As promised, I’m finishing up my session with you from BlissDom. I was on a panel with 3 other fabulous bloggers. You can catch up by reading:
My purpose in sharing the short version of my session with you, is to convince you to save your pennies and come to BlissDom with us next year! {{giddy}} I also believe that if you know something you should share it!
It’s time to wrap things up by getting to the deep stuff that no one ever tells you. Well, they do tell you but you don’t believe them until you discover that it really does work after trial and error yourself. {{HA! Come on, you know it’s true.}}
Blog Community Tools – Tricks of the Trade
There are many tools that you can use to build your own community. If you’re not ready to build your own – these tools will also help you to join and participate in other communities. Once you’ve made a name for yourself in these communities, it will be a lot easier to create your own.
Facebook Fan Page – In my opinion, If you have a blog you should have a fan page. Why?
- Because statistics are showing that Facebook is one of the most effective ways to promote your blog.
- Facebook is also growing faster than Twitter and has a more mature age range. So basically more my demographic of readers.
- I wouldn’t bother creating a Networked Blogs page. It just divides your readership with 2 different applications.
- There are people who won’t comment on your blog, but they will engage with you via Facebook. Give them the option!
Some of my must have software and sites:
- Tweet Deck for Twitter (they have an iPhone app – it’s fabulous!)
- YouTube – this is a great way to allow your readers to really see your personality. Use it to highlight a different side of you. If you post about your family on your blog – use YouTube video to focus on you as a woman. ie. Fashion, movie reviews, etc.
- Google Analytics - Site Meter is for newbies. If you’ve been blogging for over a year it’s time to join the big girls and get to know your readers, referrers, and most popular posts.
- Ning & Blog Frog – Use these communities to make a name for yourself and promote your blog. Make sure to stay true to yourself and your personality and use it organically. Friend people and interact with them regularly. This will help you become known in your niche and in these communities. Then you can create your own.
- Link Within – It’s important to have loyal readers. To do this, they’ve got to really know you and what you bring to the table. This application will show your readers visually the related posts which will bring more page views and allow your readers to really see what you have to offer.
Spotlight Your Blog Readers & Top Referrers
There are many great examples, here are the couple we highlighted:
- The Nester uses Tumblr
- Amy posts her monthly notebook
- SITSgirls readers have to comment in order to be featured
- Pink Lemonade gives free ads as a thank you for being her top referral
Tricks of the Trade – The Easy Button for Traffic
- Use Google Alerts to find out who’s posting about you. Send them a nice thank you e-mail or comment. This creates friendships which creates loyalty.
- Use Google Analytics to find out what your top 10 posts are. Use these topics and SEO words to create more posts that are related. These are the topics you’re readers and Googler’s are most interested in.
- Publicly thank your top referrers. Post about them, give them free ad space on your blog, collaborate with them on fun projects. Share the link love.
- Guest post as often as you can. Why? This breads traffic – for both bloggers involved.
- Interview each other and share traffic in your niche. Why? See #4
Share What You Know – The Next Level
First set your blog up for success:
- Put your picture on the homepage of your blog! People have to know who you are to connect with you. Be consistent with your profile pictures – have it the same everywhere so people can recognize you instantly. Use a real picture not a avatar.
- Create solutions to your readers problems – then sell it.
- Teach as you learn
- Barter ad space for products you want
- Have the Mom-preneur who’s giveaway you’re hosting giveaway 2 products. One for the winner and one for you.
- Have an About page
- Organize blog parties and meet ups.
Now it’s time to take the lead:
- Create a product: book, eBook, download
- Use your powers for good: teach what you know, help charities or another blogger
Thank You for Reading!
This is just a small bit of the information that was shared during our BlissDom session. I hope you learned something. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. I’m here to help!
This is the contact information to everyone who was on the panel. What I shared with you in this 3 part post is my point of view. You would have had to attend the session to get theirs. {{wink}}
Amy – Mom Advice, @momadvice
Stephanie - Adventures in Babywearing, @babysteph
Mindy - The Mommy Blog , @themommyblog
Laurie - Tip Junkie, @tipjunkie
Also, if you’d like to attend a social media conference (blogging conference) but don’t want to travel far or spend a lot of cash, check out the Bloggy Boot Camps from the SITSgirls. They are intimate and you will learn a LOT not to mention network with the movers and shakers in your local area.
I’ll be attending two more conferences this spring:
- May 1st: Bloggy Boot Camp – Phoenix (I’ll be speaking)
- June 24th: Evo Conference – Park City, UT
I hope you can come and we can finally meet in real life! {{squeal in delight}}
Comments
Hi Laurie!
Great post :) I have Analytics on my blog…how can I use it to see my top 10 most popular posts (not sure where to look)?
Thanks,
Jen
contactus at bullfrogsandbutterfliesbabyboutique dot com
Log into Google Analytics, look on your dashboard on the bottom right for “content”. Click view report and go from there.
Thanks for all of the great information. I am going to study this post since I am new to blogging. You have a wonderfully informative blog & I visit every day.
WOW! Thanks for all the great information!
I’ve been family blogging for years but just came onto the scene as a blogger with a purpose. I LOVE IT! I’m super stoked and I think it’s AMAZING how many people are out there who want to help.
Thanks
Gwenevere
sewmanybooks.blogspot.com
This is excellent! THank you!
Wonderful info!! Especially for a newbie like me! :)
I’ve got something for you on my blog, come check it out :)
nikkisniftyknacks.blogspot.com
This is some great news. I have been blogging for a while. I don’t have many followers and this sounds like a great way to latch onto the reading and following community.
Thanks
http://victoriascreativecrafts.blogspot.com/
Thank you SO MUCH for the list of tools!!! I’ve always wanted to know how to add some of these things to my blog! As a newbie, I’m still learning every day, and you just helped me a bunch!
Sonya
I have really enjoyed your series and learned TONS! Thanks so much!
I have been asking on Twitter and on BlogFrog for days. I’m wondering if you and any of your readers know of a good Virtual Asst? I need someone to do a little work for me, I’m not very techy and it takes me way too much time to figure things out.
Please, Please! Let me know!
Thanks much!
~Liz
Sorry Liz,
I don’t know where to find a good virtual assistant. I’m so excited for you though! That should help you immensely!
A lot of good info! I really need to hunker down and study it. Thank you so much for the recap–hoping we get to meet in person soon!
So Denise and I have been e-mailing back and forth about this topic and she graciously gave me the permission to post our conversion on the comment thread.
Why?
Because I think others have the same questions and I’d love to spark some conversation on it. This way we all learn.
“Good morning Laurie!
I have been a follower since I began blogging (only since end of January!) and love your site! I came across your post today and am going to sit down and study tonight (I am at work). However, I have a couple of questions if you have the time to help a beginner.
1) How do I build up my followers & get new people into my site?
2) How do I get sponsors and giveaway items, which I feel would help obtain followers and allow my site to gain momentum.
I know you are busy with your fabulous site, but I am hoping that you can shed some insight on this.
Thank you!
Denise”
Denise,
The most effective way to get new followers is to:
a.) be a great commenter on other blogs. Commenting on Tip Junkie is great because there isn’t a lot of competition in the comments but I get anywhere from 8,000 – 15,000 visitors a day. That’s some crazy good exposure for commenter’s. (I know that sounds a little self indulgent – but it’s not. Go where there is a lot of relevant traffic and engage with people. They will click on your name even if they don’t end up leaving a comment themselves.)
b.) Join Nings and Blog Frog communities. Participate actively and “friend” as many people as you can. Be sure to have your blog info on there but don’t talk about your blog per se. Be your true self and try to develop true friendships. You will become known in these communities (only pick 3-4 to focus on) and then the readers will come.
c.) To build up your “followers”, um… I’m probably not a good example of that. I only put my widget up about 2 months ago. When I converted over from blogger to wordpress – I just didn’t understand the value in it and I felt like it was a popularity contest kind of thing. I have since learned the value of the community and decided to add it to my blog. I use this rule all the time, “when in doubt ask”. Every couple months – just ask people to join the “Google Connect followers” widget. I have a post planned soon that will give you the low down (411) on the widget and should help you to better engage with your readers on it. You can also give people an “extra entry” for a giveaway if they become a follower.
2. Don’t get too caught up in the giveaway mania. I hated starting a giveaway every Tuesday, but really it’s the only way to effectively promote my Mom-preneurs which is my true focus. Once again, the best way to get a sponsor or giveaway item – is to ask.
Do a fun and creative post letting people know you’re ready for the next level and “What’s in it for them”. However, don’t be bummed if no one comments and hits you up immediately. It all depends on what your traffic is and who your audience is. I started doing giveaways and having sponsors when I started getting offers in my e-mail. That was about the time I was getting 800 visitors a day. Times have seriously changed since then, and you can do it earlier. Just make sure you have a real value to give your sponsors and Mom-preneurs who giveaway their products on your site.
The easiest way to get a giveaway product is to contact someone who you are familiar with (have e-mailed at least twice) and just ask them. I would be very generous on what you’re willing to do for them. Just the giveaway – probably won’t cut it if you’re stats aren’t over 300 visitors a day. Maybe you could offer them a button on your blog, an intro or teaser post for the giveaway, and then the giveaway post.
These are just some brainstorms. I hope they help!
Would it be alright if I posted your questions and my answers on the comment section of the post, so other people can learn as well?
Laurie
http://www.tipjunkie.com
Laurie,
You are a doll to have responded! I hoped but had not expected, and to this extent! I know you must be so busy!
a) I have been commenting on SITS and Trendy Treehouse frequently. I went way up in views quickly and it slacked off. I will continue and comment
on Tip Junkie.
b) I will immediately check out Nings and Blog Frog. I had never heard of them before. By friend, do you mean “follow”?
c) As far as giveaways, I thought maybe that helped motivate others to check me out.
d) I will absolutely be looking forward to your post! This will be very helpful to me, as I am a new blogger.
You are more than welcome to post. I am sure there are others wondering the same thing. You have been great and I truly appreciate the personal e-mail and helpful response!
a.) SITS is an amazing sisterhood of women. I would absolutely keep that up.
b.) Nings and the Blog Frog are small sites that are set up to induce community. When you sign up, you can “friend” people, copy & paste in your blog posts, and really enter into some good and relevant conversations regarding your passions and niche.
That’s why I created the TJ Community: http://tipjunkie.ning.com/
To give creative women a way to really connect with each other. Whether you have a blog or not.
c.) People are very motivated by giveaways. Once you post your giveaway, be sure to list it on the TJ Giveaway Directory: http://www.tipjunkie.net/giveaways/
It’s a FREE listing and hundreds of people have signed up to find out about them so they can enter.
The downside to giveaways is that you’ll need to capture your new traffic’s attention in order to convert them from a giveaway entry into a reader. This can be tough – which is why the “extra entries” craze has been going gang busters. If you get these readers to sign up for your RSS feed (even if they cancel later) you at least have a shot to get them to stay with you.
Giveaways can also annoy your loyal readers. So don’t do them too often and make sure your loyal readership get something out of it as well. Just make sure that your blog isn’t all hype – there’s got to be a really great mix of engagement, great content, hype, free products, and valuable information and tools.
The biggest thing is to plan your blog out. Find out your vision and mission and then write down your goals and plan out your posts. This way you can incorporate everything we talked about above in a strategic manner.
I promise it will work. Throw in some consistency and you’ve got a winning blog with a loyal audience. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re being successful at what you do because you have a plan and a purpose. This will then spill over into your real life. This is how high profile bloggers “balance” (if there is such a thing) real life with their blog.
Believe me ladies, it’s all intentional. It didn’t just happen.
Wonderful! I love reading all the post Blissdom posts on Blogs since I can never afford to go. Always makes me feel less left out when I get to read the recaps!
This series has been a WEALTH of information! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing it especially for us who don’t go to the conferences. I’m on the verge of wanting to step it up and do more with my blog but am a bit intimidated/overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. :) However, I’m learning about it and getting very excited about it, especially with amazing posts as yours. So thank you again! Have a lovely day!
I’ve really enjoyed this series, Laurie. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I’m already doing some of the things you’ve suggested. Thanks so much for posting this…it’s a great tool for those of us who really wanted to attend Blissdom and just couldn’t. I can’t wait to read the comments for this post. :)
I just have a quick question: you said to not bother with a Networked Blog on Facebook yet I see you have one….I have one too but was thinking of getting rid of it and just keeping the ‘fan’ page. Is there a reason you recommend not having one yet have one yourself? Just curious :)
Thanks so much!
-Kristi
This is a classic “what I wish I had known” topic. I only made a fan page because at the time what I really wanted was a networked blog and had to have a fan page in order to have one. :)
What it did was divide my readership. I have something like 1300 on my Fan Page and 999 on Networked Blogs; instead of 2300 which is a more substantial number on just one. I highly promoted my Networked Blogs at one time, but the fan page promoted itself.
This is just one example, but to me you only need a Fan page.
Wow. I could spend all day trying to absorb all this! Thanks for sharing. I added the LinkWithin to start… so much more to learn, but so fun! Thanks again!
Loved reading the convo with Laurie and Denise, lots of great info!
Denise, are you on Twitter? I get lots of visitors each day from Twitter and have built lots of great relationships.
I have been blogging for 1 yr (this week) and I have gained lots and lots of readers by participating in memes/blog carnivals.
If you would like to talk to me more about which ones I participate in, just email me, I’m happy to help too!
Laurie, sorry you don’t know of a Virtual Asst, keep me in mind if you hear of anyone. Thanks :-)
~Liz
Great post today. I am a new blogger and need al the help I can get! I do have a fan page so fan me please.
The SITS girls are fun. You can meet some fun women there. I’m in the process of nailing down the format I want to use on my blog which was something I should have done in the beginning.
Anyway, thank you for the series. I usually lurk and look at the crafts wishing I was that creative so it’s nice to be able to participate in something.
Thank you so much for sharing this information with us.
Hope it helps ;)
Fantastic post sweetie!
Thank you for taking the time to put your information on the blog- how helpful and insightful! Now I’m going to explore your tips! :)
Thank you so much for posting these. I wasn’t able to attend Blissdom and this is AWESOME information. I’ve saved this info in my Evernote for future reference. Sorry I missed the session in person. I’m sure it was really interesting.
Thank you SO much for this! I love your ideas :)
This is why i love Laurie. She is sooo supportive and helpful to other women and bloggers!
Thanks for all the great information. Could you tell me a little more about the Giveaway. For some reason this intimidates me.
When offering extra chances to win for doing a few extra things (like becoming a follower or viewing a new site and telling what they like about it) does the person have to leave an additional comment for each thing? How do you contact them – do you ask for information? Do you just post the winner on your site and they contact you? What is the right dollar amount to get the right response? Do readers like gift cards or products more? How do you select a winner and prove that they are the winner – do you have to show this? Best way to promote the giveaway?
Thanks for any help!
Susan
http://entertainexchange.blogspot.com/
In my opinion Giveaways are getting way too complicated to enter. I would first decide what you want to accomplish with your giveaways. For instance,
1. Do you want to reward your readers?
2. Do you want to feature a Mom-preneur or fabulous product?
3. Do you want to teach your readers how to comment and get them used to interacting with you?
4. Do you want them to “follow” you on your Facebook page or Google Connect Widget?
These are just a handful of things a giveaway can do for your blog. The biggest mistake people make, is having all 4 (and then some) as an objective. It confuses your readers and it makes you look a little greedy. I’ve done it myself, many times! {{evil laugh}} It’s just a trial and error kind of thing you learn as you go.
Let’s assume that your objectives are #2 & #4. Make the entire post about the Mom-preneur and her products. Make it clear what you are giving away, the value, and the deadline. Then to enter the giveaway, have them leave a comment on your post. As an additional entry, they can become a fan of your Facebook page. (You can pick the winner from facebook, or have them leave a second comment “I’m a fan”.) This gives ALL of your readers a chance to win, and those who really love you will join you on facebook. They get an added perk and all is well.
Back to your questions:
* To enter the giveaway, have your readers leave a comment on your post. If they win – you can 1.) e-mail them by getting their e-mail address off their blog. 2.) leave a comment on their blog stating that they won and your e-mail address so they can contact you to redeem their prize.
* I only allow giveaways that are at least $35 in value. Obviously, the higher in value – the more interest and blog buzz will happen. I always as for $50, but I’ll allow to $35 depending on the Mom-prenuer. The exception to this rule is jewelry. People LOVE jewelry and will enter a giveaway for $20 if it’s beautiful. The key is to have a clear and nice picture of your giveaway item.
People will enter giveaways for less, I’ve just found that the Mom-preneur and I am more happy with the response if it’s closer to $50.
* You really should prove the winner. This gives you immediate credibility and no one gives you beef about it. I’ve stopped doing that due to space on the blog. However, I still screen shot every winner in case I have to “prove” it later. Ways to pick a winner:
1. You can video yourself picking the comment number from a hat.
2. You can take pictures of your kiddo picking the comment number.
3. The most popular choice is to use http://www.Random.org and put in your “numbers” (on tool bar). You can use their widget or print screen and post the image onto your blog. You can see an example here: http://www.tipjunkie.com/2009/11/12-days-winner-page.html
* The best way to promote a giveaway is to use other bloggers and their readership to do it for you. There are a LOT of bloggers who host a link up on Sunday or Monday with giveaways for that week. I’m sure you can google “blog Giveaway link up” and find them or ask around to other bloggers. You can also upload it to the Tip Junkie Blog Events and Giveaway directory. It’s free! You do have to sign in – but that’s to make it easier each time. These subscribers are people who want to know where the giveaways are. So it’s your perfect demographic. Here’s the link: http://www.tipjunkie.net/giveaways/
I hope this answers your questions. Feel free to ask if you have more.
Could you explain how Google Alerts works? I signed up (I thought) to have it track anyone who links up to my blog, but I think I did it wrong, because I had a friend link to me today and I didn’t get any alerts. Help! :)
Thank you so much for this summary (and numbers 1 and 2). It was very helpful – especially since I missed the conference!
Thanks for this series Laurie!! Lots of great info!!
I LOVE my Google Alerts!! It’s a GREAT way to find who’s posting about you!!
I have a few questions….
With Google Analytics do you know if there is a way to see how many clicks you have going OUT? For example, when I do a blog swap, I can see how many clicks I get…..but I’d like to see how many clicks I sent to them.
My other question…..Facebook……..I’ve had a Network blog since they first came out….what’s the real difference in that and a fan page……..I guess I really need to switch mine. I don’t have all that many (about 200) on my Network Blog, because I never really promote it on my blog much……but if I go and add the fan page I feel like I’m just asking for so much….Follow me HERE and HERE and HERE lol……………..I guess I need to do the fan page thing……
1. Yes, I believe there is a way to see how many “click throughs” went out. You can also track that if you are using WordPress – check your stats page.
2. I’m still learning about Facebook. But here’s the skinny. A very small number of your readers are using Twitter. However, almost all of your readers currently have (or will have in the next year) a Facebook page. It used to be that the only way to get an image on your RSS Feed was to use Networked Blogs. However, now with all the updates, regular Fan Pages now show an image with every RSS feed (post) that automatically shows up.
You can also record (and link) video to your Fan Pages, use Ping.fm to update your status on your Fan Pages, etc. The actual Fan Pages have a lot more features because they are actually apart of Facebook – not an app. Does that make sense? There are also new websites that are community based that are poping up all the time using Facebook. So if you have a Fan Page, it will be compatible with them.
It’s the future and you’ll want to have one so Facebook can do it’s job and organically promote your blog. It takes out the begging for people to “follow” you. People will find you naturally and your communities will grow the way they are supposed to.
The last thing with Fan Pages that I want to stress – is to USE them. Sadly, I’m the pot calling the kettle black on this one. But when you do upload video, random pictures, tag other people in those pictures, and use it like you would your regular Facebook page – people will comment and really use you as a sounding board to find other friends and connect with each other.
So don’t just let your Fan page be an automatic RSS feed – really use it like you would your blog. Put a couple minutes a day (or week) into putting something on there that’s different from your blog but that your readers will appreciate.
I hope this answers your questions. :)
Laurie
Thanks Laurie…….I’m going to set up my fan page next week
As far as Google Analytics, I have been messing with mine for weeks trying to figure out where it shows where my readers are clicking OUT too…and I just can’t find it.
Thanks so much for the great tips especially the one concerning Google Analytics. I’ve already set -up GA but have a question. Do you need to embed GA in every post to get the results you spoke about or is it just a one time set-up?
Thanks Laurie for all the Giveaway information. It was very helpful.
Susan
I am having so much trouble with Google Analytics. From my “stats” tab on Blogger, I definitely have several page views, and have readers, but each time I try to get my Google Analytics going it always says that I have “0” of everything! This can’t be right, and I’m eager to get going with analytics so it’s frustrating!
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