
You're there. You've identified what you want to do with your blog. You carefully stay focused. You've identified your target audience and you're blogging with purpose. You've found the right blogging voice. You're putting yourself in your readers' shoes and blogging for them and their needs.
But?
No one is reading your blog posts. Well, hardly anyone, it seems. Those posts you've toiled over for so long are lying there dormant. Unloved, even. You're getting discouraged. How can you solve people's problems when these same people aren't even reading your posts?
Yeah. That is a problem. After all, unless a person's blog is private, everyone somewhere who owns a public blog somewhere down deep inside wants someone to read what they have blogged about. It's not vanity or ego [although it very well could be]. It's the other half of writing publicly.
And it's especially important for you ~ Cousin Hunters, Genealogical Societies, and Professional Genealogists ~ who are blogging. You have an agenda. Not a bad one, mind you, but you're blogging with purpose.
And, oh yeah, you want it to happen, like, yesterday.
I got this.
Here are 3 ways to increase traffic to your genealogy blog:
Further, there are many more ways to increase traffic to your genealogy blog. What do you do or suggest others to do to increase traffic? Let me and everyone else know in comments below. Please. [I want comments. I love them, in fact.]
~Caroline
But?
No one is reading your blog posts. Well, hardly anyone, it seems. Those posts you've toiled over for so long are lying there dormant. Unloved, even. You're getting discouraged. How can you solve people's problems when these same people aren't even reading your posts?
Yeah. That is a problem. After all, unless a person's blog is private, everyone somewhere who owns a public blog somewhere down deep inside wants someone to read what they have blogged about. It's not vanity or ego [although it very well could be]. It's the other half of writing publicly.
And it's especially important for you ~ Cousin Hunters, Genealogical Societies, and Professional Genealogists ~ who are blogging. You have an agenda. Not a bad one, mind you, but you're blogging with purpose.
And, oh yeah, you want it to happen, like, yesterday.
I got this.
Here are 3 ways to increase traffic to your genealogy blog:
- Make sure your blog is listed on Geneabloggers.com, which was founded by Thomas MacEntee. It's been around for a while. It has great Search Engine Optimization [SEO ~ something we'll talk about later]. Just know that this means when someone searches for the term genealogy bloggers on Google, Geneabloggers.com is on the first page of the search results. And if you've listed your blog for FREE with Thomas' site, then it's categorized several ways where [And this? This is the important part.] people can find you.
- Get into the blog readers or email inboxes [for those who subscribe by email] of bloggers who have weekly "Top Blog" lists. No, I'm not saying to craft your blog posts so that they end up on the list. That should happen organically. What I am saying, or asking rather, is, "Are they even reading your blog?" You can write the most fantastic post about whatever, but if you're not on their "To Read" list, then you're missing out on the chance of one of your blog posts being spotlighted by a genealogy blogger with more readers. You know, readers who might actually have a need for what you're blogging about. And, again, let me stress that this should happen organically. Don't hound bloggers to read your blog. That's so easy. Be different. [And more genuine.] Comment on their blog posts with sincerity. Meet up with them on an online social network. And just be you. Some bloggers who have spotlight lists to consider: Randy Seaver with Genea-Musings, Lynn Palermo with The Armchair Genealogist, and Lisa Frank with 1 Ancestry 2 Little Time. [There are more. I challenge you to find them.]
- There is no better way to say this next suggestion. Create better blog post titles. When one writes with purpose, one usually knows where one is going in said writing. And this definitely applies to you. You are blogging with purpose. Write your title first. Be clear. Concise. Don't be vague. Tell them what you're going to give them, and then deliver it. Don't be too cutesy. [And I've been known to be too cutesy with my blog post titles.] People are busy. They need help with whatever genealogy problem they have ~ be it finding cousins, finding a genealogical society that can provide assistance with their research, or a professional genealogist who can help them solve a tough research problem on the other side of the world. There are times to break this rule, but we'll talk about that later. For now, stay focused and create better blog post titles. [And, yes, I followed my own advice on this blog post title.]
Further, there are many more ways to increase traffic to your genealogy blog. What do you do or suggest others to do to increase traffic? Let me and everyone else know in comments below. Please. [I want comments. I love them, in fact.]
~Caroline