Comments on: The Big, Dirty Secret about Blogging

By: Ret

Ret — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:00:30 +0000

Very true. We need to socialize, and socializing does not only mean getting traffic and help. It also means getting relationships and solutions to everyone. I also believe more in mathematics and precision rather than luck.

By: John F Taylor

John F Taylor — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 08:58:01 +0000

Leave poignant comments on the other blogs in your niche as the blogger themselves obsess over comments. Keep commenting and they will eventually figure out that you really are serious and not just some flake. At which point they will probably be interested enough to see what you’re doing. Also you have to write awesome content. If in doubt don’t publish it. Also going against the tide with your content is OK you’re not going to please everyone. I would suggest checking out Chris Brogan and Problogger.com for more on techniques etc. These folks have it down to a science and I can say that personally I have never purchased anything from them but they have a lot of free information which will increase your traffic. Luck is really not involved in my honest opinion. Its knowing the audience and what they are looking for.

By: Susan Hart

Susan Hart — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:07:09 +0000

Hmmm….this would make for an interesting case study perhaps?

By: Kerry

Kerry — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:47:33 +0000

No, not at all. It was just luck that my second site seemed to draw in more visitors than my first.
I think that having a catchy, interesting or easy to remember domain name would probably help slightly, but perhaps not significantly enough to make a real difference.

By: Susan Hart

Susan Hart — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:17:38 +0000

Kerry, I would be very interested in the differences between your first and second blog. Are you saying “success” has a lot to do with the domain name?

By: Kerry

Kerry — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:10:09 +0000

I would say it definitely takes luck too. I had a blog for a few years and I did everything I could to make it successful. I updated it regularly with posts on a range of topics, I kept in touch with many people, commented on other blogs and even advertised my site in places, but I still didn’t get many visitors.

After a while, I got a new domain and did exactly the same to promote my new blog and people just came. I guess with the new site I was just more lucky.

By: Matt Madeiro

Matt Madeiro — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:51:23 +0000

I agree! At the end of the day, readers are king. We’re blogging for their benefit, after all, so we should focus on providing great value to the audience.

In my experience, though (having no readers to speak of!), connecting with the bloggers in your niche can be a great way to build momentum for your site. Readers aren’t going to find my blog right off the bat, of course, so I’ll do what I can in the meantime: reading and supporting other bloggers in my niche and generally trying to give back to the internet community. Whenever I’ve had some more success, I’ll definitely put my greatest focus on maintaining and growing an audience, but in these first few sad, lonely months, I think connecting to other bloggers can be a useful thing to do.

Great comment, Courtney! Thanks so much for reading. I didn’t know you read FYW! :)

By: Susan Hart

Susan Hart — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:06:36 +0000

Matt – Here’s the link to my blog: http://www.EveryDayPR.net Would love your feedback!

P.S. I told you I was inspired by your blog – see today’s posting.

By: Courtney Carver

Courtney Carver — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:34:32 +0000

great information Matt. I would also add that your reader has to come before your blogger connections. Unlike traditional media, where you can buy your audience, in social media, you grow your own. Your main focus on Twitter should be to spread information that your followers will find helpful. If you are connected with bloggers in a similar niche, it will be easy to network and serve your readers in the best way.

Same applies to blogging. Write for your readers on your blog and when you guest post, write for readers of the other blog.

Hope that makes sense!

By: Matt Madeiro

Matt Madeiro — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:49:25 +0000

Haha. You’re welcome!

It does seem, at times, that the blogging is just a big bunch of social circles, but it’s important we don’t stop there. Every blogger I’ve met so far has been warm and encouraging, so I don’t figure we’ll ever see a situation where all the big names just keep to their circle and exclude everyone else. :) Hopefully not, at least!

Send me a link to your new blog when it gets up and running. I’d love to take a look at it! And thanks for reading, Susan!

By: Matt Madeiro

Matt Madeiro — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:47:22 +0000

Exactly! I often find myself scrounging around for post ideas, but the solution is usually pretty simple: read more blogs. Bloggers, overall, are a pretty inspirational crowd, and their words can support ours very readily.

That’s a great way to have them take notice, too. Read their post, write one that’s inspired by it, and send them a link on Twitter with a comment about how they inspired you. I can’t speak for the big-time bloggers, but if someone did that to me, I’d be sure to take notice!

Thanks for reading, Jason!

By: Matt Madeiro

Matt Madeiro — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:44:24 +0000

Makes sense to me. :)

And I guess I have been a little lucky, then, that all of the people I’ve started following have been so warm and encouraging. Maybe they don’t always respond to emails or dig up my own site, but often times they do, and I’ll support them regardless – they’re spreading a message I agree with, and that’s usually enough for me.

Persistence, too, can be another key factor. You often need to catch their eye, like you mention, but there’s no reason you can’t make multiple attempts!

Thanks for reading!

By: Susan Hart

Susan Hart — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:36:22 +0000

Good information. Consistency and communication are critical keys to social media, especially in regard to blogging. At some point, however, I wonder if social media will end up being the same old writers, bloggers, Twitterers, etc., just talking to one another?!?! I think I just gave myself an idea for my next blog! Thanks for inspiring me!

By: Jason Keogh

Jason Keogh — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:53:25 +0000

Excellent point Matt – another reason why you can’t do it alone is that often other people act as your inspiration in a direct sense.

Just today I posted a blog inspired by comments from someone else – it’s first line is even “I met a very insightful man today, his name is Ray Murphy”…. http://bit.ly/aI3m8s It goes downhill from there, talking about Software Asset Management and other work things – but hey – it’s an example of your point – others can (and do) assist you and inspire you to blog.

By: Donnie Bell Design

Donnie Bell Design — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:02:59 +0000

You also need a little luck. I comment on other’s blogs and retweet, but you have to hit with them in just the right way. I’m not good at pretending to be someone else, and if the blogger doesn’t like me, then they’re not going to befriend me and read my posts.