What may have worked for Ray Kinsella in the movie “Field of Dreams” is probably not the best strategy for building your blog. In case you need a refresher:
By publishing new content consistently on your blog, you may see steady growth over time, but if you’re serious about building an audience of loyal and engaged readers, it’s important to spend time proactively putting your content out there. Here’s where to start…
Think about the people you want to reach with your content.
Who are they? Think about their demographics, age, gender, etc.
Where do they hang out? Which social media platforms do they use? Do they participate in forums, Facebook Groups, or live events?
What are their needs? What problems do they face? What are their fears and challenges?
What motivates and inspires them?
Think about the content that will speak to them.
Set out to create content that your target audience will want to share. Certain kind of content is more shareable than others (i.e. posts with lists or resources). If you don’t have any posts like this already, make a list of shareable content you can create.
Share your posts on social media.
This is a simple way to share your posts, but put some time into the content of the post. Don’t just share the title and link, but include a short summary of the post or an excerpt and a photo:
Develop an editorial strategy for your social media accounts.
You can automate sharing your posts fairly easily, but spend a few minutes every day on social media. Make it a part of your daily routine. Share your posts regularly on the social media accounts that are most applicable to your target audience. Share your posts in different ways at different times of the day. Tag people in your posts when it makes sense to do so.
Look for opportunities to engage with other people. I recently saw a tweet from @samatlounge asking for tips for using Instagram. I responded with a link to my blog post on ways to promote a book on Instagram. Sam thanked me for sharing and there was an increase in traffic to this post from the people who saw this exchange on Twitter. There are hundreds of opportunities like this every day that will help you connect with new people and subtly promote your blog.
Get your name out there.
Seek out guest posting opportunities to increase exposure to new and larger audiences.
Join FB groups. Participate in online forums that relate to your blog topics. And comment on other blogs. In all of these scenarios, be sure not to be spammy. Instead, look for ways you can contribute in a meaningful way.
Seek out opportunities to get involved teaching classes, workshops or other community spaces either locally or online.
Network and tap into the credibility of other people in your industry.
Seek out people in your niche who you can interview. This is a great way to produce new content, gain credibility, and provide value for your audience. BONUS: Your interviewee may choose to share the interview with their audience which will also give your posts more reach.
Pitch your content to another blogger or social media influencer. Again, be careful not to be spammy. You want to build genuine relationships with people in your industry.
Be consistent and do the work.
Spend time every day seeking out meaningful ways to connect with people online. You never know when the connections you make will turn into more opportunities, more exposure, more ideas for content, and overall more fun!
What are some ways that you have had success promoting your blog? Share them in the comments section below.
Wonderful and helpful post – thank you for sharing! ☀️
Excellent tips!