Everywhere you turn, someone else is blogging. From public relations firms to online retailers to the owners of sports teams and everyone in between, it seems that everyone who’s anyone has a blog these days.
So. You know what a blog is, and you’ve decided you want to join the roost. Since a blog is a fantastic way to dive right into the social media waters, you immediately get to typing. And typing. And typing. And typing. Phew! All that blood, sweat, and tears, poured out into a blogging template. Hooray! And yet, while you’re churning out scads of awesome blog posts, you’re beginning to think that no one is reading the results of your hard work and research.
The truth is, maybe they’re not.
Why? Because! Aside from writing stimulating content, you’ve also gotta participate in the community. That’s right. You’ve gotta turn the blogging community’s cheek your way.
Luckily, you wield the power.
“Well, how do I do that?” you ask. Don’t get exasperated already. It’s easier than you think! For starters, Chris Brogan offers a great list of nine ways to promote your blog posts, including (but not limited to!) social bookmarking, Twitter (of course!), and community-building plugins.
But the fun doesn’t end there! The discussion continues in the comments, with recommendations of claiming your blog in Technorati, posting a submission to Digg, and installing a widget on your blog, giving you insta-access to a blogging community.
The fact of the matter is that there are literally thousands of ways to promote your blog. And there’s no right or wrong way! It all boils down to the bottom line – build your community meaningfully, and they will come!
In the comments, tell us about your favorite ways to promote your blog, whether it be a corporate blog or your personal blog. We want to hear your stories!
Photo Credit: StudentHacks.org