Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Secret to Growing Your Blog


(pin me)

I'm about to give you the biggest secret about growing your blog.   If you take this secret I guarantee your readership will increase.  I know this because I've been blogging for a little while now and this one secret has ABSOLUTELY worked with ALL of my blogs.

I'd be classified mostly as a Christian homemaking blogger over at Lessons From Ivy.  My main purpose  is simply to encourage other Christian moms like me.  The thing about homemaking blogs though is the writers tend to be homemakers.  And the thing about homemakers is we tend to be (or at least should be) busy.

I could get consumed with fiddling with my sidebar widgets or post template.  I could spend Hours promoting my website if I had the time (and some days I do).  In fact there are an huge number of things that could occupy my time when blogging that have nothing to do with my number 1 blogging secret.

If I was a full time writer (and maybe one day my husband and I will be) I'd be able to do all those things that perfect a blog.  But since I'm not, and since my time is precious to me, I need to be picky about how I spend my time blogging.  Which is why I'm about to share the most important thing bloggers should do.  This is the thing you should do before anything else.


Are you ready for it?

The Number one secret?

Guaranteed to increase your pageviews?





Write Something Already!!!!

All the sidebar tweaking, leaving comments, linking up, blog hopping, and blog promotion in the world won't bring consistent traffic to your blog unless you're updating it!

When it comes to blogging post first, promote later.  

Strive for 5 posts a week, 3 posts minimum.  Just keep posting. Just keep posting.

Take 3 hours one day and write 10 posts to schedule in advance.  Use a big picture and around 200 words a post if you're strapped for time, but post post post.

I've witnessed blogs sky-rocket in popularity and grow big very quickly, but the majority of blogs with large readerships grew slowly with constant posting.

So, go write something!  (But leave a comment telling me how often you update your blog after sharing this post of course)

15 comments:

  1. I try to update 3x a week (except the last two weeks since we brought home our newborn) and scheduling posts in advance makes it so much easier!!

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  2. I agree.If you are going to blog then do it. Writing one post and then linking it all over gets readers today, but what about tommorrow. Having constant readers that come back daily is the trick. The blogs I read update often. I come back often to see what else they are posting about. I strive for 4-5 posts a week. I keep a bunch of "posts in progress" When I have the time and inspiration I work on them and then with a final tweek I am ready to publish them. Some posts take several days of work a little here and a little there until they are ready.

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  3. I just started blogging a few weeks ago to go with my FB page. Great advice. Thank you!

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  4. I try to post 3 times a week ... I've been slacking, I didn't get as many posts prepared before we left for vacation as I would have liked and I totally slacked off on vacation :)

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  5. I have learned this lesson the hard way! It took me nearly two years to get 4000 views to my blog but since I have been posting 5-6 days a week, I have had nearly 600 views in a month! What a difference! I was interested to see what your "biggest secret" was and when I saw that it was writing, I said, "YES!" Thank you for confirming what I just learned!!!

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  6. Great reminder to focus on the writing! I was writing just once a week, now I'm up to about 3 and hoping to get up to 5 soon! I love to write, its just hard to make the time when I'm a mom, homemaker and full time babysitter with a new little one on the way. Thanks for the great blogging tip. :D

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  7. I strive to post daily, but it doesn't always happen!

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  8. Sorry- I'd make a comment, but then you'd know I'm not updating my blog......

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  9. I can't seem to get many comments even when I write several times a week. On my last blog I ask if anyone was reading my blog and would they take a minute to comment. I left it up on purpose and five comments trickled in. Sometimes I am tempted to quit blogging. Pray for my blog. I do want to glorify the Lord. I think a lot of people are going to facebook. I had a bad experience there and don't use it anymore. Thanks for the pointers, anyway.

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    1. Aliene, I'm so sorry you don't get a lot of comments. I don't either in general. Your posts are always such a blessing to me though, I love your contributions to the KJV directory, your insight always gives me fresh perspective, even if I don't stop to say so.

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  10. There certainly isn't wrong with posting only occasionally. Your blog will just look a little different.

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  11. I totally agree with your tip. The only thing is that, if "numbers" is all I am wanting, then I am blogging for the wrong reason. I just want to minister to the ones who ARE reading my blogs. I try to do it at least once per week, sometimes two, but rarely more than that. I guess numbers aren't my main focus. I would love to write all day if I could though. But, my priorities lie with my family first. Anyway, thanks for the tip, and the encouragement. :-)

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  12. I know this is true, K.M. Quality and quantity of writing make a huge difference. But I'm not sure I'd still get many views if I didn't blog hop...Don't you think that's a key?
    Thanks for linking with B&BB. I pray you have a blessed week of blogging and family.

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  13. I've recently returned to blogging. Thanks for the info!

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