Add these tools to grow
your blog readership
So,
you finally decided to take the blog leap. You’ve heard all about the
marketing and search benefits so you stepped up to the plate and signed up for a
TypePad, MovableType
or WordPress blog software package and
now you’re a blogger.
Bookmark manager
Okay, now what? Add the ten essential blogging tools listed below and you will
also be well on your way to creating and promoting a blog that is a powerful
marketing tool. I’ll explain the use of the tool and offer some suggestions,
including the tools I use on my own blogs including the DuctTapeMarketing
blog.
Feed reader Feed reader
The best way to learn about blogs and blogging is to read, or at least scan,
lots of blogs. One of the wonders of blogs is that you can have every new post
from every blog you want to read delivered to your desktop or to online location
via RSS, so you can easily read and scan the posts of many blogs in a very short
time. Newsgator is a good online choice
for feed reading and also has a version that integrates with Outlook. I use a
free online service know as Bloglines.
Subscriber center Subscriber center
You need to make it easy for your blog visitors to subscribe to your blog’s
RSS feed – so they can read your blog in their favorite feed reader. The best
way to do this is to go to FeedBurner and
burn your own RSS feed their and use the tools they provide to set up automatic
subscriber links so people who want to use Bloglines, Google Reader, MyYahoo or
Pluck, for instance, can click on one button to subscribe. Tech types can figure
this out without the buttons but why not make it easy for anyone to figure out.
Side note – subscribe to each of these yourself and you will force some blog
spiders to visit your site.
Email subscription option Email subscription option
A lot of people will never get the whole feed thing, but everyone gets email.
Create an option for people to subscribe by giving you their email address –
they will simply receive your blog posts like an email message. FeedBurner
offers this service for free. FeedBlitz is
another option or, if you already have an autoresponder email list service they
may offer this service. AWeber offers this and helps me integrate these blog email subscribers into my
other mailing lists.
Blog and RSS directories Blog and RSS directories
There are hundreds of blog and RSS directories and getting listed in many can be
a good thing. I use a piece of software called RSS
Submit, but you can also visit Robin
Goode ’s frequently updated list and submit your blog and feed by hand.
Hint: subscribe to the RSS feed he offers and you will be notified when new
directories are added.
Ping service Ping service
Pinging is a term used for letting the various blog and RSS directories know
when you have posted new content. Again, FeedBurner offers this as an automatic option called PingShot and you should activate
it. PingGoat and Ping
O Matic are other options but they require that you visit and update your
record each time you post new content.
As you surf around the web or hop from blog to blog you may find sites that you
want to point out to your readers. Online bookmark managers allow you to
bookmark and categorize web and blog pages as you collect them and are a great
tool for managing all of the stuff you find on the web. I use del.icio.us
but BlinkList does a fine job as well.
Blog stats
I like to track a few key stats in real time because it shows what other blogs
might be linking to you or posting about your blog. A lot of people just like to
track this kind of thing for fun and frequently visit sites like Technorati.
I like to track it for networking opportunities. I use a tool called MyBlogLog
because it allows me to see where traffic is coming from but also tracks what
links on my blog visitors are clicking on. It’s amazing how this data can help
you write more effectively. (MyBlogLog also ranks your links so visitors can see
which links on your site are the most popular.)
Desktop posting
With most blog software you must go online and post using a set of tools
provided by the blog software. Many bloggers like to use a desktop application
to create and submit their posts as it gives them some extra tools and allows
them to more easily integrate content and files on their computer.
I use w.blogger but also like Performancing,
Qumana and ecto
(apple folks) (w.blogger also doubles as a really simple HTML editor.)
Tell a friend script
My blog software (pMachine) has a feature that allows a reader to click a link
and send the post to a friend. This tactic brings me lots of readers. You might
try looking here for some simple scripts that do that same http://www.javascriptkit.com/script/script2/tellafriend.shtml
http://www.stadtaus.com/en/php_scripts/tell_a_friend_script/
Republish your feed headlines
The ability to republish your blog posts on other web pages, sites you own or
sites of strategic partners is a great way to expose folks to you blog content.
One more time we turn to FeedBurner
for a painless way to republish your blog post to any web page you choose with
something they call BuzzBoost
~ ~ ~
John Jantsch is a veteran marketing coach, award winning blogger and author of Duct
Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide
published by Thomas Nelson - due out in the fall of 2006
He is the creator of the Duct Tape Marketing small business marketing system.
You can find more information by visiting http://www.ducttapemarketing.com
