Michael Martine, the brains and fingers behind Remarkablogger, posted an article, “Recent Blog Launch? Submit Your New Blog Here and Jumpstart Your Blog Traffic!” He welcomes bloggers to post a blurb about their blog with a link and encourages other readers to visit these sites, comment and bookmark other blogs. He’s also asking those for readers who post to link back to his site. Michael, consider it done!
This is not some form of chain linking! I did think “chain mail” when I read:
You Must Participate for this to Succeed
Why? For you to be successful online, you must participate to succeed. (Oh, Michael already said that!)
Blogging doesn’t get Web traffic!
Participation generates Web traffic, not blogging! Michael Martine is modeling a best practice for his visitors to follow. He’s encouraging site visitors to visit and comment on other blogs. How does he benefit?
- One, he continues to demonstrate that he’s a thought leader.
- Two, he’s creating a viral scenario through his site as the hub.
- Three, he’s gaining incoming links to this page on his blog, increasing trust value with the search engines (known as PageRank in Google).
- Four, he’s acquiring RSS subscribers. Did that, too, Michael!
Blogging is about conversation – interaction, voicing opinions and commenting, reporting on information, sharing. Blogging is social! You may think you don’t have time for all this Social Media stuff. Admittedly, it can be time-consuming. You need to schedule accordingly if you do plan to participate online, just like planning time for interacting with offline friends. Participation on blogs is a requirement for success.
Imagine a networking event where no one socialized, where it was all one-way conversation! That’s Web 1.0 with no user participation.
Think of your blogging activities like that of a networking event. Don’t just talk about yourself. Ask questions and comment when you have something of value to add to the conversation. Don’t talk and comment incessantly, spamming to get your name out there!
Be People-Oriented
The best bloggers and “traffic getters” are people-oriented. They know and love the art of engaging in conversation. People-oriented individuals tend to be genuine, thinking of others, asking questions, caring about feelings and building others up. Negative, back-biting blog comments will not win friends or influence the search engines.
Are you anti-social?
- Don’t blog! You might have to answer comments, which requires responding to people.
- Continue to develop static Web pages that do not interact with your readers, and you’ll maintain your reclusivity.
- Don’t post comments on sites that follow links back to your site (like the Comment Luv plugin I use on this site). You won’t have to worry about increasing exposure and links to your pages. You won’t gain position or ranking in the search engines. You’ll stay out of the public eye.
I recall a guy at Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) with whom I was working on a group project. We were starting a student organization for computer science majors, Electric Eels. I was the President and asked him his preferred role. He said, “I don’t like people” and walked away. Oddly, one of the requirements at CSUMB was collaboration! He would not do well to blog, and if he did, I doubt it would get much traffic.
Nice to meet you, Remarkablogger readers!
I have not listed the plethora of sites that I’ve enjoyed finding since reading Michael Martine’s post. Thank you, Remarkablogger, for this opportunity to participate and get to know some bloggers who are adding value to the Internet! They have my traffic!
FOOTNOTE: Remarkablogger is a valuable resource for anyone learning about the art and science of blogging.
Tags: Blogging, Conversational Marketing, Link Building, Remarkablogger, Search Engine Traffic, Web Traffic
So much good information in your posts! Interaction and responsiveness are so important in my book! Nice post!
The Active Child with Rosabel Yip:
Mark,
Appreciate your stopping by and participating. “Responsiveness” – a good point which says a lot in one word. Excellent! Thanks!
Dana
Neat Dana,
I just went over and left a comment.
I have some questions: why do people use the “@” symbol before a person’s name in the comments section? what’s the significance? why not just use th person’s name w/o the “@”?
Bad Dogs and the Women Who Love Them:
Julie,
The @name is a carry over from the SM (social media, simple messaging) space, especially Twitter. This is how you address someone directly. It does seam odd to write that way in blogs. Technology, the Web, blogging, social media…they are all changing the way we communicate. Heck, even “google” is now a verb!
Dana
Dana, thanks for the kind words! It makes my day that others find value in what I do.
Blogger Biographies: Writer Dad:
Michael, You have to go to sleep each night and wake up thankful that you have an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives! You’re fulfilling your goals and equipping others!
For everyone, attend Remarkablogger’s seminar for how to Grow Your Blog Traffic! The personal training session is worth it. Wish I wasn’t going to be on vacation. His WordPress SEO teleseminar was off-the-chart!