Last week I explained how to write an amazing blog post. Now, it’s time to find out what to do with all those articles you’ve written. Let’s talk about promoting your blog.
Isn’t writing a blog enough?
Sadly, the answer is no. Even a well-crafted blog post packed full of great content won’t help your business if no one knows it’s there. The phrase “build it and they will come” doesn’t apply to blogging so you need to be proactive. However, it’s likely you already have to tools to do it – all that’s needed is a little time.
Get sharing
Your Facebook fans and Twitter followers are crying out for useful information so make sure you give it to them. If you’re pushed for time, link your blog to your social media profiles so when a new post appears, an update or tweet is published. Although this makes life easy, you run the risk of sounding like a robot. A better way to engage your followers is by writing a message yourself, including hashtags on Twitter and Google+. Don’t neglect your LinkedIn profile either.
The best time to share on social platforms is during the day between 8am and 7pm (including Saturday and Sunday). When you’re planning a post, think about when people are likely to be checking Twitter e.g. during their lunch break or on the train home. Tools like HootSuite let you schedule posts so you don’t need to be sat at your computer all day.
Make use of Pinterest
I love this image sharing site – and it’s also a great place to promote your blog. Pin images from your article, making sure they link back to your website. You could also create a board for the blog topic. Written about food? Find pictures of delicious dishes and recipes and curate them on a ‘Yummy things’ board. Although not your own content, people visiting your page will see you’re passionate about what you’re talking about.
Things to remember
There are websites like Reddit and StumbleUpon that let you submit links. While these are definitely a way to get your blog posts out there, be mindful of the fact their function is to provide content of interest to their users. Using these websites just to promote your business is frowned upon and you could find yourself in hot water if you do it too much.
As I mentioned in part one of this blogging guide, the best blogs answer a question, provide information or solve a problem. When you promote your posts, do so with the intention of helping readers, not bombarding them with links to your website. That’s the secret of blogging success.
Hopefully you have found all this helpful. Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or below in the comments if there are other topics you’d like help with.