How to Get Your Blog Noticed & Boost Traffic – 16 Proven Ways
I yelled at my laptop screen, “No one is reading my blog!”
It was a moment of frustration I faced when I first decided to blog.
It was ticking me off. Big time.
However, it’s just one of those common frustrations faced by many new bloggers who want to get noticed online.
So, how to get your blog noticed and read?
While there’s no magic formula for getting tons of traffic to your new blog overnight, it is not impossible. Only, if you’re willing to put in some work.
Here are 14 proven tips on how to get traffic on your blog.
How to Get Your Blog Noticed And Seen
1. Your Niche Matters.
The first step is understanding who you are writing for. Who are your target readers? What problems they’re looking to fix?
When you know your niche, it’ll be easier to come up with ideas for content that will interest them.
“Defining your target market or niche is the single most important business decision you can make as an entrepreneur” – Saskia Gregory
2. Dig In & Find The Why.
Once you know your niche, it’s time to start thinking of ideas for your blog posts.
If you are having trouble coming up with ideas, try researching popular keywords that people in your niche are searching for.
You can use a tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner or Keywords Everywhere for topic ideas.
But. Before I go on.
I want to wave my arms to highlight this. Don’t go after the broad keywords like ‘weight loss’. It’s too freaking competitive.
Instead. Go deep and find long-tail keywords that aren’t as competitive, like ‘how to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks’.
With this example. The search intent is clear.
Because the Google user is looking for an answer to help lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks.
This is the ‘why‘ behind the search intent online.
And it gives you the chance to fill in the answer they’re looking for.
As a sidenote: before you decide on a keyword, make sure the search traffic potential is there.
If there’s a demand online, then see if it is possible to get your blog on the front page of Google SERPS by using a keyword tool. Ok?
Here’s a total giveaway, I’ve purposely targeted the keyword ‘How to Get Your Blog Noticed‘ in this blog post.
Because most bloggers, especially rookies, will struggle for traffic.
Although the search query is small, it’s targeted and the ranking potential is possible.
Let’s see how this goes in a few months.
Now. Moving on to.
3. Compelling Headlines.
“A headline that does its job is simple, makes a reader curious, explains the benefits of reading the article upfront, and isn’t trying to be cute.” – Tim Denning
Once you have a list of ideas for your content, it’s time to start writing.
But before you start writing, you need to craft a catchy headline.
I suggest coming up with ten headlines before you decide on one.
A good headline will make people want to click and read your article.
On that note: The first sentence of your blog matters. It has to be a killer to draw readers into the post.
“If the opening sentence sucks the reader isn’t getting to the next line.” – Tim Denning, Aussie blogger with 500M+ views.
Seriously, Tim Denning is a good writer. Please pay attention.
4. Interrupt The Post.
Make your blog posts visually appealing by including photos, GIFs, or even videos.
It just helps to break up the post and keep the reader engaged longer on your post.
Plus, several folks love watching videos because it’s more convenient for them. You can create a video blog, or even include an introductory video on your post.
And yes, you can even use quotes to keep your reader engaged.
Personally, I love it when I see inspiring quotes.
5. Don’t Forget Your Keywords.
Use keyword research to your advantage by sprinkling in your primary keyword throughout your blog post, especially in the introduction and last paragraph.
When you use keywords (and semantic keywords) strategically, it can help your blog post rank higher in search engines like Google, making it more likely for people to find it.
But wait, there’s more:
You can even check out the ‘People Also Ask’ (These are long-tail keywords asked by real people) section for a general query search.
When you google search a keyword, look out for the ‘People Also Ask’ questions.
6. Meta
Nope. I’m not talking about ‘Meta’ the company.
I’m talking about adding one or two keywords in the meta title and meta description.
The meta title is the title that appears in the search results, and the meta description is the brief description that appears under the title.
7. Link It
You should also include external links to high-quality websites. This will show Google that you’re linking to relevant and authoritative websites.
But only include it when the source is relevant and can bring value to your readers.
8. Get Social
Social media is a great way to promote your blog posts and get more traffic to your website.
When you publish a new blog post, be sure to share it on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
When you’re first starting, I suggest you focus on one social platform like a Facebook Page. Get good at it. And when you are ready, add another social to your arsenal.
Don’t Miss This:
If social media is not your thing. Here’s how to generate traffic to your blog without social.
9. Add Social Sharing Buttons.
Make it easy for people to share your blog posts by adding social sharing buttons to your website. This way, people can share your articles with their friends and followers with just a few clicks.
10. Participate in Online Communities.
Another great way to get more traffic to your blog is to participate in online groups and forums related to your niche.
When you participate in these groups, be sure to include a link to your blog in your signature.
This way, people will see your blog when they see your posts.
Focus on helping people by adding value to the group so that you can build trust and relationships.
These connections can lead to people checking out your blog. Or they may reach out to you for help.
11. Guest Post.
Guest posting is an excellent way to get more referral traffic and backlinks to your blog.
When you guest post on another blog, you may get exposure to their audience. And if you write a great article, you may even get people to visit your blog.
To find guest posting opportunities, search Google by typing the target keyword + “guest post” or “write for us”.
In the above example, I used a narrow keyword, How to Get a Blog Noticed + “Write For Use”.
I like to mention that I should have used a broad keyword such as blogging.
I was fooling around to see what popped up on search.
Alternatively, find authoritative websites and influencers in your niche, and reach out to them to network and build a relationship for opportunities like guest posting and MORE.
Keep this in mind. Everything you post, including guest post, should be valuable and useful to readers.
This is how to get your blog out there.
12. Paid Ads.
You can also use paid ads to get more traffic to your blog. Paid ads can be an effective way to reach your target audience and get them to visit your website. Fast.
When using paid ads, be sure to target your ads well so that you’re only reaching people who are interested in what you have to say.
And don’t go all out nuking your marketing budget. Start small. Monitor.
Then scale the top-performing ads for more reach.
If you would like to know whether Facebook Ads is worth your time, here’s a post on The 8 Benefits of Facebook Paid Ads.
13. Keep An Eye
Once you start getting traffic to your blog, it’s important to monitor where it’s coming from and what people are doing on your site.
Google Analytics is a free tool that you can use to track your blog’s traffic and see how people are finding your site.
14. Make Adjustments to Your Blog.
You’ve got the stats. You’ve figured out what’s working and what’s not.
Use this knowledge to make changes to your blog so that you can get even more traffic and engagement.
Focus on the best-performing blog posts and update the content for more traffic.
You can even focus your efforts on the keywords that are shy of the front page and update the blog post with more content.
15. Build an Email List of Hot Leads.
An email list is a great way to build relationships with your readers and get more traffic to your blog.
When you have an email list, you can send out updates whenever you publish a new blog post. This will remind people to visit your site and read your latest article.
You can also use your email list to send exclusive content to your subscribers.
This could be in the form of a PDF report, video tutorial, or audio recording. Whatever you choose to send, make sure it’s high quality and something that your readers will find valuable.
And the key to email marketing is email segmentation. This means you can group email subscribers and customers based on their interests.
This helps to keep them engaged and deepens the connection.
Again. Building an email list is about leading with massive value so you can build trust and then promote.
(Here’s a post on the best email marketing software where I reviewed the most effective tools to help you grow a list of the best prospects.)
16. Continue to produce fresh, engaging content.
One of the most important things you can do to get more traffic to your blog is to continue producing fresh, engaging content. Google loves new content, and if you keep writing great articles, people will keep coming back to your site.
Plus, the more value you put out, your brand will continue to grow, and you’ll build trust with your audience. They might even want to check out who you are, your product, and your services.
Takeaway.
If you want your blog to get noticed, start promoting it. A big blogging mistake is sitting on your precious hands and not doing anything about it.
Do your blog a huge favor. Use the 16 tips above and stay the course.
Just remember to focus on producing QUALITY content, promoting your blog on social media, and networking with other bloggers and influencers in your niche.
You never know. You might well be on your way to getting more visitors to your new blog every day and start building a successful online presence.
That’s how to get your blog noticed and seen.
You Might Want to Check This Out Too
Here’s Why You Should Start Blogging Now – The 12 Powerful Benefits of Blogging for Your Business.
Avoid these blogging mistakes because it’s a stupid move – It’s These Myths That Will Put You Off Blogging.
Resources To Grow Your Business With
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WPX Hosting
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For bloggers who have an established blog, this is a fantastic option.
You can learn more about this service here.
Aweber
Building an email list of a growing audience is essential for the longevity of any business. This autoresponder service is easy to use, and it is a great starting point for someone looking to kickstart their email campaign. You can try their free account here.
Jason Ou is a graduate of Monash University. After a short stint as a Mechanical Engineer, he decided to change course and finally landed up in the online marketing world. Since then he has been working from home blogging and helping various clients to escape the rat race. Let’s connect on Facebook below!