If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Aug19Written by:
2009/08/19 09:31 AM 
No man is an Island. Human beings do not thrive when isolated from others. We desire company, friendship, companions and relationships. The only way to get company, find friends and form relationships is to go out and be friendly. Be a companion to someone else, form relationships. We are social beings, we need to interact. Our blogs and websites are no different. They cannot survive by themselves.
In order to drive traffic to your site, you need to send more traffic to other blogs. By giving another blog some of your traffic, you will in turn receive traffic as well.
“If you build it, they will come” is not necessarily true on the Web. Putting a website up is one thing, but getting visitors to come to your site is another.
Too many bloggers are all consumed with their own site. Infatuated with ways of trying to drive traffic to their own site, that they forget that there are other blogs out their.
As much as you might not admit it, you and your blog are stuck on an island.
All the lonely people
I remember at school and later on at work and in public places that the loneliest people, those without friends were mostly those who never made an effort to be friendly. The introvert, the one who always kept to themselves. The point is this, don’t keep to yourself in the blogosphere.
Visiting other blogs in your niche, and even outside your niche is a must if you want more traffic to your site. Instead of asking “how to I get more visitors to my site?” you need to be asking the question “how do I become part of the blogosphere discussion?” Instead of saying “how do I get more traffic?”, you should be saying “how can I give other blogs more traffic”.
Get Involved.
You need to get involved! Regardless of your topic. There are hundreds of other people blogging about the same topic, issues, thoughts and ideas as you are. Join their conversation, join their little group. Leave your island and go visiting.
When you get to the other Island, start up a conversation with the locals. In other words, get involved by leaving good relevant helpful comments.
Tip: Spend the same amount of time visiting other blogs as you spend on your own blog. I know it is hard work. I know time is precious. But you’re building relationships, you are introducing yourself to others.
Over time you'll gain a reputation as a credible expert and people will start checking out your blog to see what you have to say. Then you'll have gained traffic and visibility in your market segment.
Related Reading:
Your comments make content more valuable
The 3 most important things for a Successful Blog – or you’ll fail
Promoting other blogs will help promote yours
New here, or perhaps you've been here a few times? Like this post? Why not subscribe to this blog and get the most up to date posts as soon as they are published.
blog comments powered by 12 comment(s) so far...
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Good advice - I've been visiting blogs lately and have noticed an increase in return visits ...
... though I must admit, with all this blogging, visiting, facebooking, tweeting, etc. - I wonder, where do people actually find time to LIVE their lives?
By OneStonedCrow on
2009/08/19 09:59 AM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
@onestonedcrow
LOL, yes that true. Where do we find time to actually live and be social. And this is only half the story. There are so many things going on the internet that before you know it, the day is finished, and you have not done anything else. For a full time blogger, this is ideal, but for the rest of us ....
By Robert Bravery on
2009/08/19 10:15 AM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Hey Robert, some very sound advice there. I've been enjoying your blog-tip-type posts lately, very useful indeed. :)
Thanks!
By Baldric on
2009/08/19 10:53 AM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Kevin, you're welcome man. I'm just privileged that you stop by and read. Getting something out of it is an extra bonus.
By Robert Bravery on
2009/08/19 11:16 AM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
You are definitely right! I personally don't read my own blog posts all that much, I'm not sure why. I prefer reading other people's stuff. It's just more interesting.
By Simonia on
2009/08/19 12:22 PM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Yes, surf more and be noticed. But it does take up a lot of time. Some niche subject matter attracts a selected audience; others, like the tips on blogging you place, can attract a wide audience.
@onestonedcrow - all those things ARE living ;)
By Emil on
2009/08/19 01:00 PM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
It's an amazing business this. I just find this time and time again in the internet/blogging/social media world. The more you give, the more you get back. I guess it's karma.
By Mike CJ on
2009/08/19 03:33 PM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Hi Robert, i agree, interaction in the blogsphere is so important, especially with other local bloggers! That's why i started http://SAblogs.tel, to promote South African blogs.. I will be giving away impressions every month to SA bloggers too!
By Gordon on
2009/08/19 03:46 PM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Hi Robert, I do agree with you and appreciate your candid opinion. In my humble opinion, I think we all can make make a difference in each others life but imparting knowledge and feedback from each other in the time not only as 'social beings' but as good people.
By Dhayan Gold on
2009/08/19 10:28 PM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Clear proof of your suggestions and recommendations in these comments Robert.
I 2nd Baldrics thanks for another excellent post.
As for finding time to balance all of the other off-line aspects of life and still manage a productive blog, I guess if there was an easy answer to that many more would be doing blogging.
Then the thrill of knowing something you write is being appreciated by people would be greatly reduced (even if it's only a handful of people reading!) and the passion and dedication to make something like a "part-time" blog successful wouldn't really be that great anymore.
By Greg on
2009/08/19 11:20 PM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
Commenting intellegently on other blogs also helps to build a net personallity.
By VOTED! on
2009/08/20 08:17 AM
|
Re: If you want more traffic for your blog, you have to give more traffic.
@Simonia,
I don't think it's about whether you read your own blogs or not, but about spending time on other peoples blogs. Which from your comment I see you clearly do.
@emil,
Yes it does take a lot of time. Often it feels very unproductive.
@mike, You got it right, it is better to give than receive. I have seen this as well. The more you give the more you receive.
@Gordan,
I wish we could promote more local blog interaction.
@Dhayan,
Words well spoken. It's about making the other person or blog better, and you will be the better for it.
@Greg,
I see you got a new Gravatar, cool. Finding the right balance is the difficult thing, But you're right, the thrill of someone reading your post, and then making a valid good comment, is something else.
Just to let you know how thrilled I am that you guys have bothered to read this post, let alone comment on it. It really beefs up my day.
@Kevin,
You hit the keyword there, Commenting Intelligently.
By Robert Bravery on
2009/08/20 03:29 PM
|