Categories: Blogging

Problogger’s got another Group Writing Project going, this time focusing on lists. And to make the deal even sweeter, they’re giving away prizes. Click here to learn more. Anyway, I participated, and here’s my submission.

Blog exchanges. Most bloggers use them. They’re a great way to get hits for your blog. But hits don’t necessarily translate to readers. In fact, most of your “visitors” will stare at your blog for a split second, then go back to watching the timer for the next 30 seconds or so. And even less will care to comment. But not to worry my friends. Here are 20 ways to build genuine traffic (in no particular order).

1. Use Technorati - This works best if you publish a post while the topic is still hot.
2. Host “hot” images - Heavily searched for after pictures will attract visitors to your blog, and many will read the post relating to the picture.
3. Use MySpace - From movies to bands, MySpace is being used heavily to draw people’s attention. Why not do the same for your blog?
4. Join webrings - Most webrings attract a small amount of traffic, but they’re a heck of a lot better than credits. And they never run out!
5. Comment on related posts - If you post on a topic, use Google Blogsearch or Technorati to find related posts and comment on them.
6. Guest posting - Write a guest post for someone or allow your readers to write a guest post for you. Writing for someone will gain you a wider audience and allowing your readers to write a guest post for you will make them feel as if you are interested in what they have to say.
7. Get involved in the Blogosphere - Write articles for Global Voices, participate in events such as the Blogathon and even group writing projects such as this one.
8. Submit articles to Del.icio.us - If it doesn’t work at first, keep trying. Make sure you submit your best articles.
9. Comment on Technorati Top 100 blogs - These blogs are obviously very popular, and some of their readership might spill over to you.
10. Join Blog Carnivals - Blog Carnivals such as this one are a great way to gain like-minded readers, as they pool related topics into a “carnival.”
11. Return comments - One of the easiest ways to gain genuine traffic. If some leaves a comment, return the favour.
12. Submit an article to digg - Digg is mainly for techies, so it’s best to submit something of that nature. Or, if you have a post that relates to a heavily dugg topic, post a link to it in the comments.
13. Encourage distribution of your content - Leave links at the end of your posts to submit them to various social bookmarking sites, email, etc.
14. Submit an article to Boing Boing - This will be difficult indeed, but if it succeeds, the traffic will be worth it.
15. Do link exchanges - Not with n00b blogs, but with serious blogs with serious readers. A blog with no comments on virtually all its posts is not a good candidate.
16. Leave links everywhere! - Seriously, flood the Internet with them! Someone will eventually click.
17. Syndicate - Most bloggers have implemented syndication of their blogs. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?
18. Encourage readers to return - Once someone leaves your blog, there’s no gurantee he/she is coming back, so leave options open for them to return, such as adding you to their favourites.
19. Break the news - Difficult, but worth it.

And finally, the last (and probably the most important tip),
20. Write good posts - Good content always attracts traffic.

Whew! Quite a list. I hope these tips will help you to boot the blog exchange, or at least use it less.