog is fairly new but I found that engaging with other bloggers has helped. I just have to remind myself to be patient.
Michelle Hartgraves recently posted…Pro compression discount
I think engaging with others is the key. I also have found the link ups are great to meet other bloggers and thanks for your Friday link up!
Pam recently posted…Training Plan for Richmond Marathon
I wrote a similar post a few weeks ago and completely agree with all your tips. Engagement is so key!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…North Face Endurance Challenge – 10K Recap!
Patience is definitely key. It takes time, energy, and focus to grow your blog audience. Its often easy to get frustrated when you see other bloggers getting more hits and comments on their blogs than you are on your own, but it takes time to grow a meaningful audience.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Vega Sport Review and Giveaway
Great tips here, especially about engagement. I think more and more people are starting to realize that engaging followers and building relationships (and having patience) is key. It won’t happen overnight!
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal recently posted…5 Tips to Boost Your Body Image during Bikini Season
All of these are so true! It does take patience. In the beginning of my blog about 2 years ago I felt like I was talking to myself. But I still now regularly get comments and communicate with those readers who connected with me in the beginning. Those relationships are so important! And you make some great friends – regardless of if you may never get to meet them in person!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…How To Fall Asleep (When You Can’t Fall Asleep)
Good, solid tips! Thanks!
Great ideas! I will be using them and especially starting a calendar and sticking with it!