If you’re like me, you probably tend to focus on promoting your blog in its entirety. After all, you’ve worked on the design and layout, installed widgets and plugins, backed up files and databases–you’re presenting the whole package. When I hand out a business card, it’s printed with my blog’s URL, not a link to a specific post.
But what about promoting individual posts? For many bloggers, not everything we write covers the same topic. Personally, I write about fashion, social media, graphic and web design, random life events…all of those things may appeal to different types of readers.
So, what’s the best way to attract new readers from distinct audiences? If you promote individual posts, you can speak to several different niches and possibly gain some loyal readers in the process!
Here are a few ideas:
1. Do a keyword search and find other blogs that focus on your topic. Leave a comment on a particularly relevant article, or send a friendly, short email to the webmaster letting them know your post might be useful to their readers. You might also ask their opinion about the information you’ve provided.
2. Find a niche community focused on your topic and add a handful of helpful comments. Include a link to your post in your signature.
3. Don’t underestimate the old faithful trinity: Digg, Stumble, and Technorati.
4. Do a Twitter search and find five people tweeting about your subject. @ reply to them with a quick, personal response to their tweet and a shortened link to your post. If they respond, start a conversation and/or thank them.
5. Don’t forget about the other trinity: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Post, tweet, and update.
6. Speaking of LinkedIn, search the Questions and Answers section for keywords related to your topic. Add your helpful response and a link to your post to someone’s question.
7. This sounds crazy, but talk to actual real-life people about your article. They can be people you know, or mere acquaintances, but if you think your post can help them, let them know. Via phone. Or (gasp!) in person.
8. Include a link in your email signature. Sell it by including a teaser question (“Do you need a professional header for your blog?”) and a clear call to action (“Read this post for instructions on creating a beautiful header in 20 minutes”).
9. Add a link to the post in the footer of your RSS feed. Remember to include descriptive anchor text.
10. Remember the “multiple outposts” theory? Post your article somewhere else, either as a teaser or in its entirety (for example, as a blog post in a Ning community). If it’s good, people will click on the link to your site/profile to see what else you have to say.
You may have noticed a common thread in all of the above tips: be helpful. It’s not about spamming poor, unsuspecting internet victims, it’s about letting people who might be interested in the information you provide know that you can assist them.
How do you promote your posts? Any tips to add?
