Comment posted on My Perfect Recipe to Building a Popular Blog - Step by Step by Ryan Biddulph
Hi Ana,
Thanks for sharing the comprehensive breakdown on building a well read blog.
One of the many gems is your mention of building relationships on social networks instead of trying to get higher numbers, whether they be followers or friends.
Numbers won’t share you stuff. Numbers don’t comment on your blog. People who you build meaningful relationships with, will.
The best form of self-promotion is promoting others. Expands your presence much more quickly.
RB
Recent comments by Ryan Biddulph
- This Is Not Your Everyday SEO
Hi Lisa,You hit on all of my key “rules of engagement.”
Interacting with your audience builds your audience. Other bloggers frequently check the comments section to see if they are dealing with a live, in the flesh blogger. If you have a pulse and show it be engaging you will grow a community.
Thanks for sharing your insight.
RB
- Link Intelligence: What Goldilocks Can Teach You About Linking Out
Hi Ana,Food for thought here. In the past I’ve barely included links for the reasons you mentioned and my discriminate tastes haven’t changed. Doing OK in this area.
It’s simple to become link happy, feeling it’s OK to link to wherever you want.
It pays to think before you link
Thanks for sharing your insight.
RB
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I am a wife to a great husband of 13 years (here ya go, now I have to make changes to this sentence once a year), a mother to a beautiful and, no doubt, genius little girl, and a successful internet entrepreneur. I also devoted my life to Jesus Christ many years ago, and He remains my true priority, focus, and hope.
{ 79 comments }
Great Post Ana!!
The fact that this is the 79th comment and my Tweet was the 93rd speaks volumes for your awesomeness and the fact that you CLEARLY need to be listened to.
Thanks for keeping me on my toes Ana
Alex´s last blog ..The Keyword Blogger Found his Niche! Like it
This is a great post. Great for newbies. Great for oldies (like me). Sometimes we just need to have it all in front of us to think about it again. I’ll refer to this again and again. Great pillar content!
Alison Moore Smith@Easy Blog Setup´s last blog ..How to Deal with Negative Blog Comments
Thanks so much, Alison! That’s what happens when I can’t stop myself from talking too much.
It’s called “pillar content”.
Ana
Hi Ana,
Once again, I check my e-mail inbox and find a great blog post from you. It had links to so many other great posts my head is spinning! I immiediately grabbed a piece of paper and started taking notes. As soon as I am finished with this comment, I am going to start taking action on some of your suggestions. I would like to be a “doer” in the new coming year!
Alicia Jay´s last blog ..My Non-Resolution- Stop with the “Don’t” Thoughts- Start with the “Do” Thoughts
Thanks so much, Alicia, for reading commenting, and… doing!
Here’s to the doers of 2011!
Ana
Hello Ana,
Love your recipe. This will be extremely helpful for looking over my blog to see what I need to improve on and put in the missing ingredients. Thank you so much!
Tomas
Tomas Kirk´s last blog ..Numis Network December Coin of the Month – 2011 Australian Koala
Definitely, Tomas - truly hope these tips will enhance your blog like they did mine.
Ana
Great tips Ana, certainly going to make use of them in the new year to further my blog.
Chris - The Aussie Nomad´s last blog ..Paying My Respects At Auschwitz
Thanks, Chris - glad you enjoyed them and welcome to my blog!
Ana
Hi Ana
I had to smile when I read…
“In the beginning, there was… hard work”
And I wanted to add… and then more hard work and then some more hard work… LOL
Only joking, thanks for the super tips, I’ll let you know how things work out in 2011.
Happy New Year
Keith Davis@Public Speaking and Presentations´s last blog ..Look for the Shining Eyes
Hard work - no question about it, Keith. Of course it always helps when you actually enjoy it as well.
Here I am sitting in front of my computer 3 hours before midnight on New Year’s eve… and loving every minute of it!
Happy New Year to you to, Keith. Hope to see more of you on my blog in 2011.
Ana
Hi Ana,
Perfect recipe! Wonderful breakdown of how to build a popular blog. Guest posting is something that I will be focusing on in the new year.
Thank you so much for your awesome posts in 2010. Look forward to more in 2011!
Hugs,
Mavis
Mavis Nong @ Free Marketing Training´s last blog ..Blog Commenting – From Zero to 70 Comments In One Day!
You are so welcome, Mavis, and thanks for supporting me with your comments and continuous encouragement!
Ana
Great blog Ana, you have some of the best tips out there for us new bloggers. Keep up the great work, Thanks
Ian Belanger´s last blog ..Network Marketing Online Blueprint Day 2- These Are The Steps You Need To Take In Order To Get Started And Become Successful In Internet Network Marketing
Happy New Year, Ian, and thank you!
Ana
Hi Ana
As always another thought provoking post, commenting I think is an essential way of driving traffic, continual education is also really important, the goal posts keep moving in terms of new ideas and we ignore them at our peril
I have to admit that to date I have done next to nothing with Facebook so that has to change and fast, at least my plans for 2011 are fairly set, not cast in stone because the online world moves too fast for that
Thanks for sharing Tony
Tony Clingan´s last blog ..“Forum Marketing Old Hat Or Still Highly Relevant”
We definitely have to make sure to use the current strategies while they still work, Tony.
As you pointed out, the online world evolves so quickly that we need to keep up with it without getting behind.
Always a challenge, isn’t it?
Ana
I definitely need to finish up my “about me” page and get my guest posting together. Guest posting will be on my regular to do list for the new year. I love the tip about blog commenting! It’s working out great for me
That’s definitely one of the best way to harness FB’s power. Great Post Ana!
Kevin´s last blog ..Don’t Pay For SEO Services! Free SEO Report in Minutes!
Thanks so much, Kevin.
I am also planning on guest posting more in 2011, but then again I do need sleep occasionally.
It does bring the best, most targeted traffic to my blog though, that’s for sure.
Ana
Hi Ana,
I totally appreciated your comment about being a spectator instead of a doer. I was stuck in spectator mode forever…well, except for these past 6 months.
I hope you’re okay if I adopt that into my language, I think it’s such a great way of explaining the “stuck in learning mode” that so many marketers struggle with.
The whole post was great and I will be sending you my guest post asap. It’s the only one of your five steps that I haven’t focused on very much.
That’s changing now.
Heather
Heather C Stephens´s last blog ..3 WAHM Lessons to Help You Grow a Home Based Business and a Family
Heather,
I’ve been so greatly impressed with your ability to act upon the acquired knowledge, I would’ve never guessed you were anything but a doer!
I definitely look forward to your post; I have no doubts it will be spectacular.
Ana
Hi Ana,
This is a very informative and helpful post for someone like me who’s just starting out on my blog. I will follow your number 3 advice on commenting.
As for the SEO tips, I will bookmark this post of yours so I can re-read and really implement it on my blog.
Thank you very much.. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Johanna @ GIJoh.com´s last blog ..The Pros and Cons of Working at Home
Hi Johanna,
Newbie or not, I am definitely confident that bloggers who wants more traffic can benefit from this post. I’m glad you understand my point.
Happy Holidays,
Ana
Many say social media and conversions don’t play well together..I take it you disagree?
If after commenting on a specific blog for a while, the blog owner doesn’t seem to be interested in connecting with you, move on and find another blog.
I advise not to be so hasty. As a known comment commando myself, I say the blog owner is but one person. If you can entice a few of his/her readers with each of your comments you’re batting better.
Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Do You Write a Newsletter or Two
Many of my first readers were my Twitter followers and they are still with me.
So I say, it all depends on how your approach people and how you present yourself to them. With enough benefit for THEM and continuous great content (not being modest here, am I?
), your Twitter/Facebook followers migrate to our blog beautifully.
As far as blog commenting is concerned, I am all about efficiency. It’s all too easy to get lost in commenting, but you have to keep your eyes on the prize, which is to network and bring traffic. The more engaged you are with the blogger him/herself, the better chance you have to get their much faster.
I love it that you challenge me so much, Dennis - makes my comment responding a lot more fun.
Ana
I’m not done yet! LOL
The more engaged you are with the blogger him/herself, the better chance you have to get their much faster.
If I may say, that’s a bold statement.
What brings you to the conclusion that the blogger, whoever s/he may be, is worth any more or less then one or more of their commenters?…..most likely bloggers in their own right I might add.
Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Category- Web Income Experiments
You are having way too much fun with this, Dennis.
Here’s my thought on that: when you network with bloggers themselves, they visit your blog, see how great your content is and start linking to your in their posts, thus bringing much more exposure and much more valuable links than any one comment will ever do.
That’s exactly what worked for me and how I started getting a whole lot more traffic to my blog.
Any other thoughts?
Oh I get it. I always meet the blogger of a new blog. Comments, contact form, etc.
I’m just sayin’, don’t stop there, or give up if that one person doesn’t seem interested.
If you think about it, blogs where the owner snubs you are the best ones to reach out to their other commenters.
LOL
Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Category- Web Income Experiments
Good point; I’ll settle on that!
Happy New Year, Dennis.
Hi Ana,
thanks for a thoughtful post. I still have some issues to be fixed from the audit you did on my blog. It’s easy to get talked into blogging but it takes such old-fashioned traits like persistence and stamina in order to follow through. These traits might not be sexy, but the results definitely are !
Thanks again for your always insightful posts. I am glad we connected this year and I wish yourself and your family a Happy New Year 2011 !
Cheers
Oliver
Oliver Tausend´s last blog ..Think And Grow Rich – The Ghost Of Fear Of Poverty Pt 2
You are so right about blogging, Oliver - why newbies think it’s a piece of cake, I have no idea!
I absolutely loved it when you said “the traits are not sexy, but results are” - what a phrase! I might have to use it in one of my posts.
I’ve been blessed getting to know you as well, Oliver - thanks for all your support, encouragement, and knowledge. Here’s to the friendship!
Ana
Hey Ana,
You are just amazing! Every time I check out your blog, there is something really useful in store. Once again a comprehensive overview with a lot of top-notch tips. The first and probably the most important thing, beginning bloggers don’t do is acting. It doesn’t get much more simpler than that - reading and attaining new knowledge is all good, but there is no point if you don’t actually start applying what you’ve learned.
Social media and Twitter in person are defintiely BIG. Building a presence there is an absolute must, especially for Twitter. It has turned into my number one referral traffic source as well. Spending time on it getting new followers is without a doubt worth it. Same goes for blog commenting. Showing your presence on other related blogs is the best way to get people to know you.
Daniel Sharkov@Blogging Tips´s last blog ..Successful Social Media Campaign in 4 Steps
What a compliment right off the bat, Daniel - thank you and thank you for honoring me with your presence every once in a while!
Twitter, commenting, etc - have to do them all, no two ways about, but have to do them right.
Ana
Ana, as always your post is packed with common sense. There is not one point I could argue with, however apart from being a “doer” your suggestion of scheduling your time is an absolute necessity. Not only does it force consistency but sharpens focus. I have to admit I’ve definitely been scattered this year - but 2011 will be a good year. I can feel it in my bones!! In my humble opinion, a person needs to go no further than right here to get all the ingredients for a perfect blog recipe. I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to meet you, not only as a wonderful person - but one of the most inspiring bloggers of all time! Keep up the terrific work (as I know you will) - and I thank you so much for all the generous advice and support you provide to all of us. ~Jayne~
Jayne Kopp´s last blog ..Do You Make a Difference
Thanks so much, Jayne - your comments always inspire me to keep going!
See that’s the thing though - most of what I write about is really common sense. Many of us know it, but as I mentioned - the difference between knowing and doing it is quite vast.
2011 - here we come!
Ana
Thank you, Ana!
It’s like you read my mind. In my frantic end-of-year push to pull everything together, and finally launch my site on January 1, I’ve turned into a writing machine. From my About Me page to my first several posts, I awake each day with new material and ideas that I know will help people realize their goals.
And like you say, there’s no silver bullet. But when you’re sure of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, the hard work part of it all doesn’t seem so hard.
I’m already implementing part of your recipe, and will no doubt look to it for guidance going forward. I love to get your e-mails and read your posts… they’re always fresh. Always super useful. And for that, I thank you.
Here’s to an insanely successful 2011. You rock, Ana.
Best-
Leah
Good morning, Leah - thanks for taking your time out of your insanely busy writing schedule to still visit my blog and leave a comment.
You are so right: hard work is pleasure when you do what you love to do.
I can’t wait to see your new site when it’s open for business; do stop by and let us know.
Thank you for your encouragement; I really needed it this morning.
Ana
I need to bookmark this and reread it and take action. Thanks so much. Amy
Amy Hagerup´s last blog ..What is Taking Up Too Much Real Estate in Your Brain
You are very welcome, Amy!
Ana
Wonderful as ever Ana,
Seems you are getting more and more able to pack intensely useful value and understanding into a simple and digest-able message.
I think there’s a strong pressure to step off the sidelines if you want to succeed in marketing yourself and your blog online - taking action on and implementing the things learnt is the only way!
Eternal students may have the knowledge, but knowledge alone is not power. Applied knowledge… That’s power…
Thanks and wish you a wonderful New Year,
Jym
Jym´s last blog ..Keeping Busy or Getting Rich Revolutionize Your Business for PROFITS!
Hello Jym,
Nice to see you. You are definitely right, applied knowledge is the key and thats what makes you a doer.
All the best,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Thanks for sharing this. It actually made me go back and redo my “about”, “contact”, and privacy policy pages.
Max West´s last blog ..Merry Christmas!
You’re very much welcome Max.
Thanks for dropping by,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Hi Ana:
I had to laugh at your guest post section as I always feel a little twinge of panic before I submit one to you! But, it has only helped me become better and I applaud your standards.
I am beginning the migration to WP and and have been putting it off out of fear…no more! 2011 is the doer in me coming out!
Lisa
Lisa´s last blog ..Powerful Link- Do You Have It
Lisa - you are a trooper when it comes down to guest blogging!
I bet I turned off quite a few bloggers from ever posting to my blog, but as you said, I am all about quality here.
As far as your migration is concerned, I completely understand: I’ve had to do something similar in the past. Wasn’t without a glitch, but needed to be done.
Let me know if you have any questions with that; I will help with what I know.
Ana
Hey Ana
I love a perfect recipe.
One that doesn’t need more salt.
Thanks for all of your great posts in 2010 and thanks for always making me think.
Your friend
Peter
P.S. can’t wait to see what you do in 2011
Peter Fuller @ Home Business Solutions´s last blog ..Top 10 Home Business Predictions for 2011
Hello Peter,
I’m glad you always find my blogs thought-provoking. I will definitely continue to share more great post in the coming year.
Happy New Year,
Ana
Another quality post Ana, that is awesome you just started this in June of 2010. Congrats!
Ray Higdon´s last blog ..Goals for New Year Ideas & Strategies
Hello Ray,
Thanks for the compliment. Things are really overwhelming sometimes when I think about it, but I enjoyed every single time I blog and share my ideas.
All the best,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Great tips! Thank you so much for the informative post.
I have been blogging for about 5-6 months now and LOVE it! I’ve built a solid following and my next move is to monetize a bit. Your tips will be a great list of steps to help me get to the next level!
-Steve
Hi Steve,
You can definitely monetize from blogging. Read more of my post and you will know how to.
All the best,
Ana
Hey Ana, these are some great tips and I believe number 1 is the most important. “Stay purposeful and value others above yourself” is a valuable phrase in itself and can change the results of network marketers drastically.
Have A Happy New Year!
Sherman
Sherman Smith´s last blog ..YOU WANT YOUR BLOG TO GAIN POPULARITY- RIGHT
Hi Sherman,
I also love that phrase and it is very true for me. I always remember that, it reminds me of my main goal and help me to stay in focus.
Happy New Year,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Hi Ana,
Thanks for sharing the comprehensive breakdown on building a well read blog.
One of the many gems is your mention of building relationships on social networks instead of trying to get higher numbers, whether they be followers or friends.
Numbers won’t share you stuff. Numbers don’t comment on your blog. People who you build meaningful relationships with, will.
The best form of self-promotion is promoting others. Expands your presence much more quickly.
RB
Ryan Biddulph´s last blog ..Home Based Business Tips - Follow These Steps to Grow it Like a Weed
Hey Ryan,
That is very true that’s why I always keep that in my mind. Building relationships makes blogging worthwhile.
Have a wonderful day,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
As you said, the bottom line is really hard work, writing (or getting written) lots of quality content that targets the niche and helps answering common user questions and problems. Also, with no or not much marketing budget, one needs to come up with creative traffic generating ideas that utilize modern tools and services such as your facebook comment circle.
Hello Andreas,
Yes we need to make use of all the strategies that we think can help us and take every opportunity there is.
Thanks for the comment,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Hi Ana,
Excellent advices! I’ve seen bloggers to shine up from different niches and in the different ways. Some, if you were popular before is easier, but lot of them began being important in Digg, for example, and later expanded frontiers.
Solve problem yes in technical niches, but not always - entertainment blogs doesn’t apply to this rule and are successful too.
Content is king also marketing, copywriting, SEO, and social media this is the recipe-ingredients all together. A good-blogging-dish needs to be spicy and full of flavours
Agree completely to be proactive and not reading without applying the concepts learnt.
From your call to action: my goals for mine, multimedia-streams (working on that) and improve in guest postings and more social media content to my blog.
Happy New Year Ana!
Cheers,
Gera
Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog´s last blog ..Eat Sweets and Still Lose the Belly Fat
Hello Gera,
I’m glad to hear you already have a plan and you are already working on it. It is not enough to just learn because it’s more important that we actually apply it.
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Wow - great tips Ana. And great links to more tips, too! I also agree with the master one thing at a time tip. I have a friend who is a writer and is always trying to take courses on writing and I keep telling her to master one form of writing before she moves on to another. By not learning one thing completely she is not giving herself the chance to improve.
Danielle McGaw @ social media for freelance writers´s last blog ..It’s My 2 Year Blogiversary!
You are right Danielle. I hope your friend will follow your advice. Too much information can only lead to information overload and it is useless if you just take everything without really understanding it. We need to focus to one strategy first and master it before taking another one.
Thanks for the comment,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Ana - You make some great points in this post, but none better than this: “Ask someone to take a look at your content and give you an HONEST opinion.” That is so true because having a fresh pair of eyeballs evaluate your blog will help you to realize important details you wouldn’t have before.
I also like the tips and resources you gave for marketing a new blog effectively. This is some golden information you’ve provided in such a short post on making a blog popular/successful.
But the sad part is, as much as some people want to build a popular blog they won’t apply the helpful information they receive to make things happen. I guess that’s what you mean about the difference between doers and spectators.
John´s last blog ..Tips For Effectively Treating Underarm Sweating
Hello John,
I’m glad you completely understand my point. We need to be a doer to achieve our goals.
All the best,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Anna,
All great points. One area that I think you might want to add is to set goals for your blog. Too often, bloggers have a “I will build it and they will come” mentality and do not have any set goal (100 unique visitors a day, 25 comments a week, etc.) or any Goal Action Plan to reach their goals.
It is important to know where your blog is now (starting out) but more importantly where you want it to go and, most importantly, how you are going to get there.
To your success,
Erik
Truthfully, Erik, setting goals is my weak point.
Traffic Generation Cafe has grown so quickly that I am having hard time keeping up with it let alone think of its future.
Very good point though: we do need to know what our goals are, otherwise how can we get there if we don’t know where we are going?
Ana
I’m trying to get more of my followers/clients into blogging, so I’m sharing this link on my Facebook page. Thanks for the great tips, I’ve implemented a couple of them myself this morning!
Theresa Sheridan´s last blog ..Hubspot’s Website Grader – What does it all mean
Hello Theresa,
Thanks for sharing my post in FB. I appreciate that. I hope your clients will also learn from it.
Regards,
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Hey Ana, All great and useful tips. I’m especially interested in the ‘commenting tribe’ idea. I know that you do it and it’s had some positive benefits for all involved.
Also I wanted to mention that ‘SEO Fast start’ by Dan Thies is a great guide for improving your search engine optimization. Dan is an expert in the field of SEO and he offers this guide completely free of charge.
Liz´s last blog ..XsitePro Discount – 100 Off!
Hi Liz,
Yes you can definitely join a commenting tribe. I’m sure it can help you and you can meet new people and have fun at the same time.
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Hi Ana,
This is probably about the 4th time I notice one tip you keep repeating, that I have not read anywhere else.
You keep recommending doing one thing at the time. Not do everything at one, what ever it may be - social media or something else.
That is something I am starting to thing about seriously.
Also, from this post, my takeaway will be making a better About me page, since I was planning to do it.
Thanks for so many great and fresh ideas.
Brankica @ Live Your Love´s last blog ..Blogging tribes What did I learn today
Hi Brankica,
Yes that’s right, one thing at a time so that you can focus and give your best. When you are done with one thing, then you can proceed with another one.
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Understand the niche your blog is in. Some niches are easier than others to dominate. The harder ones require harder more focused work (all blogs are not created equal, very true). However success an be achieved even in the most competitive niche if you are willing to DO the necessary work.
Maybe you should continue to write Ana, turn it into a report which you can use a another lead capture tool and also allow others to use the report for the same reason.
Chat soon
Dwayne
Dwayne Huggins@How To make Money Blogging´s last blog ..Want To Know How To Get Your Blog Ranked In The Top 20-000 In The World In Just 6 Months
Hello Dwayne,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely continue to write.
You are right about being successful whatever niche you are in as long as you are determined and fully dedicated.
Ana
Ana Hoffman´s last blog ..Mad Russian’s CHRISTmas – From My Family To Yours
Hello Ana,
WOW - thank you for this straightforward and helpful information. I’m just going to print this article and use it as my checklist!!
Anytime, Melissa - printing it out is definitely a step towards doing it.
Ana
My tip (mainly for myself) is stop putting of writting by reading everyones elses blog, and just get writting the content for my own. Thanks for all your tips as always Ana
I hope my blog will be an exception, Pippa.
I ABSOLUTELY agree with you. Focus on the things that will directly affect your success; everything else is optional.
Ana
Yes I am new in blogging and i am struggling. Here i have learned lots of techniques and tips which could be reduce my little struggle. Thanks Ana
Rakesh Kumar´s last blog ..6 Simple Working Tips To Increase Twitter Followers
I know where you are coming from, Rakesh - my first blog failed as well.
However, these are the exact steps I used to make Traffic Generation Cafe a success.
Hope you use some to your benefit.
Ana
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