Blogs are all the rage these days. It seems everyone has a favorite blog or two that they like to read or they may even have their own blog. This article is for those of you who are interested in creating your own blog. There are lots of blogging websites that are easy to use, so you don't need to have HTML experience. Once you've started writing your blog I'm sure you'll want to have readers and to get readers you'll have to get noticed. I have a on-line jewelry business and I use my blog to promote my on-line shop on Etsy.com. Because I sell on the internet, it's rare that I get to meet my customers in person and my blog is the best way I can create and develop a relationship with my customers. But how do I reach them in the first place? Well, it's promote, promote and promote some more. A blog is a perfect way to promote yourself. However, you have to get people to notice you. Below are few suggestions that have worked for me:
1. Check out blogs written by other people and leave comments and/or sign their guest book. I've found that when I pay attention to other blogs, my blog receives a fair amount of attention from others (ie: traffic).
2. Look in the forums of the various social networking sites - you'll see lots of discussions that are very blog specific. Take the opportunity to promote your blog here by providing links to and from your blog.
3. Post a link to your blog in your email signature line. Curiosity alone will get recipients to check out the links.
4. Once you've started writing your blog it's very important that you update your blog on a regular basis. A static blog attracts no attention. Use lots of pictures - people like to look at pictures.
5. Sign up on Blogcatalog.com and fuelmyblog.com - they'll drive some traffic to your web. There are other web sites that do the same thing - these are the two that I can think of off the top of my head.
6. If you sell on an on-line marketplace include a link to your blog on your profile page, post in the forums (especially the Promotions forum).
7. Promote other bloggers and/or their blogs you come across while viewing your favorites sites - and let the author know - everyone likes to know that they are receiving recognitions for their hard work. I'll put links to all my favorite sites later on today or this evening - there are so many great groups out there.
These are just a few suggestions to get you going. Hope they are useful for you.
Check out my blog at: www.dancingmonkeyjewelry.com
Check out my Etsy shop at: www.dancingmonkeyjewelry.etsy.com
See - there's nothing like a bit a of shameless promotion. If at first it seems strange, keep on doing it. It won't take long until it's second nature to you to promote your blog.
