Top 10 Ways to Market Your Blog in 2008

December 28, 2007 | By Valeria Maltoni | Filed Under Bloggers, Blogging, Features, Marketing

As the year draws to a close, it is good to take stock of how far you’ve come with your blog. We all like to think about improvements to implement in the New Year. Rather than offering a list of to dos, I prefer to consider ways to be a marketer that highlight your accomplishments all year around. With that in mind, people notice you when you:

1. Write something fresh, unique, and useful in a human voice — this is as true of your business web site as it is of your blog. You ask time and attention of your readers and visitors, make sure they are both well spent on learning about topics and opinions they cannot find anywhere else. As more companies and businesses start considering blogs as tools to begin online conversations, it is important to remember that along with information that readers find valuable, voice plays a large role in stickiness. Make it personal and human — it is on both counts.

2. Become a trusted source of news and informed opinions — there has been a lot of discussion around the definition and meaning of expert. Personally, I prefer to become a trusted advisor, and so should you. The Internet is a great place to find information on every conceivable thing. You can run searches on virtually any topic and find dozens and dozens of entries. This is good, yet it can also overwhelm. When you act as an informed and reliable source, your experience and expertise also come through.

3. Are a good member of the community — highlight the great content that other people create, become active on other blogs and sites with comments, guest posts, interviews and volunteering advice off line. Blogging can be a solitary activity, especially when you aim to create original content. Get out there and help others and you will find more inspiration to bring what you know to the surface.

4. Show that you can be trusted and that you care — every contract that lasts is based upon trust and care. All it needs is a hand shake and a nod. If you think back at the people you most admire and respect, they are probably the ones you never doubted for a moment. Not everything is up for grabs, relationships are complex. Some things are not blog material, don’t think they should be just because you are there when they happen. Ask permission first, and provide a sanctuary where a face to face encounter is off limits. We are human after all, not everything is and should be for public consumption.

5. Put the work in — the best way to succeed is to be in it for the long term. Why would you expect time and attention from others if you haven’t put them in yourself? People often ask me how I landed a guest blogger gig at FastCompany.com, for example. I started developing off line conversations with the magazine readers seven years ago and offered free monthly events with thought leaders, CEOs and prominent businesses to a group that has grown to include more than 500 members.

6. Get the word out — this may seem a bit simplistic, yet I am surprised at how many people overlook the step. Register your blog or site URL with the search engines. Google, Yahoo, and DMOZ.org. Use a description that captures your niche market and topic — the more specific, the better in helping you stand out. If you are judicious and have asked permission first, it is good to spread the news to friends and colleagues. Remember that while it may be promotion that gets the word out, it is solid and useful content that keeps people coming back for more.

7. Listen to your customers — yes, you may think about them as readers, yet the people who happen upon your site are customers. Learn from them by engaging in the conversation when they comment. A good way to do this is user surveys. Cheap, too. Those are perfect opportunities to listen and adapt to your customers needs and wants. Granted, they visit because you already provide what is appealing and interesting to them. Yet the best way to develop relationships is to listen to what others draw from your content.

8. Think creatively — while it’s good to be a reliable and steady source of a consistent type of content, every so often it’s also great to shake things up a little. Using a different perspective, inviting a guest blogger, or recalibrating your brand (and focus) are all signs that you are putting the effort and care in what you offer.

9. Project the right image — make sure your layout, sidebars and links are all aligned with the purpose and meaning you are trying to convey with your content. Design means business, not only colors, lines and photographs. Choose the appropriate illustrations and shots, those that complement and complete your message.

10. Remain grateful and thankful for the connections you make — each comment, each email and message is a gift, take them as such. Never, ever take your customers for granted. Take the time to acknowledge people and find new ways to be of service to them.

Too often, we look to the latest social media tool or viral marketing technique to grow our blogs. In the end, however, nothing matters unless you are hitting the basics. Blogging still comes down to authenticity, consistency, and interaction with your readers. If you are looking to expand your reach in 2008, this should be your first New Year’s resolution.


About the author: With New World attitude and Italian style, Fast Company expert blogger and Conversation Agent Valeria Maltoni demonstrates her unique talent for synthesizing marketing, public relations, and communications. See how customer relationships are always conversations, and why this knowledge is essential to doing business in the Information Age. Valeria also blogs at the Marketing Profs Daily Fix and Marketing 2.0.

© Copyright 2007 The Blog Herald | Submit post to Blogosphere News | More articles by Valeria Maltoni


Comments

17 Responses to “Top 10 Ways to Market Your Blog in 2008”

  1. Jens P. Berget on December 28th, 2007 5:49 pm

    Very interesting tips, thank you.

    I have been thinking of becoming even more personal when it comes to my writing. Everytime I seem to be a little more personal, more people will visit and more people will comment. It might be something for 2008?

  2. Stumble into the Weekend 12/28 on December 28th, 2007 8:37 pm

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  3. Top 10 Ways to Market Your Blog in 2008 : Blogazine on December 28th, 2007 9:20 pm

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  4. Valeria Maltoni on December 29th, 2007 5:10 pm

    Jens:

    Welcome to the conversation and thank you for taking the time to tell a part of your story. What I’ve read so far at Slymarketing inspires. Keep up the good work, and yes, make it personal — it is.

  5. jhay on December 29th, 2007 6:39 pm

    I’ll be sure to remember this tips come the new year. 2007 has been rather a slow year for my blog.

  6. Jens P. Berget on December 29th, 2007 8:11 pm

    Hi Valeria,

    Thanks for reading my blog and thanks for the comment, that was really inspiring to me :-)

  7. Sunday Links 4 | Earn Blogger on December 30th, 2007 2:29 am

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  8. Valeria Maltoni on December 30th, 2007 10:24 am

    Welcome to the conversation, Julius. I see you are quite eclectic, that is a mind opening thing, yet it can become a bit confusing for your readers. Perhaps a more focused approach on a point of view and a way to look at issues in 2008? You are very active in a number of organizations. I wonder if your passion shines through in your publication.

  9. RajaBLog.info on December 30th, 2007 11:03 am

    As the year draws to a close, it is good to take stock of how far you’ve come with your blog. We all like to think about improvements to implement in the New Year. Rather than offering a list of to dos, I prefer to consider ways to be a marketer that highlight your accomplishments all year around

    I’ll take both. Do a list and also apply what you said here. Both are great for 2008 :D

  10. Mansi on December 30th, 2007 3:09 pm

    These are really great tips to reflect upon…bloggers tend to start taking things for granted, and sometimes forget the importance of good content vs lots of content…I’ll try to focus my energy so I meet these goals:)

    -Mansi

  11. tech.twomadgeeks.com » Ways To Market Your Blog In 2008 on December 30th, 2007 4:24 pm

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  12. Valeria Maltoni on December 30th, 2007 6:01 pm

    Mansi:

    Welcome to the conversation. “Food and fun” looks like a very comfortable space filled with the richness of color and even aroma. If we think about it, many major events in our lives revolve around food. There is also the communal atmosphere created by the hospitality of a good meal. Blogs have the opportunity to be food for the mind.

  13. Best Blog Posts about blogging (2007) | Blogging Bytes on December 31st, 2007 10:16 pm

    [...] 40 Practical Tips 9. Resources for Video Blogging 10. 7 Habits of Highly Efficient Bloggers 11. Top 10 Ways to Market Your Blog in 2008 12. Blogging Tips for Beginners 13. 11 Ways to Find New RSS Subscribers for Your Blog 14. 8 Steps [...]

  14. Big List of 2008 Prediction & Resolution Posts » Small Business SEM on January 1st, 2008 7:21 pm

    [...] Top 10 Ways to Market Your Blog in 2008 [...]

  15. Какво ни очаква през 2008 on January 3rd, 2008 12:08 pm

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  16. webrex on March 11th, 2008 4:21 am

    Good tips to start with as a newbie.Thanks for the post.

    http://www.webrexia.com

  17. linksfactory on May 13th, 2008 12:45 pm

    Great tips thanks alot! really helped me because i am new to blogging and you gave real simple but affective methods!!

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