Frustrated Blogger

[Tropper]

Looking for advice here...

I have been blogging for about 6 solid months, started on Blogger and switched to self hosted Wordpress, and I cant seem to generate the traffic or subscribers.

Recommendations?
Advice?
Bullets / Shotgun?

Thanks
Tropper
Don’t Die Poor - The Secrets to Personal Finance.

[WhoJayBe]

Contact me and I'd be willing to help you out...

[Nahualli]

Congratulations on lasting 6 months! Most dont make it that long so consider yourself succesful.

Now the first thing I notice about your blog is that its pretty much a huge wall of text. Humans are visual animals, we like pretty pictures, it makes it easier to the eye to read text spread with pictures.

So thats tip #1: Include more pictures in your posts.
You may want to look at stock.xchng - the leading free stock photography site for free stock photos.

The second thing I noticed is a lack of links to other personal finance sites. Blogs that stay alone die alone. Share the linklove! Idenfity the top sites in your category and report when they post something useful. They will eventually notice and link to a usefull and original post of yours.

Tip #2: Share the linklove!

It would help a lot if you told us about what marketing actions you've already taken as well as how much traffic do you get.

And remember, it takes years of work for an overnight success!

[Bloggeries]

Basically until people know you exist you should link to people YOU know exist and think your readers will like. As Nahualli says start the link love karma train

[rjleaman]

Originally Posted by Tropper

Recommendations?
Advice?
Bullets / Shotgun?

Well, you obviously have a sense of humour -- so that's a really good start! The way I see it, bringing people to your blog is a lot like off-line social life. You chat with someone in a forum about some topic that interests you both, or buddy up with a like-minded blogger on Twitter, and before you know it you're making friends all over the place and there are links flying in all directions. Keep cranking out good content that people want to read, and the word will spread... eventually... Yes, it can seem like nothing is happening for a long time but once you get that old karma train rolling with out-going links to people like you, it reaches like a "critical mass" and gets a lot easier.

[Bloggeries]

Oh I almost forgot!!!

rjleaman got me thinking. I know when you start it's depressing writing a great post and NO comments, NO visits nothing. But how could they? They don't know you exist!

After you have a few GREAT posts with many good ones and a few good ones on the front page write that STELLAR piece and give it to someone with a large audience. That person HAS the traffic & visitors if people like your work they'll visit you see your blog and hopefully "stick" around.

Just never give up if you never give up you can never fail. Sometimes good things take a long time to grow.

[Tropper]

WOW - Awesome and very inspiring advice!!
Thank you to all (but keep it coming).

I think the key that I am missing is the linking to others - something that has avoided my in depth marketing research till now.

Can someone give more detail than simply linking others. feel free to plug your posts that have links...

Tropper

[rjleaman]

Tropper, check out my Virtual Bacon Collection (Part 1 especially) for an example of totally over-the-top linking out! It's a good bit more linking than any sane blogger wants or needs to do, but it sure was a whole lot of fun...

[Tropper]

"It would help a lot if you told us about what marketing actions you've already taken as well as how much traffic do you get."

I have done a lot of the following:
1. Joined a few forums that I regularly participate in.
2. Social Mark each new post.
3. Set up a pretty extensive Pinging list for new posts.
4. Participate in Yahoo Answers.
5. Got a few free plugs on Financial Web Sites.
6. Constantly pushing word of mouth and friendly PR.
7. I'm sure there are other things I do but dont even know it.

I have a subscriber base of about....wait for it.....15. and about 50 -75 unique hits per day.

[rjleaman]

Sounds like the program is in place, tech-wise. Looks like you just need to ramp up the human/social element - reach out! Forum participation is good, to help people get to know you, but so many people use forums to spam their links that it is just not enough to bring you the attention you need. Gotta get out more...
* Comment on other blogs in a friendly, thoughtful, and helpful way?
* Arrange to guest post on related blogs?
* Get to know people on Twitter and/or Plurk?
And I'm sure others have more ideas / suggestions for you...