One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is, “How do I get more readers to my blog?” Whether you’re just starting out or have been online for years, most bloggers are curious about putting more eyes on their posts.
Want to find out the best ways to get traffic to your blog? Need to know how to increase blog traffic fast? Read on and take notes!
Denise Wakeman — Digital Marketing & Blogging Guide
With the increasing flexibility of video and the numerous sites where video can be leveraged, my top ways to increase blog traffic are with two types of videos.
The first is creating a “blog trailer” video. Similar to a movie trailer, I create a short (preferably under one minute) video teaser about the topic of my blog post. When looking to get more readers to my blog, my tool of choice is Lumen5. Import the content of your post and the AI assists you in selecting snippets of text and images, as well as a soundtrack, which are easily edited and then compiled into a video. Choose between landscape, square, or vertical formats for your video. From there, post on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. One video, five platforms.
In the same vein, the second type of video I create is to convert an audio clip of me inviting the viewer to read the blog post into a video using one or more images. For this content I use Headliner. When creating an audiogram with the wizard tool, captions can be auto-created as well. While I use this to create blog teasers, it’s also an awesome way to promote podcasts. Post on your relevant social networks.
If you want to increase blog traffic fast with promo videos, the key is to have a clear call to action, both on the video and in the audio clip. Use a short redirect URL to send your readers straight to the blog post you’re promoting.
After a life-changing trek in the Peruvian Andes, Denise Wakeman embraced her inner Adventurer and ditched the black business suits for a knapsack and hiking boots, happy to work wherever there’s wifi! For more than 20 years, she’s been helping authors and online entrepreneurs experiment, master, and embrace the adventure of growing their business with digital marketing.
Carol Bryant — Fidose of Reality.com
You’ve blogged a masterpiece: Great topic, sources, photos, all grammatical and spelling errors fixed, and this is one post that you put your heart and soul into. You hit publish and wait to see what happens.
Mistake #1: Never wait to see what happens: Being proactive about a blog post is the first step in getting eyes — and traffic — to that post.
Here are some tips I’ve used to successfully promote a blog post after publishing on FidoseofReality.com:
Thoughtful, Spaced-Out Sharing on Social Media
If you are publishing a post to increase blog traffic, you are utilizing social media. Do not make the mistake of posting everywhere imaginable online right after publishing. You also need not be on every social media channel known to humankind. Pick the ones where you want to excel and then make it happen.
Attach Your Latest Blog Post in Your Email Signature
This is a fun and often overlooked way to get a blog post out there in the universe. I use WiseStamp, and recently upgraded to the paid model. It allows me to create an email signature and automatically populates my latest blog post. You look professional, anyone you email or reply to gets a hyperlink to the post, and best of all, it is unobtrusive.
Grow an Email List and Start Sending Key Posts to Subscribers
Are you spending time growing an email list? If social media were to go away or Facebook shut you down (it’s happened to many people), what would you do? Could you connect with your followers? An email list is yours. Start adding people to yours today.
Carol Bryant is a pet influencer, writer/blogger, speaker, social media pro, and dog mom. She owns the trademark “My Heart Beats Dog” and proudly wears the mantra on her left bicep. The incoming President of the Dog Writer’s Association of America, Carol lives the dog lover life.
The Social Media Examiner
As I was browsing the Net in search of blogging success stories, I came across this video. It features Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner. His favorite way to grow his (then) new blog was using social media. (No shocker there!)
Watch as he reveals how his underwhelming idea met with outlandish success in an amazingly short time through the power of sharing.
Karon Thackston (Me!) — MarketingWords.com
When I first started learning how to increase blog traffic so I could get more readers to my blog, I created a list … a process to follow so I wouldn’t forget any of the steps. But I noticed that my efforts on some social sites were less than stellar.
Take Instagram, for instance. Unless you have 10,000 followers or more, the links inside your posts are not clickable. Followers can only click the link in your profile. Not good! With a little brainstorming, I discovered a quick way to make it easy for people to find the page on my blog that I wanted them to visit. Using just a simple redirect plug-in, I was able to double traffic to my blog from Instagram. I explain the entire process here.
One of my other favorite ways to drive bursts of traffic to my blog (and get lots of new subscribers) is via guest posting. It’s simple to find folks to approach. Simply do a search for terms such as: {your niche or content idea} “guest post by” (including the quote marks) or instead of “guest post by” search for your niche and:
“guest blogger”
Blog Post Shortcuts Inspire & Empower You To Write Unique Blog Posts… Fast
My Best-Kept Blogging Secret Can Cut Your Writing Time In Half. Each Blog Post Shortcut Includes:
- A Customizable Type Of Blog Post And How To Make It Work For You
- Quick Research Resources
- Blog Post Title Suggestions
- Opening Paragraph Tips
- How To Write The Body Of The Post
- Call-To-Action Ideas
- Monetization Ideas
- Search Optimization Recommendations
I understand that I will also receive weekly articles & videos plus periodic discounts, product notices & more. I can unsubscribe at any time.
“submit a guest post”
“write for us”
“contribute an article”
“become a contributor”
If the blog has a page devoted to explaining its guest post criteria, make certain you read it before sending an email with your pitch.
And before you pitch, double-check your blog so you know you’ve got something worthwhile to offer other bloggers.
Ready to up your blogging game with more traffic, engagement & sales? Get my “Blogging Advantage: How to Create Blog Posts That Entice & Engage” ebook today. Save $10 when you use code BLOGADVBLOG (all caps).
Have questions about how to increase blog traffic? Talk to me below.
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Thanks for the Lumen5 shoutout! We’ve seen video be a great way to drive traffic, as much as 12X more than text-only posts.
You bet! I love (and use) Lumen5, too. Super easy to customize and a great way to draw attention to blog posts and more.
The Social Media Examiner story is an inspiration. I hate to admit it, but I was one of the business partners in the meeting when Mike floated the blog idea. But when he made the decision to go for it, we, from that group were 100% behind him. And look where he, and Social Media Examiner are today. At the top of the social media mountain. Love, love, love what Mike Stelzner has created. He’s a brilliant business mind.
(And thanks for inviting me to contribute to the post!)
I agree! What an inspirational story. Always glad to have you on the blog, Denise. You have so much to share and I welcome your advice/ideas any time.