Lately, I’ve gotten a few emails asking me the best way to launch a blog.
I think there must be a lot of different ways to do it and I’m not sure mine is the best approach. In fact, my blog had been launched for about five months before I decided to try and accelerate growth in number of readers.
Here’s what I did:
First of all, I joined Dani’s Blog Book Tour, which is a free class run through Yahoo Groups. You may not have the time for this (and she’s just started a brand new class…a week ago, I think), but I think her site and the sites she links to are very helpful: http://blogbooktours.blogspot.com/
My blog design is roughly laid out in a style that she had recommended. One important part of blogs is a follower function–it helps people feel they belong to your blog and it’s a spot for them to regularly visit. I have the Google follower widget on there (easy enough to install) and the Networked Blogs (Facebook) follower widget (harder to install, but still doable.)
The next thing I did was to visit blogs of other authors. I located many of those authors from the blogrolls of high-volume writing blogs I’d found online–places with lots of hits each day. I was looking for blogs to follow that posted regularly (usually at least 1-3 days a week), had loyal followers, and focused on topics that were important to writers or readers. When the blogs posted updates, I’d read them and comment.
After a while, I had a lot of regular commenters and also a lot of online friends. It does get time consuming to visit everyone. What I decided to do was to add all the blogs I followed to a Google Reader via RSS feeds. Then I organized my friends’ feeds by days of the week: I have a MWF folder and a T/Th folder, etc. With this method, I hoped I could ensure I visited everyone at least once or twice a week and keep up my online friendships.
If you’re not on Facebook, I’d have to recommend that you look at joining up. You can set up a feed from your blog to your Facebook profile page–I do get lots of readers through Networked Blogs. How do you find writers on Facebook? Try going to the Facebook page of one of the writers whose blog you follow. Then go to their friends page and start following their friends. Nearly all of my friends on Facebook are writers (I’m on Facebook at Elizabeth Spann Craig Author).
In addition, I’d recommend tweeting your posts–with catchy headlines. It’s better not to over-promote on Twitter—you can keep from doing that by tweeting especially good posts of your blogging friends, too. It’s all about sharing content on Twitter.
If you only post a couple of days a week, I’d try to post that fact in the sidebar: Posting Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays…please pop by! That way people know when to expect a new post from you.
I’d also recommend doing a few guest posts and link back to your own blog…after you get your feet wet and get the blog up and running for a while.
Do y’all have any tips for blog launching or reader-building?
Yes, I’m on the road again—virtually. Got to love blog touring—and it’s so easy on my minivan! :) Today I’m also at the Write Chic blog, with the top 5 writing tools and why they make my list. Hope you’ll catch up with me tomorrow at Terry’s Place where I’m covering “Working Around Absent Muses—Tips for Completing Your Manuscript.”
Elizabeth – I really like your blogging ideas, and they’ve obviously been successful for you. You have a superb blog! I would just emphasize how important the sense of community is. Responding to others’ comments on your blog, and being a presence on others’ blogs and on Twitter and other social networks are all important ways that you can show you’re part of the blogging community.
Your tips and suggestions are always very helpful.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I was at RomCon, and a couple of major romance bloggers were there sharing tips. “Do It” was the biggest one. Another tip was “schedule/post in advance” — given by Sue Grimshaw who runs the Borders romance readers blog and had a biking accident and broke her hip. For a personal blog, you probably don’t have to go as far as she does (a month or more).
For my blog, I’ve found that if I leave comments on other blogs, I’ll get some increased visitors. I take 30 minutes to an hour in the morning to blog crawl.
I think you covered all the key bases, Elizabeth.
Karen
I wish I’d read this advice before I started blogging. I had no clue. None. I’d read a grand total of 3 or 4 posts on the blogs of my 2 friends. That’s it. Didn’t have a clue. But I learned along the way :)
I still haven’t joined Facebook. One of these days… :)
I recommend placing as a finalist in one of Nate Bransford’s blog contests as a means to jump-start your blog. Hey… worked for me, right?
Okay, that’s a bit self-aggrandizing. Ignore that. (Okay, don’t. I’m still proud of that.) But it does help to get out there and participate. Enter blog contests, tweet about them, interact with the contest hosts, etc. It’s fun, you can win free stuff, and your name gets out there. What’s not to like?
You mentioned the most important thing – following and commenting on other blogs!
Thanks so much for the link and information!
Giggles and Guns
Your suggestions are the best. Follow and be followed. Also, have something interesting to read and include an image. It got me back into photography which I also like to share. I find so much support in the blogging world. I’m so glad that I joined in!
One of the things I enjoy about blogging is that it’s just a hobby, and I’m allowed to me messy and unstructured (different from my job). Therefore, my blog is just a big mess, a mix of past and present diary, fiction and debate with myself. I have no rules, but in practice, the diary stuff tend to be written in 1st person, and the fiction in 3rd person … but there are exceptions >:)
Anyway, many good hints here, Elizabeth. I’ll keep it in mind, in case I become serious >:)))
Cold As Heaven
I think content is very important – besides the obvious comment/reply things like everyone else is saying! :) For example my blog has a very specific theme so I may not have as many followers as if I’d just done a “writing advice” type blog. Not that I’d change it for the world! I love it and I’ve met so many amazing people!
Elizabeth-
I’d also add that one of the reasons for your success in blogging (from a reader’s point of view) is that you provide awesome, focused content. I know when I come here I’ll usually come away with a great piece of advice or tidbit!
You have a great blog, Elizabeth.
I haven’t figured out the Facebook Networked blogs thing. I’m fairly new to FB. Will have to see if I can figure out what it is, how you create a network, and how to put it up.
I agree with you. One of the best ways to grow your commenters is to comment on other blogs.
I was also part of one of Dani’s groups and I feel like it was one of the things that helped me the most – I learned so much, made friends, obtained followers, and developed the confidence to leave comments on other bloggers’ posts.
Thanks for the ideas and suggestions, Elizabeth. I second the recommendation for Dani’s classes. I learned a lot from hanging out with that group for a while.
I do have trouble keeping up with visiting the blogs I follow. I ask myself, “Visit blogs or write? Hmmmm?” Since I am on a deadline with a book, I will be writing more, but hate to miss the interaction with the online friends.
Great tips all around!
I’ve been blogging a little over five months now, and one thing that really seems to keep people coming back is treating it more as a dialogue than me standing up on my soapbox blathering about something. I try to throw out a question that readers can respond to in the comments, and I always try to respond right there in the comments trail. I’ve heard from a lot of regular visitors that this is one thing that keeps them coming back, and I really love the opportunity to interact with people on that level.
Thanks for the excellent post!
Tawna
No matter what it is you do, you have a really nice blog! One of those I have to visit at least every second day, partly because I have always felt welcome here :D
The biggest thing you can do is read and comment on other blogs. At least that’s what I did until I was reading about 100 blogs/day. I don’t do nearly that now, but it’s how I built my readership and following.
Oh, and write posts your audience wants to read. That helps too.
And contests that are meaningful can draw in new readers as well.
Great tips. Now I need to find the time to implement them. :)
I’ve awarded you with a versatile blogger award on my blog. http://maryrussel.blogspot.com
I love your blog because you give us so many wonderful tips on how to have a successful blog. Thanks for this post.
CD
Elizabeth-great advice, and to everyone cruising for advice–what Elizabeth is doing is GOLDEN–she does all this social networking stuff right!
I think begging your friends can’t hurt, too *shifty* But you hit the big ones! I have had my biggest gains by PARTICIPATING in stuff–the NaBloWriMo, or Blogging A to Z. They are just a good way to see a lot of new stuff (have a lot of people see you) and pick up followers.
Simon–I didn’t know that about you and Bransford! That’s really cool. I love the way he shares info with the writing community. Good point about
contests–that’s a great way to interact and make friends.
Diane– Which you do really well!
Margot–You’re so right. And it’s so wonderful to be part of the community.
Mary–Thanks for coming by!
Mason–Thanks!
Terry–I’d LOVE to schedule a month out. I’ve gotten too busy to get far ahead with my blogging, but I do have one or two posts I could run in case of
emergency.
Karen–Thanks! And you’re one of my Blog Book Tour friends, too–great class. :)
Mary–I’m glad you did, too! I’d love to do more photography. Maybe some day I can mess around with it some more.
Cold As Heaven–I think, in your case, it makes sense to be more free-form with it. Especially since you’ve got enough rules and regulations from your
work.
Lisa–I think you’re right. The important thing is good content, no matter what format or theme we choose for the blog. :)
Jemi–You learned really well! And Facebook is great, but it’s definitely a time suck if we let it be.
Lisa–Thanks so much! And I think you’re right that content is a big part of a blog’s success.
Helen–If you remind me offline, I can shoot you a how-to video on Networked Blogs that’s a step-by-step.
Jane–It was a great class, wasn’t it? :) Y’all, Jane was my classmate last year when I took the class. We had a great time.
Tawna–I agreee with you on the dialogue aspect…it’s why I comment back individually, too. Usually I comment just a little *earlier* than I am today, but
that’s the crazy kind of day I’ve had.
Elana–Content and contests and blog hopping! Sounds like the perfect plan. :)
maryrussel–Thanks so much! I’ll pop over there! :)
Maryann–One thing that’s helped me out (because I was like you and *wanted* to visit a lot of blogs, but also needed to balance that with writing time) is
that I divided my Google Reader into folders–M/W/F and T/Th and Sat/Sun. It really helps me keep straight which blogs I’ve visited and which I’ve yet to
visit. :)
Dorte–Thanks so much! I feel the same at yours. :) It’s my home away from home in Denmark!
Clarissa–Thank you! And you do, too–amazing posts for writers on improving our writing.
Hart–Good point! And by participating in those things, you’re making *new* online friends. And that’s a process that I think is really important to continue–it’s not like, “Oh, I have X number of followers, so I’m done.” It’s so nice to add folks to the mix and get new perspectives.
Simon–I didn’t know that about you and Bransford! That’s really cool. I love the way he shares info with the writing community. Good point about
contests–that’s a great way to interact and make friends.
Diane– Which you do really well!
Margot–You’re so right. And it’s so wonderful to be part of the community.
Mary–Thanks for coming by!
Mason–Thanks!
Terry–I’d LOVE to schedule a month out. I’ve gotten too busy to get far ahead with my blogging, but I do have one or two posts I could run in case of
emergency.
Karen–Thanks! And you’re one of my Blog Book Tour friends, too–great class. :)
Mary–I’m glad you did, too! I’d love to do more photography. Maybe some day I can mess around with it some more.
Cold As Heaven–I think, in your case, it makes sense to be more free-form with it. Especially since you’ve got enough rules and regulations from your
work.
Lisa–I think you’re right. The important thing is good content, no matter what format or theme we choose for the blog. :)
Jemi–You learned really well! And Facebook is great, but it’s definitely a time suck if we let it be.
Lisa–Thanks so much! And I think you’re right that content is a big part of a blog’s success.
Helen–If you remind me offline, I can shoot you a how-to video on Networked Blogs that’s a step-by-step.
Jane–It was a great class, wasn’t it? :) Y’all, Jane was my classmate last year when I took the class. We had a great time.
Tawna–I agreee with you on the dialogue aspect…it’s why I comment back individually, too. Usually I comment just a little *earlier* than I am today, but
that’s the crazy kind of day I’ve had.
Elana–Content and contests and blog hopping! Sounds like the perfect plan. :)
maryrussel–Thanks so much! I’ll pop over there! :)
Maryann–One thing that’s helped me out (because I was like you and *wanted* to visit a lot of blogs, but also needed to balance that with writing time) is
that I divided my Google Reader into folders–M/W/F and T/Th and Sat/Sun. It really helps me keep straight which blogs I’ve visited and which I’ve yet to
visit. :)
Dorte–Thanks so much! I feel the same at yours. :) It’s my home away from home in Denmark!
Clarissa–Thank you! And you do, too–amazing posts for writers on improving our writing.
Hart–Good point! And by participating in those things, you’re making *new* online friends. And that’s a process that I think is really important to continue–it’s not like, “Oh, I have X number of followers, so I’m done.” It’s so nice to add folks to the mix and get new perspectives.
This is excellent advice for anyone who is starting a blog. I’ll steer some of my friends who are taking the plunge your way!
This came right in time! Just started my mystery blog yesterday (cr-mysteries.blogspot.com)! thanks!!
Excellent post! Thanks for sharing your tips.
Some great advice.
I have to agree with a few of the comments here that you have to be interactive. You have to give comments and be supportive of others if you want them to be supportive of you. That doesn’t mean write ‘nice post’ at the end of every blog you see but you need to engage in some good give and take discussions with people and build relationships.
Thanks so much for sharing your advice.
I found another great way to make a lot of new friends real fast is to take part in a blog challenge. I did Arlee Bird’s A to Z Blog Challenge in April (his blog is “tossing it out”). I love the new bloggers I met this way.