Note: Yesterday I wrote about using press releases as a promotional tool. After much thought, I decided to put a press release together to see if it will actually draw readers to this site.
I will post updates on the efficacy of this method.
As I’ve said before, looking at your log files (or statistics reports for those using free blogging services) can give you a good snapshot of how people are finding and using your site. The referring site statistics are the most important to me when attempting to learn how to promote a blog.
Though some referring sites are simply ‘bots’, hoping you’ll go to their site, the majority of sites listed are legitimately funneling traffic to your site. These are sites that have linked to your blog, and their readers have clicked on the link.
Q: How does this help promote your site?
A: It tells you where the readers are.
If someone comes to your site from a related blog, it can be caused by two things:
1. They didn’t find what they were looking for on the referring site- This happens when a reader is on Blog A, and is hoping to find an answer to a question. They can’t find it, so they decide to go somewhere else. And since Blog A has a link to your blog, they decide to give it a try.
This case is unique in that you’ve already got a frustrated reader. They weren’t able to get what they wanted on the first try. But if you have what they’re looking for, you’ll have a relieved, happy reader.
2. They liked what they were reading and are hungry for more- This happens a lot on blogs. When a reader finds a blog they like, they’ll often look to that blog’s links. They do this under the assumption that the blog they like will probably link to similar blogs.
So how do I use this information?
First, if you find a similar blog that is bringing you readers, link to that blog. If your readers fit into #2 above, they will check out the blogs you link to. It will provide your readers with another valuable service.
Second, if you’re getting traffic from a blog that has linked to you just once in a post, you may want to ask for a permanent link. I’ve received good traffic from sites that have just mentioned the site in passing. But when the link becomes buried in an archive, the traffic goes away. If the site had given me a link in their “Blogroll”, I would have a much greater chance at getting consistent traffic.
Finally, looking at your referring sites can make you aware of sites that you didn’t know existed. If you find blogs that provide complimentary content (aka not competing blogs), you can explore partnership opportunities.
Have a great weekend, and happy blawgging!
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