Three quick ways to increase blog traffic
I’m sitting here in the Amtrak station in downtown San Diego, relaxed and ready for my trip to Anaheim. I love public transportation.
Yesterday I really put some effort into creating blog traffic, and it paid off. I increased my average daily visits 500 percent. Yahoo!
Here are three surefire techniques:
- StumbleUpon Advertising
StumbleUpon is a very cool social bookmarking tool. It allows you to set preferences of sites you like, then you “stumble” through the internet, discovering new sites. I love the thing.A super secret about StumbleUpon is that they allow you to pay for visits to your site. A nickel a hit, so five bucks will get you an extra hundred hits. And if people give your site a thumbs up, you’ll create natural (read: free) hits to your site.
- Blog Carnivals
Last night I submitted posts from my site to a number of blog carnivals. Bloggers will choose posts based on a topic or theme, and you submit your individual posts for consideration. If you are chosen, they link back to you, you link back to them, and everyone is happy.There’s one definitive place for blog carnivals… BlogCarnival.com
- Blog Love
Visit your favorite sites and leave comments. Visit sites in your industry and leave comments. The common denominator: leave comments. And take time to leave comments that mean something… not just: “Nice post! Thanks for the info!” Giving blog love will increase your blog internet presence and bring more visitors.
That’s all I have time for. Have to go catch my train!
Oh, a little begging…. Please be generous with StumbleUpon on my site. 
Like I said, every time someone says she likes a post or a page, I get more traffic. I try to mark the pages I like when I visit others’ blogs, and I hope people who enjoy my blog will do the same. You can even mark the entire site….. pretty please.
GutsyWriter on 01 Oct 2008 at 7:53 am #
Thanks for the information. I shall click on your Stumbleupon. I use stumbleupon too, and have found some very unusual and interesting web-sites regarding writing, travel, self-improvement. Great Blog, thanks. I need to add the SU to my blog. Haven’t got time to do it now though as I’m off to rewrite some chapters of my book at the library. Have a great train ride. The seats are very comfortable.
Carla on 01 Oct 2008 at 8:33 am #
So far, StumbleUpon has definitely increased my traffic. I haven’t tried the paid advertising yet, but just submitting alone does it.
Beth on 01 Oct 2008 at 2:12 pm #
I hate public transportation! I missed the train! There was no place to step on, and they stopped for like 45 seconds. No, really! The guy was watching me try to run. I’m here at the station in the sun, waiting another hour. Help! Cupcake emergency!
Rebecca Smith on 01 Oct 2008 at 2:57 pm #
Oh, no! So sorry you missed your train. I’m sending virtual cupcakes your way (chocolate with sprinkles on top!).
By the way, I actually gave you some blog love today
StumbleUpon: Discover new sites on 24 Feb 2009 at 1:44 pm #
[...] Need to increase blog traffic? See how Stumble can help. [...]
MarathonMatters on 24 Feb 2009 at 8:24 pm #
I didn’t know you spend time on Amtrak. We can exchange Amtrak stories some day.
Meanwhile, thanks for the concise explanation of how you’re building traffic to the site. I’ve enjoyed your commentary on Twitter; now I’ll have to start coming back here too. And I’ll give StumbleUpon a try as well. Maybe I’ll find more sites like yours.
And drive some traffic to mine.