Blog Catalog Discussion: Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?

Donlewis on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

Donlewis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:40:41 -0500

Use the tasseles. They will come.

dotartdude on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

dotartdude — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:38:28 -0500

Actually you've already done an important thing by starting this thread. You've let the rest of know you're here. :D

tiggyblog on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

tiggyblog — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:30:35 -0500

Good idea, Offended. I'm off to get some tassles.

offendedblogger on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

offendedblogger — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:27:59 -0500

Well, think of yourself as a professional and give yourself a fancy name.

Like an "exotic blogger", or a "blogging companion". :)

tiggyblog on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

tiggyblog — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:25:38 -0500

If I hire a pimp... would that make me the ho?
My mother would not be pleased.

daniel23 on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

daniel23 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:21:29 -0500

Chelle - You meanie. I knew I was forgetting something.

Donlewis on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

Donlewis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:20:39 -0500

For crying out loud! Don't try this on your own. Hire a professional pimp. (I get 20 percent.)

offendedblogger on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

offendedblogger — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:18:34 -0500

You forgot to add; pimp your blog.

It really works better than your suggestions. ;)

daniel23 on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

daniel23 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:16:34 -0500

pimp out yer blog, pimp up yer blog, then generally pimp yer blog.

offendedblogger on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

offendedblogger — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:06:35 -0500

Sociopath! :p

pointlessbanter on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

pointlessbanter — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:58:09 -0500

I hate interaction and people.

offendedblogger on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

offendedblogger — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:41:23 -0500

Yes, I'm sure it does help to bring in traffic, I get loads from the Stumbles I recieve.

But I really enjoy the interactions with a handful of my regular readers and the other bloggers who I follow a lot more than just watching my traffic increase. 99% of my regulars are just other bloggers who I visit and leave comments on their blogs.

tiggyblog on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

tiggyblog — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:38:10 -0500

Monetary bribes... Good idea! ;)

Donlewis on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

Donlewis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:34:39 -0500

Just asking the question is a good start. Think about how many people have already gone to your site as a result.

To reiterate the above; interact. The only way I've gotten my dozens of readers was by commenting on other blogs, publicizing other blogs on mine (really. It works.) and trying to answer every comment made at my blog.

Oh yeah, post. often.

Thats a good start right there.

(Plus I pay all my readers.)

timethief on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

timethief — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:36:02 -0500

@thriftshopromantic
I helped you ... that's so kewl! :D
What I'd really like to do best of all is start from scratch with newbies (especially ones who have never blogged before) and then work through step by step with them. But you are no newbie, gal. ;)

pointlessbanter on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

pointlessbanter — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:30:59 -0500

Starting out that is a great move... I did that on myspace but it got to the point where it turned into a tit for tat thing and I was following a lot of blogs I didn't like.

Now I still follow a lot of blogs but instead of commenting I drop a stumble, digg, or mixx without them even knowing it. I figure that is probably helping them out more in the long run.

birdiesquill on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

birdiesquill — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:30:08 -0500

Wow, in the first 7 seconds you had nine replies! Does that tell you that you've come to the right place? Now just learning how to move about. I'm doing that myself. I've only been here for a week or so, but I already have friends, neighborhoods, people visiting my blogs. The first thing to do of course is make sure to link with your blogs. Browse around. There's so many good features here and plenty to learn. I created my first widget too! When I joined blog catalog I had never heard of a widget.

Welcome, hope to see you around.

Donna

ThriftShopRomantic on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

ThriftShopRomantic — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:29:20 -0500

Hey, thanks-- I had been looking for the place on MSN to submit my one blog, but hadn't been able to find it again until the link.

offendedblogger on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

offendedblogger — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:26:31 -0500

I am all about having loyal readers and not as concerned about bringing in just traffic so if you want a good fan base, the best thing to do is to just visit a lot of blogs and LEAVE A COMMENT on their posts.

Not just every now and then, either.

You need to be a loyal reader to draw in loyal readers and it helps if you find people of like-mind as well.

As far as traffic, I get the most from Blog Catalog and Stumble.

timethief on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

timethief — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:28:43 -0500

@tiggyblog
I'm posting 2 links to posts with valuable information in them that many bloggers use everyday. Although the first part of the info at the first link is specific to wordpress.com bloggers, the rest of the post has useful information in it for you too. Happy blogging! :D
http://onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2007/10/06/promote-your-blog-increase-traffic/
http://onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/how-to-structure-a-reader-and-search-engine-friendly-blog/

tiggyblog on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

tiggyblog — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:20:50 -0500

Thanks for the tips - the promotion plan is a good idea, as is setting a time limit on each activity!

epm1013 on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

epm1013 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:22:40 -0500

1) Search Engine Optimization. Learn as much as you can.

2) Read, study everything about internet marketing and gaining web traffic. Follow blogs that specialize in these areas.

3) Network with other bloggers. The areas where you are weak, someone else is strong.

PlantBuddy on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

PlantBuddy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:32:45 -0500

Here's another person in the same boat. Noted the tips.
Thank you to all who are helpful to new bloggers.

Norski on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

Norski — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:32:24 -0500

Then repeat the cycle.

Networking is nice, and trying to tweak Technorati is fun - but reading and writing is blogging! ;)

Blog on!

Myakwamy on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

Myakwamy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:26:47 -0500

Thanks for asking this, it sounds like we're in the same boat! Good tip, pointlessbanter, thanks.

pointlessbanter on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

pointlessbanter — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:23:15 -0500

1) make sure your blog is set up right with good seo. read up on it and make sure from day one you are following good practices

2) write good content, when people find your page if you have good content they are much more likely to stay

3) great a promotion plan that works for you... if you have half an hour a day spend ten minutes commenting blogs in your niche, spend ten minutes building up an account on a social bookmarking site, and then spend ten minutes on a message board or something of that nature.

thegoodknife on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

thegoodknife — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:17:35 -0500

write, read, network.

tiggyblog on 'Confused newbie - top 3 things to do?'

tiggyblog — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:40:41 -0500

I finally launched by blog a few weeks ago at www.tiggyblog.com. I am going nuts trying to figure out what to do next.

I could spend hours going round and round on Technorati, MyBlogLog, Digg, posting on other blogs and the million other places I'm supposed to submit to. If I did everything I was advised I'd have no time to write any content!

If there was only 3 things I could do, what should they be?