Do you think the only way to grow your blog audience is to promote till the cows come home, every single day?
How much time do you spend on social media? One hour? Two? More?
Social media promotion is a necessary evil for all bloggers. You have to get your name and blog out there into the blogosphere. The problem is, social media can also be a lot of fun. I have found so many friends online in blogging groups on Facebook and through hashtags on Twitter. I’ve made some real connections. How can I not be interested in what’s going on in their real lives too?
And it’s so easy to get into the mindset that the more you promote, the more traffic you will get. For most bloggers, it is a one man show. Unless you have a bucket load of money, and can hire a virtual assistant, promotion is your job too.
As someone with an accounting background, I measure everything in terms of rate of return. If I am putting a large amount of time into a strategy, I need to calculate the benefit against the time spent. Especially when it comes to social media. Let me just take at look at what’s happening online, easily transitions from one to two to three hours and more. Let’s face it, promoting includes engaging and forming solid relationships with other bloggers.
Checking in sometimes means checking out; out of your real life and unfortunately, out of writing, maintaining and upgrading your blog. You forget that your blog is your foundation and everything else should be frills and enhancements. If you’re not careful, your blogging strategy begins to resemble an upside down triangle, piling more and more tasks on the top, neglecting to expand the bottom as you build up.
A solid social media platform is important if you want to grow your blog audience, however, blog posts with awesome content wrapped up in a visually appealing platform will keep your readers engaged and coming back for more. What good is driving new traffic to your blog daily through promotion if you can not turn them into regular readers? Your rate of return will be very low.
What if I told you there were tasks you could do that would grow your blog audience AND increase the success of your social media platform? Are you in? Of course you are!
Without question it starts with great content and a regular posting schedule. You should be putting as much time and effort into writing as you do promoting. You are a blogger right? So write. And don’t tell me you don’t have time. I’ve seen your cat videos on Facebook.
Not feeling very inspired to write? That’s ok. There is still lots to do offline that will help grow your blog traffic.
Turn off those notifications, stop checking in online and let’s get back to basics, making your blog the best it can be.
25+ Incredibly Useful Tasks To Increase Your Blog Traffic
- Make sure your blog is mobile responsive. (You may need to update your theme. Check out Bluchic, StudioPress Themes for WordPress and Elegant themes)
- Make a list of your top ten posts of all time.
- Make a list of your most read topics.
- Make a list of potential posts based on your top ten best posts/topics.
- Write down in point form ideas to cover in each post.
- Write and put some posts in your vault to cover vacation or dry idea periods.
- Evaluate your Google Analytics.
- Evaluate your niche and if you are targeting the right demographic.
- Review your blog mission, rewrite if necessary.
- Set blog goals.
- Evaluate your social media strategy.
- Harness the power of Pinterest. (Learn how to set up your account here or learn about strategy here)
- Evaluate your effectiveness of establishing a brand for your blog.
- Re-brand if necessary.
- Update old posts.
- Add Pinterest optimized pics to old posts.
- Make a template for featured pics and social media images.
- Review your blog format, upgrade or tweak.
- Add keywords, tags, categories to old posts, optimize SEO.
- Review your monetization programs, add or remove ads. (Take a course on affiliate marketing)
- Make new ads to match your blog brand.
- Review your subscription analytics. (If you don’t have an email provider, check out ConvertKit for 30 days free)
- Make a plan to increase email subscribers.
- Make a freebie or printable.
- Review your email/open/click statistics.
- Make a newsletter template.
I hope my list has inspired you to give your blog the proper love and attention it needs. The payback will be great. I promise you. Check out my income report here.
Do you have any other ideas on how to grow your blog besides social media promotion? Please share in the comments.
79 comments
Very useful info
Reblogged this on The Pradita Chronicles and commented:
Hi Readers!
Hope your Sunday is as relaxed as mine.
I found this great article while I was going through my daily Pinterest feed. Elena simplifies effective blogging and social networking so well! Check out the rest of her website for more tips on everything on blogging.
Have a Happy Sunday!
I’m so glad I found this post because it is unbelievably simple yet helpful. I’m going to reblog this so my readers can benefit from it too. Thank you so much for this information.
I’m so glad you found it useful and thank you for sharing!
You’re most welcome. And it’s me who’s glad to come across this post and your blog 🙂
Thank you for these really great tips! Newish blogger here and I love all the great info I’m finally finding and I so appreciate all the great support from this community!
Thanks Elena – that’s an achievable list – very helpful. I’ve pinned it so I can find it later
Surprised I never saw this post before! It’s incredibly useful. I’m trying to go back through my old posts now and give them better pictures and titles as I write new ones. I’m looking at how to republish old ones to without messing up the url – there’s a tutorial idea for you. 🙂
Are you giving me more work Katy? lol I will see what I can do.
I love going through old posts. So many I have forgotten about and it is amazing how you can drive traffic by just updating pics and adding a pin.
Great advice – so glad #BlogShareLearn sent me here! I’m so brand new to blogging, I don’t really have anything to analyse, but I will use these tips to plan and strategize. Thank you!
I’m so glad you found the linky and I hope the tips come in handy in a few months for you. Welcome to the world of blogging!
Thank you so much for this.As a brand new blogger, it can be very overwhelming. I am taking it one step at a time. I don’t even know how to turn on my TV, but I am learning, growing and enjoying the process!
Haha! I won’t ask you to change the timer then! I hope you do enjoy the process. I love blogging!
Good tips! It can get overwhelming trying to do promotion, but still keep up with actually having things to promote & getting maintenance, etc done. #blogsharelearn
It is really hard being a one man show. Thanks for reading!
I have been dithering about putting up a top 10 post -this is just the encouragement I needed. Thanks, Elena
Do it! Listicles are very popular and will get you a lot of traffic.
It’s funny as a couple of weeks ago I was out of content I just couldn’t think, yet this week I haven’t stopped writing. I love your tip about building up posts for those dry spells and that is what I have had to do this week, save some up. I head to Tasmania tomorrow so I will have loads to share. Social media is such a great way to make new relationships I just found you through twitter! This link up looks great. Off to read and comment on posts linked up with you now, thanks for hosting #BlogShareLearn
Thank you so much for joining the linky.
Good for you for creating when you have the juices flowing. It really helps when you are stuck or are going on vacation.
Hi Elena thanks for so many tips. It is sometimes overwhelming with the amount you need to do with a blog. I really need to get the featured image template sorted it is driving me crazy but I’m just not able to get the branding right at the moment. Oh well that is 2016 goal! Thanks for the link up
It always seems like there is something to do. Good luck with your pics and thanks for joining.
Thank you for sharing this again (and reminding me how much I STILL have to do!).
All of our lists are so long, what’s 25 more?
I have been the victim of the black hole of social media. It can become a huge time suck. I love your list. I’m printing it and checking it off! Thank you Elena.
You have to put on limit on SM. It most definitely can suck you in and steal your time. I am so glad you find the list helpful.
Nothing to add as we are just babies in the blogosphere. This list is definitely helpful! Glad to meet you and Link up, Elena! #blogsharelearn
Thank you for joining and welcome!
Sometimes I feel like I just need to pin your entire blog. All my most useful advice seems to come from you! So many of these seem like they should be obvious, but as a new blogger, there’s just so much information out there, it can get overwhelming. You have this ability to pare things down into a sort of checklist format that is unbelievably helpful.
I wonder what dimensions I could use for that pin? lol I am so glad you find my blog useful. I like to keep it simple but fill it with things bloggers can do for real results. Good Luck!
I think this post should be pinned to every blogger’s desktop. I know I am going to do it! Meeting you has been a pleasure, and now, Professor, I am beginning the work you have instructed! Thanks, Elena.
You are such a good student Cathy! Now snap, snap. Get to it.
And I thought I was making sure you didn’t see those videos!
Another post full of blogging wisdom, Elena. I told you just now, but I’ll repeat it, I’m learning so much from you. Thanks!
I find the whole blog promotion social media thing overwhelming. But you’ve broken it down here in very simple, easy terms and a list! I love a list I can follow and check off. And I figure even if I learn and do one small thing, it’s something new I might now have tried before. I’ll come along eventually…kicking and screaming perhaps, but I’ll get there!
Small things can make such a big difference. And I can handle the kicking and screaming. lol
I need, I need these tips. I’m printing and going to to through and check them off one at a time. I can easily get sucked into the social media vortex and forget to actually write my blog!! Great tips as usual Elena! xoxo-Rosemond
It is so easy to push your blog to the bottom of your must do today list. I’m glad you found the list useful.
This is a great list to refer to when I am needing a boost for those days I am feeling lazy and unmotivated.Thank you.
I seem to be having a lot of those days lately. The post was more of a reminder to myself too.
A great list, some I’ve done but some I’ve never even thought of before. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.
You are very welcome Jennifer!
I feel tired even reading this list, Elena, but it inspires me as well!!!
Thanks, as always, you’re a fount of information. 🙂
Popped over from #BlogSharelearn and returning to visit some more lovely bloggers!!!
Thanks, hope this weekend treats you kindly. 🙂
Thank you for participating lovely. I thought you needed more to do. lol
I’ve done about half of these, but I need to do them all! You truly do give insightful advice and I really value your tips.
Alicia
Thank you so much Alicia!
Great point and I have taken step to implement some of the steps highlighted in this article. This list is comprehensive as a new blogger this will be my go to bible for now to navigate the world of blogging thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome Patrice. It is so easy to forget to take care of our blogs. It’s like having another child.
This is a helpful list, Elena. Thankfully, I can say at this point that I have done more of this stuff than I haven’t…woot woot, but not all. #blogsharelearn
Shellie
You are so awesome Shellie! That is why your blog looks so professional!
For some reason, this post is making me feel guilty for being such a slacker!! It’s a good list though and hopefully by January I’ll feel more settled in my new home to attack these issues!! jodie
New home right before the holidays! Wow, you have more important things to concentrate on, like where the corkscrew is packed.
What a list! I’m pinning it and I need to get busy checking some these off. Thank you 🙂
You are welcome Laurie and thank you!
You’re so wise…and we’re so lucky that you generously share what you know. Thanks for this great list, Elena. (And I know I need to circle back with you to resume my Pinterest lessons…will PM you.)
Like a fox or an owl? You need to write me a haiku. lol
I’m Pinning this and I’m going to work my way through it in little nibbles – there is just so much of value if I want to start getting more serious about this blogging business!
Thank you so much Leanne! Little nibbles are the best way to tackle any large project.
Doing all the promotion feels like forcing down everything on your plate before you can have dessert, which is writing. When you are full from eating too much of the main course, it’s hard to have room for dessert. I am doing a list of my top ten posts and setting some goals today! I might even eat dessert first. Thank you Elena.
I am glad I gave you some food for thought. lol
Great points Elena – I’ve been trying to distribute my time fairly and these points just help to reinforce my aims. Thanks for sharing! ?
It is always good to re-evaluate goals and assess if you are moving in the right direction. I love your mobile friendly blog btw!
inspired? how about overwhelmed… hahaha. thanks, Elena! (still workin’ on Pinterest, fyi…kinda)
There is always lots to do. Whoa, sounded like my mom there.
“I’ve seen your cat videos on Facebook.” Priceless. lol. ~Paula 🙂 #BlogShareLearn
I wasn’t thinking of you exactly but now that you mention it…
Oh my, as a newish blogger this post is marvelous. I love the part about cat videos vs time to write. It’s true. If I really want to do this I must make the time; get up earlier, stay up later, move my computer into the bathroom and lock the door. I need to be a Nike commercial and just do it.
Thank you.
I never thought of moving my computer there but I imagine I would be interrupted just as much. lol
Great list Elena! Thanks!
You are very welcome lovely! Thank you for joining the linky.
This is as comprehensive a list as I’ve seen. With many ideas I hadn’t considered before. Thank you!
You are very welcome Carol. Always a pleasure to see your great blog on my linky!
Thanks for this list!! Perfect timing for this newbie blogger.
I hope it helps keep you grounded.
Great thanks, this is much more helpful than spending time counting my pins and tweets.
Counting numbers can be so time consuming. I have to stop doing that too.
Great points lady! I have taken a little step back from blogging lately just to refresh myself and I have been doing some photography editing which is paying me so it has trumped the blog as well. Think I need a time manager. ?Trista
I could use a PA, and a maid.