I just paid 15 cents for 4 bananas.
That’s cheap.
I love a good bargain. I don’t give a raton’s fanny if we have the dough to pay for more; I love good deals.
Since Kelli and I just arrived in Granada, Nicaragua, we have noticed that bananas are dirt cheap. Oh yes, I forgot to mention: Blogging from Paradise has officially arrived in Nicaragua. See the image to the right? That’s me. Inside of the house. La selva en la casa. We’re house sitting for 2 months in the sleepy little town of Granada. The homeowner actually has a mini jungle inside of his home.
How cool is that?
Anyway, before we dive into these fab, cheap, easy ways to drive blog traffic……
Free eBook and a Hot Deal
I am no longer writing eBooks. At least for now.
Now I’m promoting these suckers.
Build an online empire through blog commenting. Retire to a life of island hopping. Get your mind right. Do all that good stuff. Note; ALL of my eBooks are now available for the super hot deal/bargain/steal/delicious price of 0.99, or 99 centavos as they’d say here in Granada, Nicaragua. If you want to know my secrets, so you too can live the dream, visit the Blogging from Paradise library on Amazon for 99 cent eBooks.
Oh yes, on to the eBook deal for this week.Download the Blogging from Paradise 5 eBook Deluxe Combo for the bargain basement price of just $0.99 cents
Hot Pink Grates
I am staring at a hot pink iron grate as I write these words. Think “Pink Panther” type hot pink, mixed with an electric blue, on the house facing us. The Nicaraguans aren’t known for subtlety in all things color.
Eye-catching colors, fascinating architecture and friendly locals makes for a charming, fun to live in neighborhood. After feeding our amigo Fred at 6 AM – he’s a perro – I observe the steady flow of street traffic. “Steady flow” at 6 AM means 1 person walks by every 5 minutes and 1 or 2 people ride by on bicycles every 5 to 10 minutes. Eso es. That’s it.
As the day progresses I see horse drawn carriages cruise by. Ice cream vendors deal their helado frijo. Pan sellers do their thing. You will not confuse our calle with 42nd Street, mind you. I fully expect to see more parrots on our street than cars within the next few hours. It’s 6:30 AM. That’s kinda early.
The Blogging Problem
Don’t get me wrong; I’m elated with the peaceful foot and car traffic situation most of the time. I’d rather hear parrots than Pintos (they appear to have those cars here; or, I’m living in a time warp). The problem is that when I’m hankering for a Pinguino (sweet treat) or thinking about a taxi I ain’t seeing much traffic on the street. Saturday has been the only day of “traffic above a peep.” If I wanted a taxi or sweet treat or if I preferred to have the propane tank guy swing by. I’d be SOOL (Sh*t out of Luck) for most days save Saturday.
Granada, we have a traffic problem.
Since I’m a workout nut (ie., mildly insane about walking) I’ll stroll into town to get what I want. No problems in those high traffic areas. Here’s la problema; I am in chase mode. I am not lazy but I’d rather take the convenient approach. I’d rather the traffic flow to me.
Since you’re smart muchachos y muchachas you can see where I’m heading.
Most bloggers find themselves in a similar quandary.
They may see a high traffic day once a week. Other than that day, they bust their ass, chasing, straining, striving, fighting, and doing whatever they need to do to see a pittance of traffic on most days….save that 1 special day. In truth, their situation is more dire than the traffic situ here in Granada. We see OK traffic on Saturday. Most bloggers aren’t so blessed. They may see OK blog traffic once a month. Or once every 3 months.
Today yo queiro share 13 cheap and easy ways to increase blog traffic to make your blog a hip and happening place.
Pienso que each of these methods will help you boost your blog traffic so you need not correo como un pollo sin cabeza. Use Google translate. (I will leave my Spanglish phase, but not yet.)
I admit; I have been the guy chasing everything down. I was the blogger CHASING traffic versus being the blogger who ATTRACTED traffic. It’s much more fun to allow traffic to come to you. Sure it takes some fun, light work. Sure you’ll put in a bit of time to draw in loyal subscribers. Sure you’ll do some mental science (wink wink your mind won’t stink if you download this) to strengthen your attractive magnet.
But in the end, you can be the hunted. Not the hunter. Being both the hunted and the hunter, I can attest that hunting sucks, and being stalked by eager, interested, rabid, loyal blog readers, well that rocks.
Benefits of Reading this Post
- increase your blog traffic cheaply and easily
Haha. I like single bullet point list items. That was my gag for the day.
Cheap and Easy
Let’s dissect the title.
Cheap = free or super inexpensive.
Easy – requiring some effort but not a bunch of effort.
Guys, I have a date with a pinguino in a bit. Pinguinos are not Nica chicas. Pinguinos are delicious little chocolate cakes filled with cream. Como un Hostess chocolate cake. Since the date time is nigh let’s dive into this post.
1: Join Triberr
Triberr is like the town square here in Granada; everybody hangs out there. Except in Triberr’s case, “everybody” means every blogger. Not every blogger on earth of course but you will meet a slew of influential bloggers from varied niches. Travel bloggers, affiliate marketers, blogging tips bloggers and personal development bloggers can meet and great other inspired bloggers on this platform.
After joining Triberr, find relevant tribes. Use the search bar. Query your keywords. You’re smart guys and gals; you know how to do that.
Join relevant tribes. Share people’s stuff. Comment on their Triberr posts and blog posts.
Triberr is a free platform. Premium accounts – offering you the option to add more mates to your tribes – cost you a few clams each month, but overall it’s cheap and yep, it’s an easy way to drive blog traffic. Share. Care. Comment.
Check out this post if Triberr confuses the hell out of ya:
13 Tips for Using Triberr to Increase Your Blog Traffic Quickly
I’ve pulled back on Triberr recently because I’m pulling back on everything. No reflection on Triberr; I’m just enjoying my trip through Central America. Blame it on the pinguinos.
2: Link to Other Bloggers in Your Posts
I am a lazy bastard.
I kid you not.
Linking to other bloggers is the easiest way to get blog traffic. Hands down. Bloggers can expand your presence like wild fire. Really. Here’s why: 1,000 is better than 1. 1,000 people promoting me is better than only me promoting myself. Linking to other bloggers inspires other bloggers to promote me.
I can only promote my blog through the efforts of 1 person. I’ve not transitioned into the ethers. I believe that we are all one, yet, I also know that reaching out, helping folks, promoting the stuffing out of them and doing ’em a blogging solid is the easiest way to embody that statement AND it is the easiest way to get blog traffic.
Don Purdum does this really, really well. Really well. He features top shelf bloggers regularly because he is hyper generous with his blog. No doubt, when Don tags me I check out what he has to say. You’re darn tootin’ I’ll tweet the post. I’ll gab on his blog too. That’s code for: “I’ll comment on his blog.” Social shares and comments = blog traffic. Which is cool.
Why Do Most Bloggers Overlook this Easy, Free Way to Increase Blog Traffic?
The F Word.
The 4 Letter Word.
Before you think I’m going all potty mouth on you….that word is:
Fear.
I can be a greedy blogger at times. I may worry about eBook sales. I may want to push only my stuff. I may fear diluting my brand. I may fear 1,001 things, from giving up my sacred Blogging from Paradise space to turning off my readers to gobs of other ego-based shiznett. If I obey the fear, I’m not here. That’s a rhyme. Meaning, if I gave into my fear over the past 7 years, more often than not, I’d not be writing these words from beautiful Granada, Nicaragua. But thank the gods that I embraced this fear more often than not, and that I released the fear so that I promoted other bloggers freely on my blog.
Tip
Link to other bloggers.
Hint; if you enjoyed this post, mention it on your blog. Maybe you can email this post to your newsletter. Helping bloggers by linking to their posts is the quickest, easiest way to make blogging buddies. Blogging buddies don’t let blogging buddies suffer through poor blog traffic days. That’s an 80’s TV reference. Maybe the Gremlins shirt that I’m wearing inspired that homage to 80’s commercials. Whatever.
3: Email Your List
When this post goes live I will do something really, really easy. Damn cheap too.
I will email this post to my list.
I am not a metrics guy but a few months back I checked my clicks some 5 seconds after emailing my newsletter.
Within 5 seconds of emailing my newsletter I spotted 9 clicks. If that’s not easy blog traffic I don’t know what is.
I use Mail Chimp to build my list. Chimpy is free bananas until you hit 2,000 subscribers. Post 2000 subs, you’ll pay a cheap rate. Aweber is an inexpensive option too. Cheap, easy and pretty damn painless traffic building tool, I must say.
How to Build Your List
God was I ever resistant to using pop up forms.
But darn do they work well. I have measured a steady rise in subscribers since I started using a Blogging from Paradise pop up form.
Use a pop up form to collect reader emails. Or use a sidebar widget and an opt in bar at the top of your blog. I suggest posting 2-3 opt in forms on your blog. Tailor to reader preferences.
Share helpful, relevant updates with subscribers. Retain those suckers. Publish helpful, relevant content to your blog. Draw in sign ups. Collect emails. Rake in that sweet, sweet, blog traffic.
Why Email Marketing Works
People may check Triberr once every 1 week to 1 month. No guarantees though.
People may see your Facebook status updates – linking to your blog post – once every week, or they may not. No guarantees at all, and if you’re relying on Facebook for blog traffic…..Oh Dios Mio!!!!
People WILL check their email once every day or at least, once weekly. This I can just about guarantee because to most folks, email is cocaina. Email checking is an addiction so building a list ensures that readers WILL check your blog posts, boosting your blog traffic.
Remember….email is cocaina to most readers. Comprende?
If you happen to speak Spanish to me in person, note that I speak it like a Gringo. I had to add that.
4: Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is mostly free, and even paid methods are cheap.
Although social media traffic may not flow to you in a deluge, it’s still an easy way to draw in readers. Pressing a “retweet” button takes the whole of a split second. That’s easy.
The Rub
Generous bloggers drive social media traffic easily.
If I can hit the “retweet” button easily for my blogging buddies, my blogging buddies will do the same for me. Sweet deal. It requires 1000 times more effort to consume my beloved Bimbo Pan con Pasas (Google that) than it does to retweet 20 of my buddy’s blog posts, through their blogs or through Triberr.
Adrienne Smith is a social media marketing wizard. She’s heart felt. She’s genuine. She’s generous. Check out how she does social, to do social right.
5: Email Influential Friends; Ask them to Share Your Posts
I have mentioned fellow digital nomad Danny Flood a few times through my blog.
Here’s why: he lives a daring, freeing life AND he’s got the online business building thing down pat.
Danny uses email to build mutually beneficial bonds. He’s good at helping and asking. If he ever asks for anything you better believe he’ll stress your benefits. Win-win.
Email power broker blogging buddies. You have plenty of those already, because you comment on authority blogs and you promote authority bloggers. You’ve been good little BFPers. I know.
Emailing pro bloggers costs you no money. Emailing pro bloggers is easy to do if you’ve built a relationship with them. Hitting a RT button a few times each week requires approximately 5 to 7 seconds of your time weekly. Posting comments to authority blogs is easy too. Gab! Share your opinion. Easy peasy. Share. Comment. Build bonds. Use email to reach out to the Big Kahunas. Boost your blog traffic.
A tweet here or link there will give you a steady traffic boost. If you’re thinking really big, a simple email can open doors you hadn’t envisioned.
Example; my friend Matthew Capala asked me to co-write a book with him called “Solopreneur Ronin.” This eBook did NOT hurt my blog traffic, let me tell ya.
6: Blog Commenting: My Renewed Secret Weapon
I am officially back on the blog comment bandwagon.
I had left the bandwagon for a few months. Too focused on writing eBooks. My eBook writing days have ended by now. 122 is enough. Now it’s time to promote my eBooks. Now it’s time to spread the word. Now it’s time to boost my blog traffic cheaply and easily. Now it’s time to comment on authority, relevant blogs.
Here’s one of my recent comments on Pro Blogger:
Blog commenting is a free marketing method. We got the “cheap” base covered.
Here’s why it’s easy: you like to gab. You like to share your opinion. We all do. Instead of gabbing all day long, shut your yap, set aside 5 to 15 minutes, and write, instead of speaking.
Easy peasy.
Be present before you comment. This is the easiest way to do it easy. Forget about backlinks and all that crap. Blab for like 5 to 15 minutes. Flow freely. Write what you’re feeling. Watch blog traffic flow your way by doing blog commenting right.
99 Cent eBook
I wrote an eBook on how to do blog commenting effectively. Or, how to grow an online empire through gabbing. This is the perfect read for newbie and veteran bloggers alike.
Read How to Build an Online Empire through Blog Commenting
But that’s Not All….
That lead in hooked me as a kid. “But that’s not all”….
Seriously though; if you prefer to listen to eBooks versus reading those suckers:
Listen to How to Leave Attention Grabbing Blog Comments
This audio book is a powerful follow up to my online empire building eBook.
Guys, blog commenting is a free, powerful traffic driving tool if you do it right. No comment drive-by’s. No “One Night Stand” deals. Read my eBooks, listen to ’em too and you’ll get a feel for what one must do to build a successful blog through gabbing….I mean, through blog commenting.
7: Start a Podcast
Click the “Record” button. Talk. Spend 5 to 30 minutes sharing your know how.
Recording podcasts is fun and easy too. No need to set aside 1, 2 or 5 hours to craft a blog post. You can be in and out in minutes. That makes podcasting an easy blog traffic builder in my eBook.
As for cheapness, you can host your podcast for free on SoundCloud until you reach a time threshold. Then you can pay $6 per month until you have spent your 6 hours. Then you’ll pay $15 smackers a month for unlimited hosting. Cheap.
How to Publish a Podcast
What do you like to gab about all day long? Hit the record button and gab.
I’m guessing that you’re blogging your passion. You better be. If you aren’t, trash your blog. Create a new blog and podcast series based on your passion. Write and talk about your passion. Through your blog and podcast series.
Follow John Lee Dumas to learn how to publish a successful podcast. I am new to podcasting and don’t care much about my podcast, so he’s the guy I’ll direct you to.
8: Publish Videos to YouTube
I’m guessing your laptop has a camera, no?
If it does, you’re all set to publish a Youtube video now.
Youtube simply offers you an exciting new – or established – blog traffic stream. A gazillion folks prefer to digest their content through video. Appeal to this audience. Increase your blog traffic.
Youtube is free to join. You can buy a solid web cam on the cheap.
Now….for the easy bit.
Smile. Relax. The camera is your friend. Really. Envision the camera as your closest friend. Confide in the camera. If you’re having a blue day, share your blue day with the camera. Your camera is your diary. Share. Open up.
Good! Now wasn’t that easy?
9: Eye Candy, Please
Pictures.
Pictures.
Pictures.
You’ll see plenty of big old Nicaraguan images here. Or, images from our current trip through Nicaragua.
Why?
People love eye candy.
Eye candy boosts blog traffic.
Easily.
Cheaply.
No need to book plane tickets to Nicaragua. Find a good free image sharing site. Go nuts. Share images for free or on the cheap. No need to post 3 or 5 or 10 eye popping images to each blog post BUT posting images is a cheap, easy traffic builder. Folks love eye candy. Serve it up. Drive more blog traffic.
Why?
We are creatures who live through our senses.
5 minutes ago Kelli and I walked back from the tienda. We digested a most stunning, jaw-dropping view of Mombacha in the distance. This world-renowned volcano snagged my attention because….I love eye candy. Just like you. Just like….well…..everybody. A picture draws in an extra 1,000 readers. Over time, at least. Seriously; posting 3 or 5 eye catching images will pull in more readers. Folks are likely to share a visually appealing post. It is what it is. Folks dig eye candy. Folks love pictures. Pictures complement blog posts.
This tactic is “fish in a barrel” type easy. Add 5 to 10 minutes to your blogging day. Find relevant, colorful pictures. Maybe 2 or 3 for starters. Post ’em. Steadily increase your blog traffic.
The folks at Buffer did a fine job putting together this resource for finding free blog images.
Check it out:
53 + Free Image Sources for Your Blog
Dingbat Time
I nominate myself for being Dingbat of the Week.
Just for the week.
Because I left free blog traffic on the table for a minute….because I didn’t post my eye popping travel images to my blog posts regularly.
Mistake noted.
Going forward, you’ll see fewer blog posts and more Blogging from Paradise images, to tantalize and titillate your taste buds.
10: Spend 5 to 20 Minutes on Your Headline
All it took was 5 minutes.
5 minutes to craft this title: “13 CHEAP and EASY Ways to Increase Blog Traffic.”
Bloggers who want to become pro bloggers are looking to market on the cheap. Every human being who has ever lived prefers the easy way to do things. Every blogger wouldn’t mind extra blog traffic. This is the Blogging Holy Trinity: cheap, easy, traffic.
Patience, grasshoppers. Spending just a few extra minutes will increase your blog traffic.
I have rushed blog posts.
I have patiently let blog posts simmer.
It takes not a Rhodes Scholar to discern which posts got more traffic pop.
Be patient. Think through your titles.
Tips
Picture your ideal reader.
What specifically does your ideal reader want? Think of benefits, benefits, and more benefits. Think of more benefits. Think of appealing blog post titles which solve problems and which inspire your readers to live their dreams.
Don’t hesitate to shock.
Check out this Thai Prostitute Post
Did ya dig that title? I spent a few minutes thinking it through. It’s strange; waiting for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes to think through blog titles can double or triple your blog traffic, and toying with titles is both free, and really easy, too.
11: Let Posts Simmer……I Mean, REALLY Simmer
It costs you no money to write a blog post over 3 days.
It costs you no money to let your posts sit for 3 or 4 days.
Letting posts simmer is easy, too, once you detach from outcomes.
Example
I am writing these words on Monday at 10:43 AM. I have no time line to work with. I’ll publish the post when I feel detached. I’ll publish the post when I feel clear on publishing the post. Ain’t trying to be perfect here. I just prefer to drive more targeted traffic on the cheap AND I wish to do it easily.
Why Easy and Cheap?
Go way back.
Click this link:
Copy and paste your blog link into the Browse History query form.
Did you vomit too? God knows I did.
Although I cringe seeing my old blog I also laugh. Growth. Freedom. Learning. Simmering.
Your first take rarely looks like your 2nd or 3rd take because your first take is often hurried, rushed and error-prone. Although it pays to go live with your blog post it also pays to proof read your posts. It pays to let posts simmer. For 1 day or so. That re-read may make you cringe. Or it may give you greater clarity.
Post Like Nobody’s Watching
Here’s your posting attitude: post like nobody’s watching. Post for the purpose of having fun. Post without a purpose. Post from a light, airy space. I guarantee that you’ll publish an infinitely better, higher traffic driving blog post if you don’t feel too attached to publishing the post. Why? Your posting for the joy of posting, not to drive traffic, and that joy will create something epic. That joy will teach you patience. That joy will teach you clarity. That joy will detach you from outcomes. That joy will inspire you to let your blog posts simmer.
Let posts sit. Return. Re-read. Tweak. Edit. Not because you need to. But because you’d rather do things from a free, easy, prospering, fun space.
12: Trash the 3rd Person Posts; Tell Your Story and Tie Your Story into Your Niche
A drunk Nicaraguan man blabbed at me while I Blabbed.
To snag as much light as possible I Blabbed by the front door. All manner of folks strolled by. Including one dude who had too much cerveza. He asked me what I was doing. I explained how I was Blabbing in Spanish. Not sure if the locals are up on Blabbing. Anyway, this guy taught me the most clever blogging lesson: you can connect with your audience by speaking in their language.
Example; if you see me only as some lucky, one dimensional character who blogs from paradise you may tune out much of what I’m saying. That’s understandable. I did the same thing with bloggers a few moons ago. I did not connect with pro bloggers because they were out of touch. Some were successful but only a few spoke my language, meaning, they knew what it felt like to fail, and they explained how their past failures led to their modern day success.
I spoke espanol to connect with the drunk Nica. I regularly speak of my failures to connect with struggling bloggers. I have been there. I know how you feel. No fairy lifted me up and dropped me in Granada. I failed. I struggled. I learned from my failures to blog from paradise. If I speak your language, compassionately, you can connect with me.
What Nets Me More Traffic?
Sharing the above story to drill home the point of speaking your reader’s language?
OR
Writing, “speak your reader’s language”?
Unless you have a strange obsession with the bland, and the boring, you’re going for the story because everybody loves a good story. Most folks love learning lessons which are linked to stories. I remember stories. I generally don’t recall dry, boring lessons.
Writing your story is easy. It’s YOUR story. Tell it. Think of how your story relates to your niche. Even if you can’t link drunk Nicaraguans, Blabbing and blogging tips together you can weave a neat tale or 2 from your life.
Telling 1st person stories is a free, clear, easy way to drive blog traffic. Telling 1st person stories builds your brand. Telling your story makes you memorable. Tell your story. From a 1st person perspective. Link your story to your niche. My story posts almost always generate the most pop.
13: Blog from Paradise
I am house sitting for the next 2 months. That’s pretty cheap. I don’t pay rent.
Plane tickets from New York City to Managua were fairly cheap.
Getting my ass on a plane was easy.
Blogging from paradise is a cheap, easy way to get loads of pop. Because few folks on earth blog from paradise.
Even if you spend 1 or 2 weeks in the tropics you’ll have an easy branding tool that will help you to stand out from the crowd.
Your Turn
What cheap, easy tips can you share for generating blog traffic?
What do you do to draw in more readers?
Do these tips work for you?
Do you have a tough time with any one of these tips?
Ryan Biddulph
Latest posts by Ryan Biddulph (see all)
- Are You Afraid of the Google Big Bad Wolf? - December 18, 2018
- Why Self Publish Multiple eBooks on Amazon? - December 18, 2018
- What Is the Easiest Way to Get Bloggers to Notice You? - December 18, 2018
59 Comments
It’s funny Julian you mention the note about being fearful of making buddies. OH so true. I went bonkers on that fear in the past, fearing rejection, thinking nobody cared to connect with me. Had to root out the mental crap to get to the base of the issue. Then I became a networking machine. Kind of 😉 And I linked out and promoted others and all that sweet stuff seemed to come together for me because I did the inner work. As we connect with others our blogging jobs become much easier. Thanks for the comment!
Hey Ryan,
First off, great post, man. I really enjoyed it. Love the tips.
A few of these I haven’t heard of, so I now have some new things to try. 😀 Thanks for that.
I have used some of them. Like “linking out to other bloggers”. Totally agree that it’s the easiest way to get traffic. Also, you’re like pretty much guaranteed some tweets, likes, and +1’s.
Reaching out to your blogger buddies is cool, too. Especially if they have a good following.
And making friends is a lot easier than it sounds, eh? I used to be so scared when I was first told to build relationships.
But as soon as I got going, everything just seemed cool.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Cheers,
Julian
The momentum effect works well with video. I see what you mean. Some get love, and catch views, and those numbers keep on rising. Like a top. You spin it, it goes. Give it a little tap sometimes through promoting it maybe but the top generally moves and spins without much assistance on your part.
Great post Ryan….Videos that get well-liked and catch a lot of views be likely to stay popular – so they will make a stable brook of visitors to your website without fail. I advise sticking to YouTube and mastering it as it’s the most accepted video sharing site on the web.
Haha Angela, yep I have a wacky style for sure. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I love your posts, Ryan. It’s something about the jumble of the storytelling and rambling and general feeling of jealousy you evoke.
Top tips, too. 🙂
Thank you Chery. Those round ups are like fish in a barrel, so easy 😉
Hello Ryan, All great tips here my friend, I have heard of Triberr before but never checked into it. looks like it may be time. :))
I have also love round ups and have been thinking about this for a while, time to put this into action as well.
A loved your video, what an Awesome House Wowsy A Garden within the house Sweet! Nicaragua must be some place.
Great share my friend, Have an Awesome Weekend!
Thanks
Chery :))
Peter, thank you so much.
Hey Ryan,
Great to connect with you mate and loved your post. Just had to share this post as wide as I could as it contains so many “paradise gems” like your blog roundup strategy.
What a simple easy way to generate traffic and mate I have never consciously done this before. That tip alone was priceless to an ancient Aussie marketewr like me.
All the best mate and may your journeys in paradise continue to provide you with the rare talent you have to express things in such an entertaining way. Travel safe my friend and best wishes from Thailand
Mark def run with the podcast, you’ll do awesome with it.
Wow Ryan!
What a freaking awesome traffic generating blueprint! And thanks, as always,
for sharing so many excellent resources as well!
Each of your excellent 13 tips & suggestions, are a powerful mini courses,
in and of themselves!LOL!
I really have been totally neglect to this point, with not getting the podcast end
of my marketing oars in the water!
And since you mentioned, I know I’m definitely missing out big time, because it’s simply another element to entire marketing arsenal, I could have working for me!
Thanks for sharing another highly entertaining & extremel educational post!
Awesome Mike, thanks for commenting.
Hey Ryan!
Great advice, buddy. And I love that you’ve always been both transparent and authentic. You don’t just SAY “go comment on other blogs” – you actually DO it!
And do it well.
And that, specifically, is a technique I need to personally work on. I tend to focus on social media and online communities over blog posts. That, and guest posting, I think may be a new direction I’m going to explore.
And great tips for repurposing that content!
Ikechi my pleasure. It was so fun to write.
Hi Ryan
What a great post and loved your video.
Thanks for this info and you are so right. You listed cheap ways to gain traffic; not too much work but very effective and I do believe that this will sink into all bloggers very easily. I know I have learned so much.
Thanks for the offer. I have noted some of your ebooks that I cant just wait to read. Take Care
Much appreciated Brad, and thanks so much for the tweets.
Awesome add Suze.
I use Triberr a lot, have to admit that I tend to share blog posts with a photo on there as I figure that my readers will find those the most interesting – there’s a technique to add photos to Triberr that another blogger shared with me. You go to your profile, find your latest post and then from your blog you select the photo that you want to add, right click to copy the image URL then go back to Triberr and select the little image icon and add that image URL, then press preview, then publish.
Thanks much for reading Renard and yep, we rock that tribe out.
Eve, that’s a way cool analogy. Thanks so much for sharing.
Ryan,
I rarely read articles like this because it is usually just fluff that is lightly covered. Fluff on top of fluff. But I saw this link come through my twitter feed from someone I trust. Great coverage. It is a very meta post in that you utilize all the tips you talk about in the post that you are talking about them. I am not a fan of the 500 word advice posts that really can’t do any subject justice at that length.
I am going to join Triberr and a couple of points to cover I will be able to use right away. The other points are a good reminder that like the Larry Bird Celtics , good blogging mean sticking to the fundamentals.
Thanks for taking the time to put your thoughts down on paper.
Best,
Brad
Hi Ryan! I saw your comment on Kurt Kummerer’s blog and followed you here.
By the way, I know a lot of this traffic method but the GOOD thing about your post is… IT is very very detailed like you were dissecting a frog. 🙂
I also like the idea on how you delivered your post because although I know all of these stuff, you still grab my attention on symbolizing those beautiful places you traveled on how a blogger must do.
Very entertaining and I enjoy reading it.
Subscribing.
Cheers,
Eve
[ Smiles ] I am already a member of Triberr (I believe that you and I are in the same tribe) and I do link out to other bloggers.
I also agree with spending lots of time on your headline; because that is what will grab the reader’s attention.
Thank you for another great post!
Soy gringo. Eso es. Jajajaja…..la gramatica policia estan aqui jajajaja….
I am my own worst enemy. I was blinded by your Spanish. It’s “el problema”, not la problema. Lots of words that end in “ma” are masculine. Frío, not frijo. The chicken sin cabeza “corre”, not correo which means “the mail”. So, I just wasted time I should have spent commenting on blogs. Oh, wait a minute. This is a comment—on a blog. 🙂
Rosa, sharing is so huge. Fab way to boost blog traffic. We are not too keen on Europe but I’d give Spain a visit one day, definitely. Thanks for commenting as always.
Kamlesh thanks for the comment.
Mike, fab add and I’ll check out your blog in a few.
Nathan thanks so much for the help. I love it when our readers engage 🙂
I love all your tips and I’ve implemented a few of them. Lately I’ve been focusing specially in sharing other bloggers. I agree with you that is a great way to get traffic.
Off topic – when I started reading the post, I though you were in Granada, Spain – and since that destination is on top of my places to visit list I was immediately drawn to your post. I know you love island hoping, but maybe some day you should give other destinations a try 🙂
Hi, Lisa.
To add an image to your Triberr post, hover over the area where your blog title is displayed, and a small downward arrow will appear to the right. Click and select edit, and you will be presented with editorial options, including images.
All the best.
Nathan.
I completely agree with you, Clement. We also receive quality referral users from blog commenting. Also, I like to be a part of your and Ryan’s network so that we can help each other to grow. Don’t hesitate to visit our blog and share your comments.
Increasing blog traffic is one the most important thing for every blogger. Strategy that you mentioned is really great. Ofcourse its not just an easy task but managing it well can make it easy and productive. Getting traffic is completely depend on how the content is crafted if written well and engaging it will not take a second to go viral. This is what every blogger should learn.
Tweeted your latest post too on ordering coffee in Greece….neat.
Lisa thank you for sharing your experiences. I’ve heard fab things about Co-Schedule; power tool here. Have a fab week, and you too.
Leslie that’s an awesome comment. Cats are ALWAYS allowed 😉 Ditto on CA; $1 large Cokes, fab experiences, we just love it here. It really IS never too late to learn. Keep on inspiring Leslie.
Woohooo Sherman, thanks awesome. Writing eBooks is a fab way to drive traffic and to boost your authority. Keep up the inspired work.
Hi Ryan. This is going to be a rambling comment, because I wanted to address a couple of things.
First off, just finished your book ‘How to Organize Your Blog Day for Maximum Efficiency’. It was such a fast read with so much good information. I can see how I’m wasting a lot of my time. The only thing I won’t be able to abide by is keeping my cat, Bootsie, out of my office. She is one of our family of 8, and she is very needy. If I don’t let her in, she’ll just sit outside and meow. Usually I just have to give her a treat and open my closet door and she’ll go in the closet and sleep among my smelly shoes. Go figure.
Second, I haven’t been to Nicaragua, but my husband and I are cruise nuts. We love the small Holland America ships that go out of Tampa, and one year we went to Guatemala. There was no cruise port. We tied up to the dock like the merchant ships did, which I thought was really cool. I had been really sick on that cruise, but I tottered off the ship to visit a craft mall. I bought a Coke from one of the merchants, and it was bigger than the ones in U.S. convenience stores and it was $1.00. I couldn’t believe it! I put another dollar in the tip jar, and then my husband and I bought some more to carry back to the ship. They had a percussion group and dancers that put on a show, and being a musician, I left them a big tip, too, since I hadn’t been off the ship to spend any money. It was very memorable, but I don’t see that H.A. is stopping there anymore, which is a shame.
One thing I love about being where I am in life is that I know it’s never too late to learn. You have taught me a lot, and have given me the confidence to scrap my blog and start over, which I’m in the process of doing right now. I also love your books, and I’m going to follow in your footsteps with that. Thanks so much for being you.
All the best,
Leslie
Hi Ryan, very nice pictures and great way to stay somewhere for FREE. You’ve always been so innovative 🙂
Great tips here. The ones I struggle with our writing eBooks, doing videos and podcasts (haven’t done one of those yet)….
I did follow one of your tips via an eBook on sticking to a niche vs a multi topics blog. Not sure if if has made a difference yet but I know it all takes time and I need to use more effort too.
I love Triberr – I’ve been wondering if the premium version is worth it lately, I think that’s how others get their images to show in the Triberr stream as well. I like that feature.
I’ve gotten better at emails but still have more room to improve there too. And I use co-schedule for my headlines now, I think it has made a difference and I spend a lot more time on them. I think it helps in the social shares.
Thanks for all the great tips and reminders here Ryan. I love how you give us examples in this post. Enjoy your time there!
And thank you for the FREE eBooks too.
Hey Ryan,
I’m actually writing an ebook to generate traffic and I’m glad that I stumbled upon this blog post. Generation traffic is actually easy to do once you figure out what message you want to get across and network with the right people.
This took me a while but I figured what my message is and all I had to do was look at myself. From that I projected my situation as well as who I am and lo and behold I started attract people who were like me. I like the idea of attracting traffic instead of chasing it and you’re a prime example of this.
I would have to say I practice half of the tips here. I’m in Triberr but I don’t use it. Instead I started using kingged.Com which has been giving me a lot of referral traffic. Also I’m always sharing and mentioning bloggers. This is a gold mine when you’re consistent with this.
I also started using buffer to promote other posts as well as mine. Bloggers notice this and the serious ones return the favor. This is perfect market reciprocity and it’s the way it should be!
These were some great tips and I appreciate you sharing them! This post will help a lot of people!
Tara, you’re doing it just as right. Keep up the great work.
Yep I’d love if Triberr added that functionality.
Great tips Ryan. I’m sold on the power of blog commenting. It’s really helped me build connections with other bloggers in my niche. Now I promote their stuff and they promote mine. In fact blog commenting is how I first connected with you.
I recently joined Triberr. Reading your guide to Triberr was a big inspiration. I joined a Tribe, shared some stuff and got shares of my own within a couple of days. Shame Triberr doesn’t allow promotion of old blog posts though.
You guys are both doing it right! As a newbie blogger, I really appreciated both of you having stopped by my site after I commented and subscribed to yours. And yup, RTs are so easy! If it’s relevant to my readers/brand, I’ll RT. I’ve been bereft of wifi for a while, but I’m back and excited to work on increasing my traffic through commenting and really engaging, as well as promoting for other people… because karma
Thanks guys!
Thanks so much for the download Jen. Will do, appreciate that.
Awesome Gilbert; do keep it up with blog commenting. If you enjoy it, you’re on the right path.
Adrienne, brilliant point on twitter. You are genuine, authentic, grateful and mindful. Absolutely, we get more noticed, gain clicks, drive traffic and grow sales through that fab platform when we work it like you do. Thanks for the fabulous comment and I will down a few coconuts for you 😉
Such a good point on story telling Jasper. In the beginning it may feel tough because you’re opening up but in the end, you’ll be so happy you did. What a fun thing to do, good old story telling. Thanks for the power comment.
Howdy Ryan,
Good to see you living that good life 😉
Who doesn’t love a good bargain. Dang. Those are some cheap ass bananas! (excuse my word choice 🙂 You’ve been writing a LOT so it’s only right you’re taking some time to promote them properly.
I’ve read more than a couple of them and they are all good and helped me to become a better blogger.
Might have to pick up some more at this bargain price, you just push me to it! 😉
Love your analogy there about chasing instead of attracting traffic.
On top of that, your traffic tips are awesome as always Ryan.
Triberr is an excellent source for making connections and getting traffic and i’ve also been seeing the way Don links out and writes his posts.
Asking influencers to share your post is a BIG one and it WILL get you results fast if you do it right. But making those connections first through commenting etc. before asking is essential like you pointed out.
Headlines, headlines, headlines. I love them. I study them. Can’t get enough of them.
Spending that time on your headline is absolutely not wasted. I like writing a lot of them in that timeframe instead of one, one essentially building on the first – making it better and better.
Telling your own story might not be easy for a lot of us, but when you start doing it – people will draw to you like a magnet because they love authenticity and someone who is strong enough to put it out there – even the uncomfortable.
House sitting sounds pretty fab. to me Ryan….No rent, still living like a king and eating bananas for the cheap? What more could you ask for…hmmm…Maybe some coconut juice…
Great post Ryan and i’m glad to hear you’ll be more outwardly visible in the community 🙂
– Jasper
Hey Ryan,
Well first let me thank you for the mention and how sweet of you too. You were over on my blog earlier today commenting on my latest post and we were talking about being ourselves. I think that’s such a big part of why this works for me because people notice that I genuinely mean it when I thank them for tweeting and retweeting my content and yours. My goodness, do you know how many people are on Twitter and they could have easily just passed our content by? I think if more people were truly appreciative of that fact then they might get noticed a little more. Hey, I’m just saying!!! Just had to give you that scoop my friend.
I also agree with the 13 ways you’ve shared here. I’ve had several new bloggers stop by my place from you having mentioned me so it does work. Am I appreciative of that too? You bet I am, I’ll continue to support and help you as much as I can because I know you’re the real deal and people can benefit from learning from you too.
I do a link roundup once a month so those really are a great way to support and help others. I think when you share content that will really help your audience then that’s when they are the most helpful.
I love Triberr although I think a lot of the bloggers I run across probably don’t enjoy commenting as much as we do. But they will spread your content and I meet plenty of people through Twitter.
Thanks for the free downloads now, I’ll probably take advantage of that as well as share this with my friends so they’ll know they should grab these and learn from you. How generous of you Ryan.
Loved seeing the video and that is a pretty cool house. I like the jungle shooting up in the middle of the house, that’s pretty cool and it’s all open. You don’t see that here that’s for sure. Thanks for the tour.
Enjoy your time in Granada and eat some coconuts for me okay! Love love love them and bananas too! 😉
~Adrienne
I have been doing blog commenting for 1 month now and it is rewarding, aside from what I learn from the blog post I read, I sometimes get referral traffic from it, not much but that is what I enjoy doing reading and commenting.
This was super helpful Ryan and I appreciate the personal touch and tone you bring to the post. I also downloaded your free books from Amazon- what a steal!
I’ve been following for some time and I hope to follow in your traveling footsteps sooner than later. Keep up the good work and let me know how I can help!
Round ups really do rock David. Oh yes, loving the heat and humidity…for now 😉
Ditto on Triberr Don; it does work, but it seems to be a network that works for the hyper targeting crowd. Have a fab week.
Hi Ryan,
First off, I want to thank you for your incredibly kind words and for your friendship. What a blessing!!!!
I can’t imagine how much work you put into all of those ebooks and I’ll be promoting them across my network for you. Just a phenomenal job.
Sometimes you just have to take a break from some things in order to position yourself to come back strong.
You’ve clearly done that and by getting back into the commenting circuit you now have a phenomenal product to offer people. I just downloaded my copy of your books to Kindle and look forward to learning from you.
Triberr…. I have to admit I’ve seen so-so success. It’s not a lot of engagement but maybe I’m in the wrong groups? I spent a lot of time for nearly five months commenting on blogs, on Triberr to virtually no avail with many bloggers.
I think some are definitely seeing it as a tool to just put their content out there and see who bites. I could be wrong?
Great post as always Ryan and thanks again for your very kind words!
~ Don Purdum
I have been apart of a link round up through short guest blog posts that seems to work pretty well! Thanks for the tip Ryan…and I hope you two are enjoying the weather down there!!!!
Do you use these tips?
Which tips work the best for you?