How to market your blog

Lots of people want to blog. And of course get traffic to their blog. Some tips:

1. 30+ excellent getting started tips from Problogger here

Includes tips on writing, getting the word out, connecting with others and using social networks. Choose those you connect with to start.

UPDATE: More great tips: “Be more than a Blip in the Blogsophere” from the Washington Post here.

UPDATE 2: “If you aren’t willing to look like an idiot in public (or, even, prove that you ARE one) you won’t be a really great blogger.” Robert Scoble here, today.

2. If you have a mailing list, like the one I’ve built up over the past 15 years, you can email the group announcements about posts on your blog you think they might like. That drives traffic to your blog. Some of you receive my “Kim Klaver Bulletin” and that’s one thing I do.

Since I have more than 100 readers, I use a list server to send email, Constant Contact here. (They contribute $2 to my blog if you try it.) Another popular one, which I have not used, is aweber. Search Google for ‘list servers’ for more options.

3. Read other blogs. I have a list of about 35 that I read regularly. Writers are big readers. How else do you learn to write? Go to Google (or Technorati) and enter “blogs about X” where X is whatever you want to read about, from knitting to marketing to cooking. Find topics you enjoy reading about, so you’ll read lots. Great way to add to your writing ability.

Some of my regular faves:

Seth Godin’s blog – pithy marketing tips useful for anyone doing marketing.

Nick Carr’s ‘Rough Type’ blog. Insights on media and online marketing

Robert Scoble’s blog on technology, media and marketing.

Blogs are almost totally replacing newspapers (even the online ones) for me.

Bloggers write because they have something to say; not because they’re being paid to do it. Bloggers are free to say what they believe – they’re not pleasing someone else.

I’ve always preferred an unfiltered perspective from thinking people, especially if you share a point of view,and want to think more deeply about it.

You can set up a blog free at blogger.com Give yourself a few hours to do it. Be patient with yourself. Or, ask someone to help you. Google it: “help set up blogger” (without the quote marks) and see what comes up.

Blogging’s a great way to express things that matter to you, from your family vacation to philosophical questions to “how to do network marketing.” Once you get an audience, they start interacting with you and that’s even more fun. Even if they do criticize you once in a while. It usually means they care. More than one perspective is a very good mind opener.

Any other blogs or blogging tips you’ve tried that you like? Please tell. (Be transparent if what you’re recommending is something you’re being paid for.)