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10 Blog Promotion Tools: Meh!

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May 22nd, 2006
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10 Blog promotion tools: Meh!Add these tools to grow your blog readership. Though there is a place for tools to help a blog readership grow, blog marketing and marketing through blogs is extremely overdone. Yes, these are directed towards marketing professionals but they send out the wrong message and end up in generating unwanted pages with bogus content and Akismet fodder. There is no shortcut, no miracle tool, no ten steps to blog nirvana. If you are a blog author, entrepreneur, marketer or a new blog author, there is one surefire tool to grow your readership and get visited/read by a bunch of people. Wait for it …

Write good content.

Keep a lazy eye on all tools, features, themes, widgets, scripts, plugins, links, readers, browsers and everything in between, but write good content. I try to help people start and popularize good (and useful) blogs by guiding them in finding a topic that they are interested in and then helping them to write about the topic. I urge new bloggers to write often, write passionately and write honestly. Blogs are not popular overnight (unless you are Guy Kawasaki or Jonathan Schwartz). Passionate and successful bloggers shut down their blogs when they run out of content steam. They start back up when the muse visits again. Be creative, experiment with thought and content, try different things and explore other blogs, but be patient and write good “stuff”. The readers will come, I promise.

Oh, and one easy way to get people to visit (and keep visiting) is by being good to the people that come to read your blog. If you only write about Hollywood gossip or about extremely cruel office pranks, you will probably get a lot of visitors, but those blogs are hard to start and harder to generate content for. However, if you help another blogger get started with their hosting or explain how to fix that pesky Acrobat freezeup issue that you learned today, tell people how much you like your shiny Macbook screen and why or explain the secrets of writing good email, you will probably pick up readers quickly. I call it Good Samaritan blogging.

In that spirit, if you think you write good content and are looking to promote your blog (not new blogs with 5 posts, blogs that are chock full of content, blogs that need readers) please leave a comment on this post. I will tally a list of the first, say twenty links, and post it the next day. If this post takes off, I might make this a monthly feature.

If you are an author and have posted your link, don’t forget to come back and check on the other blogs on the list. You might find some reading material you like. 🙂

[EDIT] PS: Even if the twenty links are exhausted, leave a comment on this post. Peer participation and promotion through shared experiences are also feathers in a good blogger’s cap!

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Comments

  1. Ike says:

    I think I could use some additional readers, and this looks like a more honest promotional tool than anything with “Beta!” tacked on.

  2. John Lewis says:

    How can I not pass up the opportunity to promote myself, narcissistic dude that I am?

    Uneasy Rhetoric is a paean to my hometown, Sacramento, California. I loved it, I left it, I came rushing back into its fry-an-egg on the sidewalk hot embrace. A politically aware community activist by design (living in the capital of the world’s sixth largest economy), my blog will also contain a smattering of political banter, some wistful nostalgia, and the occasional foray into rhetoric.

    There’s already too many good tech blogs. I usually only blog about tech-related issues when I’m hot under the collar about something.

  3. CT says:

    Hmmm… I’ll bite. (And to think, I was coming here to find a trackback for one of your prior posts — paying off, in part, what you’ve just described.)

  4. Catnabbit says:

    This is some good information. My site could always use some more cat loving visitors, and I’ll be keeping up to see what other sites you feature!

  5. SB says:

    I think I have pretty good content at Watermark, and also at the less frequently updated Abide. A third blog, Blogging Blog languished for some time, but has recently been reactivated, with new contributers.

  6. SB says:

    Hmm. That last comment seems to have not posted — I’ll try again.

    I have some good content (even cats!) at the URL posted above, and also at a couple of other places.

  7. tim boucher says:

    Would love to get a link to my blog, Pop Occulture. I’ve been trying to stay true to the whole “write good content” thing for about three years now, covering all aspects of fringe culture from everything to technology to pop culture, to conspiracy and contemporary spirituality. Thanks in advance for the opportunity to spill my guts here!

  8. Jesse Keller says:

    I think there’s some outdoorsy people that may be interested in my WordPress blog, http://www.jesseslife.com.
    I’m currently driving around and visiting each of the US National Parks, publishing a blog entry for each. So far, I’m up to 33 out of 58. I update twice a week with a (hopefully) funny story and travel tips from where ever I happen to be.

    P.S. I also have a cool random Flickr image in the masthead that I wrote. Check it out!

  9. pundit says:

    Mine’s an old personal journal. It’s existed since the early days of b2, and seems like it’s topic-less, but it’s usually my take on whatever is on my mind at the time. I don’t believe I am experiencing a dearth of visitors, but some new faces and friendly opinions can’t hurt!

    I didn’t really believe I wrote “good content.” But then other people had different opinions. Yay! And so I shamelessly will try to promote it here.

  10. Karsh says:

    I could definitely use a larger audience — right now, I’ve been writing at BlackGayBlogger.com for almost three years and podcasting there for a little over six months. My topics range anywhere from workplace issues to local politics to LGBT issues — and the occasional meme, tech orgasm or TV event. I’m always looking for fresh perspectives, comments and readers.

    Oh yeah, and the content is great too. 🙂

  11. Well, my blog could use some visitors. I don’t post often, but I do have more than 5 posts. 🙂

    KB

  12. Much thanks for all the tools and the interesting links. I’m striving to blog about concepts rather than events and situations. While the readership is still small, I suspect that it will soon begin to grow. And if not, perseverance alone is omnipotent!

  13. Rodney Shupe says:

    Although most of the content on my site (shupe.ca is ramblings about my family it also contains over 300 recipes posts. I also have alot of information I am putting together about WordPress. These two items drive a fair amount of traffic but I could always use more.

  14. Rick Beckman says:

    Not sure how popular the opinions expressed within are, but my blog resides at Watch-Therefore.com and I would certainly appreciate even a tiny boost in readership.

  15. adam says:

    Now that I am comfortable with the look of my blog, I feel I can sit on it awhile and post regularly. I hope to use the “Good Samaratian” approach while shamelessly plugging my talents.

    House Plan needed? Will draft or help it fit you!

  16. Jackson says:

    When I tell other people how to start a blog I say “pick a subject matter and stray from it just enough to keep it interesting”. The problem is that I feel I am always straying. I have been blogging since 2001 and just weave a random thread through technology, business, politics, my hometown, etc.

    I have a decent amount of traffic but it is mostly search engine referrals. I often feel I would better serve my readers (or attract some) if I would pick a topic and stay on it.

  17. G.M. Nowels says:

    Getting a niche market promotion isn’t easy. These tools could be great.

    Did I make the top twenty? 🙂

  18. david says:

    Misguided Thoughts is my site that I’ve been running for a while. While the content includes my….erm, misguided thoughts on life, tv, religion (yipes!) and such, I’m also developing the CMS Showcase.

  19. AsharEdith says:

    Thanks for all your tips. Like almost every blogger I want to have more people to visit and comment on my blogs. I’ve been applying few of your suggestions for a while now and it does work. You can visit me at http://www.asharedith.com

  20. Raven Ryan says:

    I’m working managing two blogs. Treehouse is an interactive blog that features original articles and my rants that will definitely interest you and your family. Singapore’s Dark Side: More than the explicit Singapore news comes your unofficial live coverage of Singapore Idol 2! The Idol Mania!

  21. Oooh.. I’d love the chance to get a link to http://www.obeattie.com. I love the idea 😉

  22. Nate says:

    Paperback Writer
    A creative writing based blog. It needs readers, badly.

  23. My content is absolutely horrible, but sometimes Wonkette likes it.

  24. AJ says:

    I do think this mainly applies to blogs which are aimed at making money, talk about technology and other issues.. Personal blogs will not really benifit much since they are not really aimed at wide readership but mainly as a place to pen one’s thoughts!

  25. michael lee says:

    the addison road blog – a team of cynical, smarter-than-you hipsters who regularly insult readers and mock the success of others.

  26. alistair says:

    thanks for the opportunity to promote my blog. it is an honest vessel for my thoughts about consciousness, divinity and being generally alive.
    cheers, alistair.

  27. alistair says:

    hey, thanks for the promo opportunity. see you all there!

  28. Hmmm… i could use some visitors, too… but my blog is in german. 🙂

  29. John Baker says:

    The soundest sense is always content. That’s what I’m looking for wherever I stray on the web. Blogs, websites, it doesn’t matter. The only way to garner an audience is to give them something they want. And what they want, of course, is a miracle. Something they’ve never seen before, something fresh and new, or something old and wrinkled but seen through new eyes.
    http://johnbakersblog.co.uk

  30. Madelman says:

    This is a great oportunity to promote new blogs. Me and my brother started almost two months ago with musicgadgets.net and are trying to get new readers. Hope you like it.

  31. Drew Shiel says:

    Always delighted to get more readers, especially as I’m working on promoting a new comic I’m starting.

  32. richard tock says:

    Most promotion tools barely ever work.

  33. Hannah says:

    Thanks for offering to share. I know I’m a little late on the top 20, but heck, I might as well offer up my blog to the world as well. From the Arava Valley in Israel, I bring you: Sustainable Apple Pie.

  34. Dan says:

    Looks like everyone is needs more readers. Its like an addiction. I agree that the best way to get people regulary intrested is to be honist and helpfull. The two H of blogging, a good example is the very one I am reading and writing on now.

  35. Sam says:

    I got more out of this one article than all of the drivel coming from Performancing.com. (Some of) those guys are a bunch of one-trick ponies, re-hashing the same stuff.
    The responses here allow for a nice listing of new, unknown and passionate bloggers who I can peruse, bookmark and possibly support by regular visits. I’m a firm believer in visiting others and helping out -via commenting – to grow readership back to your own site. The key is being sincere and genuinely interested in their ‘project’.
    Nice article.

  36. JanetR says:

    Hi,
    I have a programing wizzard son who I have supported with love, encouragement and money since he was 14. While he was learning I was absorbing which isn’t the same as learning. Having a real estate agency in NYC I have tried to stay ahead of the competition by utilizing his love of open source and a clean, efficient website – http://www.readyg.com. I am trying to put on honest content and helpful community information for those individuals who have to suffer with buying and renting in NYC. Therefore the blog: http://www.insider.readyg.com. I want to thank you very much for offering your advice and comments. It helps people like me, who have top talent standing next to me, however that talent often can be too busy to offer a helping hand or kind word. So thanks again. I will try and do good things and pass the word.

  37. James says:

    I’ll bite. Just your run of the mill no nonsense conservative blog. I try to keep my content as fresh as I can given that it’s ‘current event’ related by adding my own point of view to the issue.

  38. Jeremy says:

    We’ve been writing a surreal little magazine called Axes & Alleys for several years now. We use WordPress to post it up. We like to call it writing, not content, and there’s a lot of it up there.

  39. dan allen says:

    Tao of Dan
    dan·ism – (n)
    a principal philosophy and system
    of religion of Astoria, Queens based
    upon the teachings of a guy named
    Danocrates Allenopolos in
    the 21st century.

  40. sunburntkamel says:

    i think everyone could use a bigger audience. annyways, i think i qualify for the “more than 5 posts” since i have nearly 5 years of ill-advised rants on architecture, geekery, and my keen ability to mess up my own life.
    (clicky)

  41. skint writer says:

    I only stumbled into blogland a few weeks ago, now I’m trapped – help, or at least give me a nod . . .

  42. How Bowers says:

    I was originally inspired by Boing Boing. This is my third or fourth attempt at keeping a blog running, and although I thought I would have run out of tiki things to talk about, I find things all the time.

    Tiki Talk – The Enchanted Tiki Blog

  43. Natalie says:

    I might as well represent the knitbloggers of the world!

  44. My astrology blog is kept up to date with the latest news. I am a former news reporter turned astrologer. My work is infused with current events from a liberal political perspective. I’m at
    http://www.uranias9thhouse.com/blog/

  45. Onno says:

    Best way to get traffic to your blog: write about other blogs. As evidenced by this post, it works. 😉

    Seriously though, I’m always curious about how to improve “content” on a photoblog. It’s a totally different kettle of fish to keep visitors coming back for photos, I think. I’ve not figured it out yet.

    I’ve posted near-daily at on-no.net for years now and still don’t really get many visitors. Still, if you can’t keep going with low visitor numbers you shouldn’t be writing a blog anyway…

  46. BlogF1 says:

    Free (and non guilty) promotion – you betcha!

    BlogF1 – A Formula One Dedicated Weblog

    BlogF1 was born out of the desire to discuss Formula One, to inform people of news and to have fun. If F1 is your passion, or you just want to delve deeper into all things motorsport – BlogF1 is you first port of call.

  47. I’d like to think I’m a good writer, both creatively and journalistically. I also do artist and music spotlights that a small number seem to enjoy. My most popular posts, though, are on morality issues, oddly enough. I’m also a self-proclaimed artist, for what that’s worth.

    @Onno: I think it’s very hard to draw people to visual work consistently. If you do not regularly write with your visual medium, it’s doubtful that people will visit often, or so I believe. It’s like newspapers. People [hopefully] don’t subscribe to the news just for the photos within, nice as they may be. Try writing essays or fictional stories that will draw attention to your photos; something larger than a description. Also make sure that your website is not the only place you’re posting your photos. deviantART has always been a good place for me to attract people to my visual works, and there are other sites like that, too. (HexValue, for instance.)

    If you don’t feel you have what it takes to write regularly with your photos, consider capturing the more controversial for a while, bring some new edge to it all. Controversy (like photographs of abuse, war or nudity, etc.) oftentimes breeds conversation.

  48. Let me take this opportunity to introduce my blog to the world. I have a WordPress installation screencast and many useful and interesting links.

    http://www.sridhareena.com.

    See you there.

  49. Mike says:

    I started my blog around November of last year. I spend a ton of time trying to find new tid bits of information to post about, but it has yet to really take off.

  50. Zelda says:

    Thanks for this opportunity. I run a conservative blog called Feel free to visit anytime.

  51. Zelda says:

    I don’t think this went through the first time. If it did, I apologize. Anway, thanks for the opportunity to share links. I run a conservative blog called Feel free to stop by any time.

  52. jez says:

    my blog features urban lifestyle and streetart as well as programming tutorials and other nifty hacks – always adding a personal flavor.

    thanks for the opportunity to present myself here.

  53. Arpit says:

    I dont know I think I write good stuff

  54. Big Dog says:

    Thanks for all the information you provide. I look to this site quite a bit for information.

    Big Dog’s Weblog is for those who want to read military, news, and politics (with a bit of humor thrown in).

  55. Christer says:

    I can only agree: Yes, more readers would be nice from all perspectives. I run a blog since a few months dealing with how to make money online without forking out a fortune. My own success so far is less than impressive. I guess I shouldn’t have admitted that… 🙂

  56. Nacho says:

    Hi there, good initiative I write a blog about consumer electronics, gadgets, lifestyle,… in spanish.
    You’re invited to come an see http://www.elsingular.com
    Thanks

  57. Keith says:

    Sounds like a good idea. Check out this blogging site http://www.softsift.com regarding the latest softwares release.

  58. Skeddy says:

    I would hope that the last few years I’ve been blogging would be of interest to someone !!

  59. Alison says:

    Great topic! I’m relatively new at this whole blogging thing, but my friend Robert and I seem to be gettin’ the hang of it, We got our first ‘external link’ today and I almost peed myself. *Ok, not really. I’m prone to overexpression*

    Our site is mostly regurgitation of the infinately cool stuff to be found on the net, but have begun to add orginal content slowly. check it out and feel free to share your thoughts: http://mcali.net/

    -Ali

  60. Mike says:

    Check out Dreamrail

    Short fiction and the blog ‘Ten Things Flat Out Wrong’

  61. Ken Y-N says:

    Free promotion? I’m all up for it! My blog is in a niche of its own, I think, that should get more search traffic than it does, and it doesn’t help when Google goes all funny on me as it seems to do once a month, relegating me to the last page of a search for the title!

    All you probably never needed to nor wanted to know about Japan; usually dull but worthy, occassionaly topical and possibly even interesting.

  62. Ken Y-N says:

    Free promotion? I’m all up for it! My blog is in a niche of its own, I think, that should get more search traffic than it does, and it doesn’t help when Google goes all funny on me as it seems to do once a month, relegating me to the last page of a search for the title!

    All you probably never needed to nor wanted to know about Japan; usually dull but worthy, occassionaly topical and possibly even interesting.

  63. I still wonder why does the site took too much bandwith but not so much people commented it. I guess what makes a blog successful doesn’t only relate to the great contents that it has.

    Sure contents are important but that alone doesn’t guarantee visitors (or buyers on business-perspective). Take a look at Apple.

  64. Max says:

    My blog, Jerico, has been around for about 2 months. I’m under the impression that I write good content, or at least that I’m able to write good content on occasion. Jerico is my personal blog, but I also use it to update on my musical life. Please take a look at it and tell me what you think!

  65. Hendrik says:

    Macnotes is my blog and your daily dose of Macintosh rumors, news, tutorials and reviews.

  66. Tom Goetze says:

    Well, I just started my english blog. It is a christian blog and mostly christian topics will be added to it. At the moment I write my exams and so I am not really able to add much more. But I’ll write something new as soon as possible.

    Have a look on my blog!

    Tom

  67. Crystal says:

    Said She is my little pitstop on the information superhighway, where you can usually find me ranting about video games, pharmacy stuff, life, and a rather creepy landlord.

  68. Paul says:

    So my blog is a somewhat eclectic combination of stuff about politics, stuff about Buddhism, and occasionally stuff about nothing at all. (I’d write for Seinfeld, except the show’s off the air now.)

    Scope it out, I’ll take all the readers I can get.

  69. Rudd-O says:

    At rudd-o.com I have in excess of 500 posts, 100 of which I could easily consider helpful for people. How can I promote that content? I still haven’t breached the Google barrier, so traffic is naturally low.

  70. Matt says:

    Who can pass up the opportunity to promote yourself? Mac Fanatic is a blog that I keep detailing some of the Mac rumors and news, my experiences with Macs, quick tips and tricks I find out the hard way, and my weekly podcast where I review some bit of Mac hardware or software.

  71. Static Brain says:

    My blog is a political blog, with a twist. I look for issues that the mainstream media won’t touch. For example, issues like the Bush family Nazi connections, or the 9-11 is a coverup issue. I believe that media today is full of propaganda. That we are living in age of media deceipt. I strive to bring the truth to the forefront. Truth is an important commodity in an age of deceipt.

  72. Always looking for more traffic… who isn’t ;o)

    http://da-vinci-code-rants.blogspot.com

  73. Lisa says:

    Your blog is really popular, my blog is based on my interest of sports and technology.

  74. Jason says:

    I’d like to give a “bark” out to my humble little blog about my dogs and sometimes I venture into other things that tickle my fancy.

  75. Lance Brown says:

    Our Project Simplify blog has lots of good writing and useful content. We post regularly, and try to make every post useful for folks looking to simplify and be more organized in their business and personal lives. Also, I think the blog is pleasing to the eye, and a good example of a customized, integrated WordPress blog. (We have PHPList, Gallery, and Microshop integrated, among other things.)

    If you are still considering sites for a bit of free promotion, we would love a link. I’ve added a link to Weblog Tools Collection on our Links page. 🙂

  76. mark says:

    Oddly Zen is my blog, a thought experiment that started in 1994 and has really grown recently as I update it more regularly and use it more for expression than a collection of copy-paste-comment stuff from the ‘net. I have been writing a lot more — poetry, life, etc. Check it out. Thanks.

  77. IBloon says:

    The Daily Bloon – No carbs, no fat, no calories, all awesome.

    I never pass up a chance to promote my blog. Check it out, I think you will like what you find. 🙂

  78. Michael Martine

    On the internet, nobody knows you’re a god.

  79. thewatchlist says:

    My blog is annoying. Any tips on how to trick people into thinking it is interesting?

  80. Patience is the hardest thing to get right with growing your blog, thanks for writing this how-to so I could remember that! 😉 Overall really good tips for the beginner to intermediate blogger.

  81. seanrox says:

    I try to promote my site. It’s been online since June 1999, so I do get a fair amount of traffic because of it’s age but like you said, I post at least 3-4 times per week and my content is pretty robust, so as the saying goes, if you post it, they will come and now that I commented here, maybe a few more will 🙂

  82. Devil Wyk says:

    Promotion is difficult unless you want to pony up some cash. I use friends and every other means possible, so please try to check out the blog. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your neighbors. It gets good reviews from those who read it, so hopefully the groundswell will increase.

  83. Hades says:

    I think the important thing is to also be novel in your approach to certain things. Very often one tends to write about something popular and wonders why the hell is no one reading it. Well of course no one is reading it because there are five hundred other sites that say the exact same thing. It is one thing to write often, and write well, but the key is to bring something new to the table and frankly, most bloggers are still in the ‘write about my latest jewellery acquisition” stage. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with it, but who on earth would want to read it?

  84. The concept is simple. Write well, write about contemporary topics, and write FOR others. No one wants to read about subjects that are “all about you”. They go out to the internet looking for knowledge and help. What goes around comes around.

  85. Michael Wood says:

    As the founder of GlobalTruth.org, I encounter historical film of overwhelmingly significance today, and I have spend a lot of time regularly adding content to the relatively new site.
    Additionally, on my personal video blog at Michael.WoodsBlog.us, I follow and discus issues related to world peace and war, politics and economics, human and social rights, foreign policy and the New World Order. See the best independent documentaries, Democracy Now and Noam Chomsky Videos, and other issues of Global Truth.

  86. cranelegs says:

    Mark,

    What a fantastic article!!! I’m psyched! Write and they shall come! Brilliant!

    (alas, i’m such a loser. stooping to such lowly laudations. a desperate attempt to add to my tens of readers. i am sorry. i will go now. did i tell you how fantastic this article is?)

  87. Cal Smith says:

    I have a great new blog that features okara, a little-known soy by-product that could solve the obesity problem that plagues most first-world countries.

    I have written 8 or 10 great articles on the subject, a couple that are extremely funny according to the few who have read them).

    The one I like the best is a Dr. Seuss style poem that starts:
    Oh, what you can do with okara

    You can whip up some pancakes,
    that’s what you can do.
    You can stew up some soup,
    or soup up some stew.

    It goes on from there.

    The point is that the more I write, the deeper they all get buried before anyone has a chance to see them.

    So how do keep your blog fresh for repeat visitors, and still have your great articles where new visitors can see them?

    Cal Smith
    http://nowyourecooking.blogspot.com

  88. Karthik says:

    Hmm interesting.
    my blog is just basically a collection of my thoughts, which can be pretty random….. lots of ranting and raving (which is entertaining to read, or so i hear), some stuff about metal, and any other thoughts i might have
    im hoping this adds to my (very) meagre readership

  89. Thanks for the post. I was searching for some blog promotion tips for my Philadelphia Eagles Blog and ended up here. I couldn’t agree with you more. The best way to build up a good blog is to make the blog interesting and useful with content(who would of guessed). Anyhow thanks. I’m gonna go think of something new to write about.

  90. Daz Cox says:

    I post my artwork and occasional inspirational nuggets on spiritualty!

  91. cinemoose says:

    Good post and idea of a monthly 20 blogs to watch. My blog deals with independent filmmaking, directing and screenwriting. Hope this works ’cause I could always use the readership.

    http://cinemoose.com

  92. Patrick says:

    My blog is a little bit of everything, which means that there’s surely something for you there. It’s called Patrick’s Place, and it’s a TV producer’s take on TV, Politics, Pop Culture and more.



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