How to Quadruple Your Blog Traffic in a Single Day
Bradley wanted to know.
Did it work?
Yup, Bradley, it worked. By writing a List Post, I quadrupled my blog traffic in a single day.
Okay, maybe it's not that simple. Maybe it's really because...
1. I included the Dalai Lama in that post.
2. These famous people were included: Melissa, ProBlogger, Shel Israel, Seth Godin, Brian Clark, Glynn Young, Maureen Doallas, Dan King, Katdish, Billy Coffey, and Marcus Goodyear.
3. I included a major Current Event: Super Saver Triumphs at Kentucky Derby.
4. Dan King, Master of All Things Twitter and Facebook, tweeted and Facebooked the post.
5. Not only did Dan King tweet the post, but these really cool people of obvious good taste did too: @dukeslee, @nathalie101, @salamicat, @doallas, @billycoffey, @SandraHeskaKing, @gyoung9751, and @katdish.
6. The headline was a bit unusual: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog: The Dalai Lama Effect.
7. The post is part of a group project. (Note, there are lots of great group writing project opportunities at HighCallingBlogs all the time. From poetry and photography celebrations to book clubs and holiday special projects.)
8. It was just meant to be. :)
All that said, Bradley, do you think Julia Cameron would be offended if I write everything in lists now? Because I'm thinking it is my ticket to Blog Big Time.
UPDATE (THANKS FOR REMINDING ME, BRADLEY)
I meant to say the same thing Bradley just said in the comments. One day of big traffic does not a difference make! Ah, but if we can convert those random visitors into followers, well. ;-) Anyway, Bradley, you must stop by Green Inventions on Friday, when I will reveal the subtle secret of how to accomplish this extremely important undercover task.
Goblets Multiplied Photo, by L.L. Barkat.
Labels: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, increasing blog traffic
posted by L.L. Barkat at 9:44 AM
19 Comments:
Congratulations! Now. Can you sustain and grow it for the next 12 months? in other words, what's the point of getting random traffic to our blog post of random lists?
You can bring people to your blog with certain key words, but those aren't folks who will return with any regularity. Anytime I use the word "atheism", I get extra traffic, but mostly from folks looking to pick a fight.
Content, baby. Content!
What would be most interesting would be for someone to be transparent enough to share their exact traffic numbers and how they trend over time, based on certain types of activities.
Why, Bradley, how kind of you to offer. ;-)
Lists? The world's awash in lists. There are "honey-gotta-do" lists, 10 greatest hits lists, 25 best whatever lists, lists of the never achieved, best ranters lists, and so on. Gotta have a gimmick if you're going to turn content into lists that holds onto your traffic. I'd come for a list titled "My Best 25 First Lines of Poetry" but not for just something random.
I definitely agree that quality content is still the king. But LL's lists are just awesome! Especially since they seem to provide lots of Google-juice (links) back to my site! LOL!
I'd be happy to share my numbers as we get through this. I actually want to chart some stuff out over time, and will follow trends well after this project.
I definitely agree that just participating in something like this will provide an initial boost, so I want to see how sustainable it is...
Maureen, so are you saying you don't want me to become List Lady? Shoot. And I was so prepared to become that woman. ;-) On the serious side, I think too many people spend too much time worrying about this stuff. Which is why I am taking the opportunity to have fun with these and be a little snarky!
Dan, lol. Maybe it is YOU and not the Dalai, who will be the key to my Blog Fame! :) In my experience, these kinds of projects give a temporary boost and maybe a few new relationships...
But then, isn't that really worth it? (I'm thinking of the story you shared, Maureen, over on Green Inventions the other day. If it hadn't been for the Random Acts of Poetry projects, you wouldn't be blogging, and we wouldn't have the great privilege to know you.)
I'm pretty sure that I have the market cornered on offending Julia Cameron.
But if you want to take a crack at it . . .
Oh, Lyla, LOL!! :)
Laura,
Would you ever comment on where writing is taking us in the blog world as opposed to someone like Wendell Berry and how he writes?
Can you address what is happening
to the next generation in how they write and even think , via using technology vs. a pen and paper?
I asked Lauren Winner these questions and she smiled. She ran out of time!
I love your blog by the way and the blog world. I love that you can have interaction with readers.
Keep writing !
On the serious side, I think too many people spend too much time worrying about this stuff. Which is why I am taking the opportunity to have fun with these and be a little snarky!
L.L.
I'm kind of a stick in the mud,and I took you seriously. I didn't know you were just having a little fun. A little frolic, so to speak. And I'm not much "into" being a little snarky.
There are words words words words all over the internet. Words that heal, words that comfort. Words that break, words that disappoint, words that turn us off. Words that are meant to be fun but some of the somebodies don't see the "play," only the words.
I would not follow a link that had the Dalai Lama in it, or other celebrities chosen for their names but not deep or thoughtful "content." My thought -- taking you seriously -- was that it must be more important to you to win a popularity contest, to be successful and maybe you'd sell more books that way, than it was to "feed the Lord's sheep."
The wrong sort of words make me feel like running away to hide. I choose obscurity (but with God) over popularity in the ways of the world. What do I need? Show me God's beautiful world or people, or his own wonderfulness. Or bind up my wounds or encourage me to keep going. (Life is hard, for me. And I don't really know the meaning of success, as the world might define it.) Hold my hand, or charm my heart with kindness. Remind me of the value of perseverance and patience and asking God to keep me in his will. Enchant my mind with wonderful weavings of prose or poetry that will build me up.
Over at Ann Voskamp's today, she has the quote: "When we break each other -- we break Jesus."
Bonnie, I would be happy to... I wonder what you think though... as a teacher, I bet you have so much to offer to this conversation! Write about it, and I will link to you. :) (And sometime I promise to try to address it too. Just remind me. :)
Kingfisher, I am so sorry I seem to have disappointed you deeply. I am a player-with-words. Sometimes I play poetic, sometimes silly. I surely don't want to hurt you or anyone else with my words. Know that. For me, the reason I can risk being silly is exactly because I am not in a popularity contest. Bloggers who are in contest with one another often fear playing with their "main identity." Okay, so now you know, I have many sides. And one is terribly silly. But one is deeply poetic. I won't mind if you stay to that side of me. :)
I am grateful for you, L.L. -- all the beautiful facets of of you...
L.L.
I don’t know how to be silly;
Life’s handed out bruises,
All splashed willy-nilly;
I can’t tell ”real” from satire –
That’s not my best attire!
Next time you yearn to be silly,
Drop a hint of mind’s cruises,
That you’re going willy-nilly.
Then mayhap return, next post, with attire
That fulfills my deep God-desire!
May His Light shine yet through my leaky pot.
Anyone’s kindness suffuses dull spot.
I savor the gifts the King has brought.
For he is really All that I’ve got.
Kingfisher, you have a touch of whimsy in you. :) I am going to (seriously :) recommend that you stay away from my Green Inventions blog for the next 28 or so days. It's going to be terribly silly over there for the duration of the project.
I can't promise I'll never be silly here. But I promise I will always be as genuine as I can be (none of us has that totally wrapped up, I think). And I appreciate your grace for the days when I show those sides that aren't your favorite. In fact, I appreciate your grace as expressed right now in your sweet poem.
Love,
LL
okay, I should have read this earlier.
I used the word "braless" today.
could be some interesting traffic.
they will not be looking to gaze at my flower pics
I can't imagine having a huge influx of traffic to my blog for any reason, but I am sure that lists or no lists I will remain a faithful follower here.
I just really like it here!
I will personally come to your house and tell you off if you become a "list lady". I'm with Maureen on that one. Unless, of course, the poetry thing.
And I love the playful.
Deb... lol. Well, tell me if you get blocked from the HCB feeds for that. ;-)
Linda... the nice thing is that your house has lots of warmth to go round if they come unannounced. :)
Laura... here are the 3 reasons why you are not allowed to tell me off... ;-)
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