How I Put My Site On Steroids has proved to be one of my most popular posts, but it’s been three years since I wrote it. In today’s exercise for Problogger’s 31DBBB project, we were urged to update an old post. I decided to go back and see whether the steps I outlined then still held true.
Article Marketing
The first step I took back in 2006 was to use article marketing, writing articles with a link back to my site. That worked well and still does. In fact, I am still getting traffic from articles I wrote back 2005. I no longer write reviews for consumer sites, but if I were going to do it, I’d probably write those reviews on Amazon as their profile features are now much better.
Leveraging Your Blog
The second step was to get a blog and submit my site to directories. That still works too, although I would argue that getting a social media presence is far more important. If I were writing this post from scratch, I’d suggest people get a Twitter account, Delicious account and Facebook profile or page (depending on whether they are promoting themselves as individuals or businesses).
Navigation
Making your site easy to navigate is still a valid way to boost traffic, so yes, having a search box and sitemap are crucial. Once your blog has a bit of content, it’s useful to use a layout that makes it easy for people to see content in different categories. I also like having a tag cloud, because it tells me both what your blog focuses on and how to find it easily. There are also dozens of plugins which highlight your content such as related and popular posts plugins – use them. (For example on this blog, I use related posts, random posts, featured posts and a tag cloud.)
Social Media
One piece of advice which I didn’t give in the original post was to participate in the social media. When you connect with others on Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook, Stumbleupon and through blog comments, you encourage them to visit your site. The more you reach out, the more you get back. And that’s a great way to build both a network and site traffic.
I know these steps work, because my traffic has increased more than tenfold since I wrote the original post. What else would you use to put your site traffic on steroids?
Article by Sharon Hurley Hall
Sharon Hurley Hall has been mentoring writers here at Get Paid To Write Online since 2005 to help them improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers. Check me out on sharonhh.com. Feel free to connect with me online on Google+.
Sharon has written 653 awesome articles for us at Get Paid to Write Online
Twitter: @SHurleyHall | Facebook | Google+ | Blog → Writing Portfolio
{ 17 comments }
I would love my blog to be on steroids but instead I am slowly working away at building my blog. I love your idea for article marketing. And definately think that social media traffic is a great way to really boost your traffic!
Tom – StandOutBlogger.com´s last blog post..5 Things More Important Than Blogging
Hi Sharon ~ I found your site via the 31 Days challenge. I’ve been intrigued by the idea of article marketing so was delighted to read both of your steriods posts – as well as all sorts of other pieces I followed through links on your posts. I have to say that’s a sub-challenge of the 31DBB series – it leads me down so many paths, to so many great blogs that I spend hours and hours. It’s all good though!
Liz´s last blog post..House Parts We Love – Decorative Metal Doorknobs
Thanks for the great post Sharon. I’ve been wondering a lot recently how to increase traffic to my blog and I will definitely be using your suggestions.
Also, do you think sending out queries to magazines helps in bringing traffic to a blog? I’m curious as to whether editors bother with links to sites to check out the writers who contact them with story ideas?
Katarzyna Radzka´s last blog post..Read to Write
Twitter: shurleyhall
April 27, 2009 at 09:41
I think it’s quite common for people to Google other people – I have had that happen to me before. I don’t know that it will bring a lot of traffic – it really depends on whether your blog matches that person’s taste. Of course, if you are sending out hundreds of queries a week, maybe it will result in a traffic surge
How fun, Sharon! I totally agree with social media, too. It’s bringing traffic to my blog(s) as well.
*smiles*
Michele
Michele´s last blog post..Buitoni Wild Mushroom Agnolotti Pasta Review
I know! It’s great!!!
Michele´s last blog post..Buitoni Wild Mushroom Agnolotti Pasta Review
WOW I love your wonderful cozy space you have here. I can’t wait to read more on writing and you.
I love your set up, the couple of blogs I have read are just outstanding.
Colors are great and words easy to read.
I truly love it here and you are a awesome writer and person.
Off to read more of your blogs, I think I got off the topic of our homework for the day but WOW !!!
THANK YOU … I’m hooked.
Tasha
It’s surprising how I have seen this title on so many articles… What I can say is that SEO high ranking is getting tougher with the increase of competition.
I agree – a “blog on steroids” is very much about chipping away at the basics and being consistent. I always love the posts that you write like this Sharon! It’s fun to see what others do.
Twitter: shurleyhall
June 26, 2009 at 14:05
Glad you like it, Tasha
Twitter: shurleyhall
June 26, 2009 at 14:06
I’m always looking for tips on other sites, too, Katherine. Glad you enjoyed it.
Great post. I agree on the social media thing. Although I’m not fond of FaceBook, that’s just a personal vs. professional thing and I tend to keep that account personal because of the number of friends who have accounts. I have seen a great benefit in using LinkedIn and Twitter. And commenting on internet posts has also brought in a lot of new clients. As it always has been, marketing is a mixed media and success requires work.
.-= Karalyn´s last blog ..There’s A New Term Circulating: Location Independent Professionals. =-.
yes i think this is great seo!
dont forget to keep your content on your index page fresh!
Twitter: shurleyhall
April 26, 2009 at 12:37
I think putting it on steroids is a matter of plugging away at these techniques and others till you get the results you want, Tom. Sometimes they come surprisingly quickly.
Twitter: shurleyhall
April 27, 2009 at 09:41
I’m having the same experience, Liz – there are so many good blogs out there.
Twitter: shurleyhall
April 27, 2009 at 15:24
It’s great, Michele. Bringer of traffic, social water cooler – what’s not to like?
Twitter: shurleyhall
May 26, 2009 at 06:58
I’m not surprised, Amir. I’ve been writing about this since 1995 and one of the articles was a free one I made available for anyone to publish.
{ 1 trackback }