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Ways to Increase Blog Traffic
Ways to Increase Blog Traffic
Do you feel like your blog traffic is at a standstill lately? Some people say “J” months are slow, so you can expect dips in June, July, and January. Others say they don't write about holidays so their traffic around the holidays is slow. I say that is a big fat lie and there's NO reason your traffic should dip as long as you've set up a strong foundation for your blog. There are times when your traffic will go down, and go back up, but I don't blame that on “J” months or anything else.
I'm going to give you some tips to increase blog traffic, but you'll want to download my free ebook (join my Squad to get access) to get more than 80 tips to increase blog traffic RIGHT NOW. There's no reason to wait for the holiday traffic! No reason to blame slow months on anything but lack of preparation! Let's do this together.
7 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic
1. Take your blog seriously. If you don't, who else will? This means moving to a self-hosted website like WordPress. Even if you have your own domain, if your blog is hosted on blogger, you're missing out on huge potential. If you haven't made the switch yet, I can help you (for free). Just send me a quick email (sadie AT slapdashmom DOT com). Put something like “BLOG HELP” in the subject line so I know it's not spam and so I don't overlook it. I'm happy to help get you over to WordPress so you can take your blog to the next level!
2. Create amazing headlines. Whether you use a headline analyzer or just naturally crank out kick ass headlines, they really do matter so spend some time on them. You have literally half a second to get people's attention anymore. Use the headline to do just that. Click!
3. Spend time on social media. I don't want you to use social media as a time suck, but you've gotta be present on Pinterest and other social networks if you want to increase your traffic. By “be present” I don't mean spam the crap out of your posts. In fact, I do quite the opposite with great results! I log onto Pinterest a few times a day and set a timer for 10 minutes. In that time, I go through and pin a handful of posts that I find interesting and relevant to my blog. Then, I pin a few of my own things, pin a few more of other things, and be done with it. This takes maybe 30 minutes a day. Pinterest is responsible for about half of my traffic, so it's worth the time investment.
4. Repurpose your content. Sometimes I'll post a blog post that does really well, but I want it to keep going and for the longest time I couldn't figure out how to do it. Now, I repurpose my blog posts! I turn them into ebooks and workbooks, webinars, and even podcasts. If you join the Slap Dash Squad you'll get immediate access to my brainstorming workbook about repurposing blog content.
5. Write guest posts. Some blogs accept guest posts from other bloggers. There are many reasons for this but the benefit for the blogger is that they get ‘free' content. The benefit for the writer is that they get to link back to their own website, product, or whatever else they want promotion on (within reason). Each blog has its own set of guest posting guidelines, so email your favorite bloggers and ask what theirs are! The key to making guest posts work is to put out the VERY best content you've got – both in the guest post and on your blog. If you write an amazing guest post and I click through to see your site and it's crap, I'm not sticking around.
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Pam says
Well, I am certainly bookmarking this post. I have been wanting to improve my blog traffic since switching to my snazzy new WP site on Sunday. Thanks for sharing, Sadie!
Marina says
Sadie this is a tweet-worthy-share-worthy, pin-worthy post that must have taken a good deal of time to put together and there’s wisdom from start to finish. Bookmarking, tweeting, sharing and pinning this because you rock!
SlapDashMom says
Thank so much, Marina! It took about 3 days but was so worth it.. I love how it looked when it was done!
heather walter says
I am happy to say that I already do some of these. Of course, there are a fair amount of these I still need to do, l like cutting down load time. Grr!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
These are such excellent tips! The only thing I prefer is to have dates in the permalink so that I know how fresh the content is. I always look for that when I’m searching for info.
SlapDashMom says
I think that’s part of the reason I don’t put dates.. because if I wrote a post last year I still want people to check it out.. dating it would give them a reason not to, ya know?
Kristina says
Wow!!! A lot of really useful info here. I’m going to have to do a “To Do List” and conquer these one by one! Thank you!
Acai Ultima says
I like the helpful info you provide to your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check once more right here regularly. I’m quite sure I’ll be told many new stuff right right here! Best of luck for the next!
Jess says
Wow! These tips are awesome. I think I should do guest post and submissions more often.By the way I could not understand the role of nrelate plugin in this context.
Your writing style is too impressive !! :-)
ericabuteau says
Found this on Sverve. Really, really great tips and I appreciate you putting them all in one place! Sharing and implementing!
Maria B says
Thank you so much for this post! It has been featured in My Favorite Blogging Resources post. You can view it here: http://kraftycardsetc.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-favorite-blogging-resources.html
Have a great day!
Maria
Kelsey says
Thank you for the advice! :) I’m a new blogger, so I’m still figuring out things.
Mike says
To get better response try posting during business hours and always post on weekdays. There is more possibility of someone checking out your blog during these times instead of a weekend. Post at different times and check between what times you get the maximum views. Once you figure that out post during those hours.
SlapDashMom says
Great tip!!
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Gina D says
Just happened on this page via Pinterest and I’m so glad that I did. I will be favoriting your blog and I have already signed up for your email updates. Thanks so much for the info and I am going to attempt to complete all 99. I have already done some of these, but not nearly enough! Thanks again!
Denise says
Holy crap, that’s a lot of pointers. I’ll have to bookmark this one and keep coming back to make sure I try a bunch of new ideas. Thanks!
Tammy says
I will be going down your checklist today! My traffic always drops during the summer so with Fall around the corner, I am hoping my traffic will bounce back. I recently added a pin that is taking off…which excites me! Thanks for the info!
Pam says
Very helpful tips-thanks!
Joan - My Cookie Clinic says
Sadie, Thanks for sharing these concise, great tips. There are plenty I will put to use.
Stephanie says
This has to be a the greatest blogging “how to” list that I have ever seen! Thanks for sharing!
Marie says
Thanks for such an informative post. I’m still fairly new at blogging and always looking for ways to improve it and attract more readers. This was very helpful!
Kalee says
These are absolutely great tips!! Thank you! I’ve already opened up 3 more of your articles while reading too! :) Great information!
vickiem says
Nice tips–thanks! :0)
susie carranza studio says
Thanks so much for this! i still feel so new to the blogging world, so this list will definitely be put to good use. i’ve already pinned it for future reference… :)
Sarah @ Sweet Miles says
Love this! Great ideas!!
Wornout Soles says
Thanks for all the great tips. As a newbie blogger I’m always looking for ways to improve the quality of my blog. Thanks for sharing!
Delia @ Blog Formatting says
What a wonderful rich post! Happy to report that I apply many of these tips. Thanks for sharing :)
Heather says
Thank you for this!!! I really need these tips. I feel like I have reached a plateau — and I’d really rather be at a much higher number of views per day if that is going to happen! ;)
Michelle says
Glad you linked to the 20 calorie dinner. That thread gave me a good laugh. And now i want to try those noodles. :)
SlapDashMom says
Michelle, that thread was CRAZY. :) I love your blog name.. heading over now.
Glenda says
Well, well, well! I tested my site on the pingdom you recommended. First try failed! 86% slower than all the sites tested. I went off and installed the WP Super Cache Plugin you also recommended, just tested it again, now my site is 36% faster than all sites tested! One happy lady here! I’m going to see what else I can fiddle around with, I have a lot to go, but this sure has been a good start. Thanks for the awesomesttttt post!
[email protected] says
Glad I found you on SITS! It’s amazing how much there is to learn about blogging/networking. I’ve had my blog for a year, and I’m still learning. Some of the things on this list I do, others I hadn’t thought of. Thank you so much!
Vinma says
Very informative and well researched! Thank you for writing this for your readers :) Going to one or two points from here :)
Felissa (Two Little Cavaliers) says
What a great list! I am going to work my way through them to make sure that I am implementing each and every tip.
Nile says
Right on time…. expect a link from one of my posts I am putting out today on taking your blogging to the next level. :)
MomChalant says
This list is so awesome. I’m curious about this –> 21. Set up a FAQ page. Answer questions in individual posts, then link back to them on your FAQ page. If you set your FAQ page up with awesome SEO, your pageviews could jump substantially.
Are you referring to general questions or questions you get asked?
SlapDashMom says
You could list any questions – if you get asked certain questions over and over, you’ll put those on your FAQ page. Answer them in a post and you can link back to that post. If you have general things you want people to know, you could ask questions and answer them too. “What’s your favorite color??” :)
April Golightly says
How does #1 help with traffic?
SlapDashMom says
They have to hit “more posts” to see more of your posts, which gives you more pageviews. :)
Jean Lynd says
Great info. Going to start making my perma-links date free. I only do that sometimes.
Marianne says
Thank you for the fabulous tips! I have already submitted to search engines, added tags, did a pingdom test, and hit up picket fence. So beneficial! Thank you!!!
Nicole says
Thanks so much for this! I’ve been blogging for a long time and already do some of your 99 (+1) recommendations, but there are so many more that I never thought of. Already implemented a bunch of them this evening. Thanks again!!
[email protected] Junk Nest says
Wow! I’m pinning this FOR SURE. All of these tips are perfect. There were several ideas that I had never even heard of, let alone considered. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
chris green says
slapdash mom you rock,have bookmarked this page just to show hw great the post is
Betty Manousos says
awesome tips! thanks so much for sharing! Can we get information about how to remove date and year from the permalink?
thank you for your help!
Jodee Weiland says
Great post! Thanks for a lot of valuable information!
Jen says
I need a month to go back through old posts and update categories and tags. I am horrible at that, especially when I migrated from Blogger to WP (best idea ever though) and lost some of the tags.
I LOVE these tips. You are my new blogging mentor, friend, person. Consider yourself warned. ;) Lol.
April says
This is SO helpful for a new-ish Blogger like me! Thank you!
Christine Blythe says
I have no choice but to bookmark this site because there’s so much in this list I want to do, it will probably take me at least a month.
Thanks for this great post.
Jen says
This is a great post! I am still perusing your site and all the fantastic information you have here. I’ll be stalking your blog and all social media immediately. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Charlotte says
I’m brand new to blogging and I can’t tell you how helpful this post has been. Looks like I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me but at least you’ve broken it down into manageable chunks. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Jeanni says
Thank you so much for this blog post! I have learned so much from your advice on SITS!
Teresa says
I think I’m getting better at this increasing traffic thing, because I’m doing a lot of this stuff already. Yay!
Allison says
Your tip about shortening the URL to make it more SEO-friendly was an eye-opener. I didn’t know it had an effect, and I didn’t know you can do that!
Jodee Weiland says
Some great information here…very useful! Thanks for sharing!
David Crowley says
Good ideas, thanks! Saving this as a good reference.
Amaia - You Made My Day says
Thank you for this useful article, I already read it and I’ll re-do it again many times!!! So many good tips!
Maddie says
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Amye Ellsworth says
Sooooo many great ideas! I’m just starting to get serious about blogging and vlogging, and right now it seems so overwhelming! This helps a lot. :)
Dana says
I also found your post link on SVERVE :) Thanks for the useful tips; I’m going to have to check out the nrelate plugin.
Inspiring Dose says
There’s some good information listed here. Great job!
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
This year is the year I am attempting to breathe a new life on my 8 year old blog. I haven’t really been doing much of SEO or traffic improvement so a post like this is just what I need to motivate me even more. Thank you! :)
Emily says
Thank you so much for this awesome resource! I can’t wait to try some of these ideas! There are so many I don’t know where to start! THANK YOU!
hellokatzi says
Thank you so much for these tips. Absolutely pinning this! :)
khouloud says
Great list! thx for sharing!
Kara says
Thanks for the awesome list of ideas! I do some of these but there are so many more that I can try :)
Maria says
This post is incredibly helpful! I check it at least several times a week!
Hollybee says
I have been blogging for a very long time, but I even find I’m not very good and doing some of what you have listed. My biggest problem is guest blogging. I would love to do it, but not sure where to start.
Bake Sale Boss says
I have not been blogging long. I see the tips above and realize I can be doing so much more to increase my traffic. Thank you for posting this, it seems I have some “homework”!
Amandeep Singh says
Great info……. Can you please write a post about what should we do when we get demotivated in blogging……..
Thanks for sharing your ideas
Renee Groskreutz says
Your Flickr tip is quite fascinating. I have not done this but are you suggesting to treat it a bit like Pinterest?
Socially Connected Consulting says
So many ways! Thanks!
Lynn Winters says
Thank you so much for making this list! My blog is new and I want to start off on the right foot. :)
Lynn
Sarah | Baby Brain says
I love your section about Pinterest. I’m still trying to get acquainted, and the way you explain it seems so doable and less overwhelming. Do you recommend any sort of routine maintenance and un-pinning, or do you think being selective and organized from the get-go is sufficient?
SlapDashMom says
I’m not sure what you mean by “un-pinning” but I do not agree with deleting pins unless they have 0 repins and have been at 0 repins for a while, have a bad picture, etc. Even then I don’t personally do it. You can have a pin with only 3 repins and 9 months later it goes viral and gets 100K repins. That has happened many times and that is why I don’t delete them. :) Be selective and organized from the get go and take my free Pinterest course if you haven’t (at rockingvas.com).