Updated: May 21, 2012
Last weekend, I was invited to speak at the first Baguio Blog Conference.
My topic was on how to get blog traffic, or simply, how to get visitors to your website.
I consider this subject important, not just for bloggers but for all website owners – specially entrepreneurs who earn income online, that’s why I thought I’d share with you here the major points that I discussed that day.
But before that, I’d like to first acknowledge and express my gratitude to the organizers of the event, the very dynamic Cordillera Bloggers.
Thank you for the warm hospitality and congratulations again on the success of the event! I’m looking forward to attending again next year.
BLOG TRAFFIC GENERATION 102
I entitled my slideshow, Blog Traffic Generation 102 because I just presented a quick overview of how blog marketing is done, but I also gave a few advanced level search engine optimization tips.
ON BLOGGING AND BLOGGERS
In my many years of blogging, I’ve discovered that there are two basic types of bloggers. First are those who want to express their thoughts and second, those who want to share their voice.
The former speaks out to the universe with their stories and opinion that don’t need an audience. While the latter, writes in the hope that they’ll be heard by others.
I emphasized that neither is better than the other; but my presentation generally speaks more to the second type.
WAITING FOR VISITORS
There are three sources of visitors to one’s blog.
- Direct Visitors
- People who go “directly” to your blog, which can be summarized by the acronym F.F.F. = Family, Friends and Foes
- Foes are bloggers whom you share the same niche, and need not stay as your competitors. Blogging is also community building, that’s why you should always try to convert those foes into friends.
- People who are “referred” by others – which can either be offline or online.
- Offline, your blog can be passed on by word of mouth by your family, friends and followers
- Online, it can be shared in social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and other websites, such as forums and blogs, as well
- People who came from “search engines”, such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing
- Beyond the search page, these visitors can also come from typing in the search boxes of social media websites, and certain web tools and apps
FACTORS THAT BRING DIRECT VISITORS
There are two factors that bring direct visitors, first is quality content and second is site usability.
Quality content means blog posts that are either informative, educational, entertaining, insightful and/or original. While usability pertains to your site’s quick load speed, easy navigation, good layout.
Both factors gives your visitors a good experience while they’re on your website, and encourages them to come back often.
FACTORS THAT BRING REFERRAL TRAFFIC
Getting referral traffic is possible only if you meet the same requirements in getting direct visitors, which is quality content and site usability, but with the addition of having shareable content.
In a nutshell, shareable content means that people will not be ashamed to recommend your blog and articles to their personal social network.
FACTORS THAT BRING SEARCH TRAFFIC
There are many factors that affect a website’s search engine visibility. Some of the best known search engine optimization practices are:
- On-Page Optimization: your website’s usability and other technical requirements that allows search engine robots to easily index your site
- Latent Semantics: your content’s proper use of keywords within a quality article
- Internal Linking: your site’s link structure, or the reason why your posts should as much as possible, have a link to your older, relevant posts
- Inbound Links: the number of quality websites that link to your blog and its articles
- Social Media Presence: the number of times your blog and its articles are being shared in social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google + and many others
- Prayers: a reminder that there is no exact and accurate way to be number 1 in search engine results, search algorithms always change and the best way to get search visitors has always been, is still is, and will always be… quality content.
HOW TO GET TRAFFIC TO YOUR BLOG
Prepare Your Website
Make sure that your blog loads fast and has a good layout. Install social media sharing tools so visitors can easily share your content in Facebook, Twitter, Google + and others bookmarking sites.
Moreover, always provide subscription options so you can convert search and referral visitors into direct visitors. And write an About and Contact Page, because netizens trust websites and blogs more, if they knew who the owns it.
Write Optimized Post
Publish articles which people want or need to read. Provide evergreen content, which are posts that are timely and yet timeless. Write about topics which are relevant today; and will continue to be a good read two or more years from now.
Spread Your Content
Marketing is not a sprint, but a marathon. So constantly promote your site offline and online. Create inbound links by joining group blogs, signing up for blog networks, participating in blog carnivals among other techniques
Moreover, you should likewise strive to increase your online influence – which means being an active member in your niche community. And lastly, do not be afraid to explore other less popular marketing channels, they may have untapped potential in bringing traffic to your site.
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And that was my 30-minute presentation on how to get blog visitors. I hope you learned something new and please don’t hesitate to ask questions about it below in the comments section.
If this is your first time to visit my blog, I hope you can subscribe to Ready To Be Rich and join our community of wealth builders who are on our way to financial freedom. It’s free and fun! 😀
Very timely post for me sir Fitz. I needed this 🙂
Thanks,
Rogie
Hi Sir Fitz,
Thanks for a wonderful talk, and indeed i agree the information you shared was important not only to bloggers but for those with websites.
Thank you for such informative tips:)
Hi Fitz,
Thanks a lot for sharing this, very timely because of the recent penguin algorithm update by google.
I would also like to add the importance of building your list of subscribers/followers (email, facebook, twitter, etc). As long as one continues publishing quality content, each blogpost is like getting traffic at the push of a button because subscribers/followers will really go back and read your blog.
Very nicely and clearly stated tips. Thank you! I think I will work more on linking, seem to fall short there. i also have some shyness about sharing my blog on social networks. gotta get over that!
Factors that bring Search Traffic = Prayers(ROFL)!!
For me you just have to create HIGH QUALITY content and promote it online and offline. Don’t forget to utilize Social Media Channels, it will help drive tons traffic not only tru referrals but it can help your Search Engine Ranking as well.
[…] How To Get Visitors To Your Blog My latest speaking engagement on blogging happened just last week during the 1st Baguio Blog Conference. The event was held at the University of Baguio where students and bloggers of the Cordillera region converged to learn more about blogging. […]
Hi Fitz,
The conversion part is very true. I only started after more than a year or so to put up a mailing list subscription and facebook pages but I must say that thankfully I did that… The penguin update on one of my sites was hard, luckily I didn’t lose it all but still had my subscribers, facebook fans and twitter followers to read my stuff.
Also, what you said on marketing is very true… You don’t really stop marketing. And I am trying other avenues to market my sites, however uncomfortable they might be…
wow, exactly what i need. thanks fritz!
Hi Fitz!
I’m following your advice for my site! I just started recently and your tips are really a big help. Thanks!
I know a friend who knew little to nothing about blogging. He set up his own website at ucoz.com. Though he knew nothing about SEO and other traffic building strategies, that did not stop him from being successful. He was able to buy a house worth Php 2 million in just one year because of adsense. And his secret to getting traffic: he set up a classified ads website.
This is one of the best articles I’ve read on getting traffic to my blog. To think that this post was written 3 years ago. This post is truly evergreen. Thank you for sharing this info.
Very helpful, thank you Fitz! Natawa lang ako dun sa Prayers, tama kasi eh tapos pag hinaluan nang magandang content and hardwork then boom! Slowly getting readers, of course readers will always go back to a site/blog if it has high quality content.