Image by Kristina B

When it comes to blog promotion, it’s not a ‘if you build it they will come’ mentality. You need to be proactive in promoting your blog, its community and content.

Missed the boat

If you are using social networks, take a minute to evaluate your blog’s presence on each of them. Is it linked as a permanent staple on the site, or is it posted every so often? If you only post the new updates, those new posts can get lost downstream. Think of a Facebook news feed or a Twitter feed like a stream. When you throw a toy sailboat into the water, it’s not going to hang out right in front of you, it will move with the current. If people come by later, unless they are looking for it downstream, they have obviously missed the proverbial boat. Take a peek and evaluate where you are posting your blog.

Integration is key

If you are building a Twitter, Facebook, or Ning community you need to have your blog information available for further engagement. Here are some ways to promote your blog with your engaging crowd:

• Twitter link- when you are posting new information to people that have CHOSEN to follow you, take that to heart. Don’t send them to a static site. Use the website link on the right of your Twitter profile to send them to somewhere powerful. Give them an option to respond and participate. After all, they are already following you.
• Front of your website- If you have a homepage header, include it there. This will let people know right away where they can find the latest information. There is always the great option to have it has the main homepage too!
• Merge social media efforts- There’s nothing worse than working hard on marketing efforts that aren’t meshing well with other projects. Take a minute and apply your video into your blog and visa versa. This will have cross pollination, and will give you plenty of opportunities to redirect to your blog for more information.
• Encourage comments. This can seem like dangerous water, but with some monitoring, it can really enhance the blog! By giving people a platform, you can increase your awareness, and give them something to come back to. When people comment, they make an investment in your blog. Appreciate their time and give feedback and promote the conversations online.

Blog promotion can be pretty straight forward. However, it can be tricky when it comes to corporate or professional blogs. Remember if you have a professional Twitter account, but a personal blog about your dog, it might be best to keep them separate. It’s great to add personal touches to the professional face, but make sure it’s applicable to your audience.

What do you do to promote your personal, professional or organization’s blog?

Kristina is based in the Twin Cities and eats and breathes social media. Her love for technology’s influence on culture can be found here.

Tags: Blogging, blogs, community, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy