As it’s the end of the year—the traditional time for reflection and poor alcoholic beverage choices—I thought I’d condense what I’ve learned in 2011 into a Top 10 Tips to Increase Blog Traffic. So without further ado…
BLOG CONTENT IDEAS:
1. USE THE GOOGLE KEYWORD TOOL
By far, the most popular post on my blog in 2011 has been:
- TIME’s 50 Best Websites of 2011: 8 Ideas You Can Steal (posted in August—note the jump in traffic)
Why? Because visitors are looking for posts on:
- “website ideas 2011″
- “best websites 2011″
- “top websites of 2011″
- “TIME’s best websites”
- and on and on…
When you have a rough idea for a subject, use the Google Keyword Tool to check search volumes. Then make sure your content and title are based on your keyword phrases.
2. DISCUSS HOT TOPICS
Speaking of blog content, you’ll notice that the above post is only a condensation of the TIME’s list.
I did similar summaries in other popular blog posts like:
- eCommerce Tips: 10 More Ideas to Steal from Fashion Websites
- Most Popular UK YouTube Ads 2011: 5 Takeaways
You don’t have to be original all the time—commenting on current hot topics can be just as educational (to you and to readers).
- Plus you’ll be able to hitch a ride on the keyword wave that follows.
3. REFERENCE POPULAR CULTURE
When in doubt, talk up the Pig. Or, in this case, Miss Piggy:
Though not as high-ranked as the TIME post, this saw a healthy amount of blog traffic because:
- It was current (the movie was about to be released)
- It talked about the Muppets and their Facebook Campaign
- It found people looking for Muppets images (see Tip #9)
A similar spike in blog traffic happened after The New Yorker came out with an article on product naming:
4. TALK ABOUT OTHER COMPANIES
A compliment is worth a thousand hits. Or at least a week’s worth of healthy blog traffic.
When I’ve talked about companies in blog posts like:
Some employees have been generous to comment on my writing, then retweet or post the link on Facebook.
- Once you’ve written about a company, let them know it’s out there.
- You don’t have to be sycophantic, just honest in your praise.
FOR THE BLOG POST ITSELF:
5. STUN THEM WITH A KEYWORD-RICH BLOG TITLE
Keywords be damned, if your blog title is as long as a Freshman lecture and twice as dull, nobody will click on the link.
If you’re having trouble coming up with blog title ideas, try:
- Tips: Tips, Advice, “How To”—the world is hungry for information on how the world works.
- Numbered Lists: Top 10s, Top 5s, 6 Easy Ways, 7 Tricks—numbers catch the eye (and reassure the reader that the post won’t take long to read)
- Predictions: Everybody loves a soothsayer. Especially when they’re wrong.
6. CRAFT A WITTY AND KEYWORD-RICH OPENING PARAGRAPH
Most social media forums (LinkedIn, Facebook) post the first couple of sentences along with the title.
- Make those first few words count.
- Like any story, you want to tempt the reader to discover what lies beyond.
7. EMBRACE HEADERS, BULLETS AND WHITE SPACE
Visitors no longer read, they scan. I’ve seen far too many online marketing blogs that look like Latin treatises.
- Give readers the chance to skim and scan to a desired point.
8. EMBED IMAGES AND VIDEO INTO YOUR BLOG LAYOUT
To bastardize the Beatles, we all live in a visual world. Yellow submarines and all.
- Breaking up blog text is a must for modern readers.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES:
9. USE BLOG IMAGE ALT TAGS
People search by image almost as much as they search for words:
- Puppies on roller skates, Victorian houses, smelly socks—somebody out there is looking for it.
- Title your images with keyword-rich terms, then use keywords in the alt tags.
I’ve had a lot of image success with traffic to this blog post:
Simply because people are searching for 1930s advertisements and ad images for perfume.
10. TAG!! YOUR BLOG POSTS
By far and away:
- The most important lesson I’ve learned in 2011 is to tag my blog posts with appropriate keyword terms.
Statistically, it’s meant the difference between a faint heartbeat of blog visits and a strong, throbbing pulse of blog traffic.
- I don’t spam the tag tool—I try to embed appropriate keyword phrases within the blog copy.
- Then limit myself to 10 tags or so.
For proof positive, check out my stats in the 1st six months of 2011 (minus tags) and the subsequent months…
AND FOR THE BONUS ROUND:
PROMOTE THE POST LIKE HECK
You’re only as good as your Barnum & Bailey technique:
- Promote your blog post across all social media.
- Add the link to your email newsletter.
- Tell contacts who might be interested (though be careful not to overwhelm them with irrelevant content).
KEEP WRITING
It’s a volume game out there. The more you post, the greater your odds.
Posted on December 30, 2011
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