Writing your own blog is hard work. Unless you have some spare time and love to write, keeping up with your blog fast becomes a big chore. A problem I've experienced first-hand. And writing your blog is just the beginning. To get online exposure, you need to promote your blog. That takes time, effort and creativity. For example, here are 25 tips from Lee Odden on how to market your blog.
If I could start over with this blog, I wouldn't do it all. Instead of marketing my own blog, I would spend the time building guest blogging relationships with the leading bloggers in my area of expertise, (marketing and technology).
There are several benefits to being a guest blogger:
* It's a great way to get exposure for your company or your services if you are a consultant.
* You receive quality links back to your site which will improve your organic rankings on Google.
* You/your company will be viewed as an authority - and this leads to offers for speaking gigs, interviews, coverage in offline media, etc.
* Unless you have one of the leading blogs, you'll reach more people than you could through your own blog.
* You'll build valuable relationships with bloggers who will follow, and comment on, your company.
To get started as a guest blogger, first identify blogs where you could contribute great copy. Start by reading all the blogs in your industry. You can search for blogs that accept guest bloggers in your industry by using the following search string:
"your keyword" "submit * article" OR "submit * articles" OR "add * article" OR "add * articles" OR "featured writer" OR
"featured writers" OR "featured author" OR "featured authors" OR "featured contributor" OR "featured blogger" OR "guest
author" OR "guest writer" OR "guest blogger" OR "guest post" OR "submit * tutorial"
For example, if you were searching for guest blogging opportunities on business software blogs, you would replace "your keyword" with "business software".
You would then repeat the search for variations and related topics such as, "ERP", "software applications", "business management", etc.
Sort through the results to find blogs that are well-read and in your area of expertise. You can get the bloggers attention by writing interesting/relevent comments. Often the blogger will contact you to discuss, opening the door to a guest writing gig. Or, write to the blogger offering to do a guest post on a topic that is highly relevant to the blogs readers.
For many writers, being a guest blogger gives you greater returns than managing your own blog.
Guest blogging would be a much better option for me, one that I'll be actively exploring in 2008. As for this poor, neglected blog? I don't have the heart to kill it -- yet.
