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January 20, 2005

Advice for New Bloggers

By Byron LaMasters

I just wrote an email to a new blogger asking for advice on how to build his traffic. I wrote him back with some suggestions for him, but they could just as easily be applied to any new or aspiring blogger out there, so I'll post it here (with a few modifications):

We've been at this blogging thing for almost two years now. Keeping and maintaining a blog regularly helps build traffic. It also helps to have a niche. Ours is Texas politics. My goal is to be one the best Texas political blogs. If your goal is to be the best blog anywhere, you'll fail. Find a niche and try to be the best at it.

The best way to get noticed is break a big story and get lots of linkage. That doesn't happen too often, so most of us have to resort to other methods. As for building traffic, the best way to get noticed is to post a lot (hopefully with your own thoughts, not just rehashing those of others), comment a lot on other blogs, and post on other people's posts, and ping them in trackbacks. People won't just magically come to you, but if you make yourself known on other blogs, you'll see some inquiring minds wander over. If they like the content, they'll stay and come back.

Finally, be patient. Lots of traffic doesn't come overnight. Don't blog because you want to make money off of it, or you want to be famous. Blog because you like blogging. There are much easier ways to make money or get famous. I average $150 / month through advertising now, but even after two years, that's still less than minimum wage if I divide that by the number of hours I spend blogging a month.

Anyway, best of luck.

Posted by Byron LaMasters at January 20, 2005 11:01 PM | TrackBack


Comments

And what happened to us getting a cut of the kitty, eh? :) You know we don't blog for the money, it's for the fame and fortune, and the general fab-u-losity of it. Though the DFT crew did suggest a possible female blogger if you are interested, contact Fran or Terri.

Posted by: Karl-T at January 20, 2005 11:59 PM

thanks for the advice

Posted by: Daniel at January 21, 2005 12:08 AM

I blog for the men. Pure and simple. All the hot, left-wing guys knocking at my door wanting to chill with a liberal chick...

Ugh, alarm clock just woke me up. Never mind.

Posted by: Andrea M. at January 21, 2005 01:02 AM

Nice site and great advice for aspiring bloggers!

Posted by: dsmoore at January 21, 2005 01:54 AM

I blog simply because I'm a dork. But blogging is cool and I know I'm a dork, which means I'm above trying to be cool which makes me cool. Right?

Posted by: Nate at January 21, 2005 07:03 AM

I logged in from Bloglines searching Texas Politics. Thanks for the good advice. I'll enjoy exploring here. I like the crisp, uncluttered, and professional look of your Blog.

Posted by: B. Sowell at January 21, 2005 10:12 AM

Get Zephyr Teachout from the Dean Campaign to send you money . . . just kidding sweetie.

If you're going to blog, you need to have an interesting and consistently fresh stream of content. And, you need a publicity hook. When I started my site up in Oklahoma, I was never concerned about traffic, but it really shot up because of two factors (independent of fresh content): a stimulated environment for my content; and a pair of Clear Channel talk radio stations that had me on regularly and who shilled the site on their broadcasts.

My traffic is off about 80% since the election, which makes sense, because I don't have the flow of relevant and unqiue content that I had during campaign season. It'll crank up again during the primaries next year.

The most important thing is to write for yourself, about things that you find interesting. Local and small is often better, because it is what you know. And, you might get a good audience for something that hits closer to home for people than, say, being the 188,657th blogger railing against W.

Think locally, reach globally. but have a unique voice. And do not expect to make money off the proposition. That train left the stattion a long time ago . . .

Posted by: Keith at January 21, 2005 12:41 PM

That would be station with one "t" . . . fat fingers again.

Posted by: Keith at January 21, 2005 12:43 PM

hmmmmmmm...comment a lot on other blogs, and post on other people's posts, and ping them in trackbacks

I don't know about 'a lot', but here goes!

Thanks, guys, for consistently insightful articles. Glad you're not "Maroon Report" - might not have taken a look when I did.

Kim

Posted by: wabblewouser at January 29, 2005 06:55 AM
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