To Grow Your Blog Organically, you need to develop a growth mindset.
Many people try to grow their blogs through static processes.
They do everything they can think of to get to the next level as bloggers.
Do you want to grow your blog’s audience?
Silly question, right?
The reason people blog is to gain a growing audience.
The better question is, do you know how to gain a growing audience with free organic traffic?
Static Growth
Static growth methods are things that can be done to grow your blog, irregardless of your audience.
Increasing the number of blog posts you write, for instance, is a static method.
Write more blog posts, share them on Twitter and Facebook.
This is a pretty certain way to get more clicks to your blog.
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The more blog posts you are sharing and the more frequently you are sharing them, the more likely you are to grow your blog.
This is a pretty linear process.
The problem is, any linear process is very limited.
You can’t just write 2 blog posts a week instead of 1 and expect your blog to double its growth.
In the world of mathematics and cause and effect, this might seem to be the case.
Blogs that focus on static growth fail to understand that real growth, though, comes from actually engaging folks, not just head counting them.
Organic Growth
The point to growing your blog is usually to get more prospects and leads for your business, products or services.
That means, you want to be bringing people to your blog that are interested in what your blog is about.
As folks arrive to your blog, you need to greet them with valuable information.
When you do, there’s a good chance that they will become excellent prospects and leads for your business.
Just getting people to click to your blog is really not the point, here.
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It’s about getting them to stay there, engage with you, get excited about what you’re doing, and enough so that they subscribe to your email list to follow you more closely.
Organic growth is not simply a matter of getting more links out there.
It’s much more about communicating with people, letting them know what value your blog has for them, and connecting with them once they reach your blog.
Grow Your Blog Organically
So what are the methods that will help you grow your blog organically?
Meet Your Audience Where It Exists
Find the communities, forums and social media groups where you target audience hangs out.
When you locate those communities, then make it your business to hang out there, too.
Make yourself visible and relevant.
Be helpful.
Ask questions.
Answer questions.
Get to know people and give them a chance to know you.
Solve some problems for people here and there.
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This will demonstrate your value in the community rather than try to convince people of it with impersonal, cold-click landing pages, or slick blog posts that your target audience may never even read.
Bring Trouble To Your Blog
When you hang out with people for a while, you will know exactly what their problems are… where the trouble spots are in your niche, in your business or your profession.
When you identify that trouble, bring it to your blog.
Make it the source of your blog posts.
Learn about the problems and troubles you find in a targeted Facebook group you frequent, for example.
Then, solve those problems and address those troubles in your blog posts.
After you’ve written a blog post solving a specific problem you see people commonly have, then offer a link to that blog post back inside the Facebook group.
This grows you blog organically in two ways.
1. If the trouble you address is of common concern in your niche, there will probably be a lot of Google searches for it.
Take advantage of keywords and long-tail keywords related to it, and you’ll have a great chance to get a lot of traffic from organic search results.
2. When you link back to the same blog post in your target communities, then a lot of folks who are already familiar with you, will now be very likely to click onto your blog to investigate you a bit further.
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Encourage People To Connect With You
Whether you are chatting with folks on social media encourage people to get involved in discussion threads that you are participating in.
On your blog, always invite people to comment on your posts.
Then, make sure to reply to every comment you receive.
Beyond this, always let people know HOW to connect with you.
Make sure they know how to join your email list, or connect with you on Skype or PM you on Facebook or in a
forum.
It’s amazing how many people make themselves totally visible in key communities, yet very rarely ever let people know how to connect with them beyond the community.
When you do that, you vastly increase the social spread of your efforts and deepen relationships with you.
Do you go about your business every day, writing your blog posts, sharing them on social sites and structuring some basic SEO into your operation?
As you “tend to business” in this tightly controlled and largely routine way, do you think of ways to think outside of the box?
Do you try to be innovative and imaginative in the way you interact with your audience and prospects?
Or do you just do what you do because you think, or have been told, that you need to do those things?
You can grow your blog to a limited extent by running a well structured operation.
But to really reach into the hearts and minds of the people in your target audience, you need to explore, even invent ever newer ways to Grow Your Blog Organically.
What methods do you use to grow your blog?
I’d love to have your comments below, and appreciate you sharing this article on your social sites.
-Donna
Twitter: cheryschmidt
October 17, 2016 at 10:19 am #
Good Morning Donna, Great share my friend! I know I for one am always working on growing my blog! I love your advice of thinking out side the box. Going to work on this one..
Have a Super Week Ahead..
Thanks for sharing
Chery :))
Hi Chery,
I don’t thing we ever will stop growing our blogs lol. Yes, I’m always thinking outside of the box. Glad you liked it!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Influencer Marketing To Grow Your Blog
Twitter: darrellharris41
August 25, 2016 at 12:16 am #
Hello Donna
Great post! I agree with you 100% the best way to grow a blog is organic it’s a slower process but for longevity it’s the way to go.
Thanks for this informative post. Instead of waiting on customers I will join a FB group and check out Quora,and go where they hang out. Thanks for these really helpful tips.. I have been reaching my target audience but I think your ideas will enhance my community. Thanks again and have a great day.
Darrell Harris recently posted..Wow ! 5 of the Most Expensive Apps
Hey Darrell,
It sure is a slower process, but creates loyalty. That’s what makes everything “stick” when it comes to followers.
FB groups and LinkedIn ones are great to join.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Influencer Marketing To Grow Your Blog
Hi Ikechi,
It’s all about our connections and communication isn’t it?
Having a community really makes things pump up!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..10 Top Sources Of Blog Traffic That You Are Not Using
Twitter: ikechiawazie
August 22, 2016 at 8:09 am #
Hi Donna
Indeed this is the best way to grow a blog. Making connections with your audience helps the business in the long run. It is not about getting links or so much traffic but having an awesome community is what makes the difference and this requires work.
Thank you for sharing this info. Take Care
Twitter: AdrienneZM
August 21, 2016 at 8:54 pm #
Donna, so many great ideas in this post! Your section, “Bring Trouble to Your Blog,” is something I had not considered! I have addressed some issues on my blog on my own. I did not think to take something a FB group, forum, or Twitter chat is commenting on to turn into a blog post to then share with the group. Thank you for some new ideas on how to grow my blog! ~Adrienne
Twitter: SMITdebtb
August 21, 2016 at 12:51 am #
Donna, I come to your blog at times with ideas, thoughts, possible plans rolling around in my head. At times I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all.
Then, you always have a way of making the complex straightforward and almost simple. I am a logical person and so your style suits me perfectly!
I am definitely one of those organic-type bloggers. SEO and various techniques are tools but you have to actually “reach” your target audience. Like you say, “Organic growth is not simply a matter of getting more links out there. It’s much more about communicating with people, letting them know what value your blog has for them, and connecting with them once they reach your blog.”
I can’t count how many blog posts I visit where you can tell the site owner is just creating content, not value. Just posting their links around, not helping anyone… especially not themselves. It’s all really pointless when you approach blogging that way.
Thank you for sharing your blogging knowledge. I learn something new each time I visit!
Deborah
Deborah A. Ten Brink recently posted..Google Analytics A Good Place To Begin Collecting Data
Hi Deborah,
What a great compliment when you wrote that you learn something new every time you visit. It is great to know I’m doing my job.
I do try so hard to make things simple because there is so much noise out there. Some write these long pillar posts going on and on I forget what the heck I’m reading.
Others write for themselves and it reminds me of a peacock waving their feathers. I’m not impressed!
Then we hit blogs that have one idea…one solution and we can learn something from it. And maybe opt into to an offer. I just did before I wrote this post with a colleague because of a marketing technique he pointed out I want to learn more of.
It is all about giving and if that is not what we are doing we might as well get a job he he he
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Law Of Attraction – My True Life Story
Twitter: CopyWarner
August 19, 2016 at 7:48 am #
Hey Donna,
Really great advice you gave here.
I know a lot of people that argue that the best way to grow their blog is to publish as much as they can. They see Neil Patel do it and want to do the same.
But, they’re not Neil Patel. Nor, do they have his writing team to write quality content consistently. It’s about taking advantage of whatever opportunity you have with your audience, and really connecting with them.
Also, if you really want to grow, connect with those people that can help you grow. So outreach and engagement is key.
Great stuff here. Have a great upcoming weekend.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I’ve seen that too. People don’t realize that Neil does have quite the staff behind him lol. We can’t publish stuff and throw it out there. It has to be carefully constructed.
As always engagement IS the key! We want to be able to connect with others.
Thanks so much,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Law Of Attraction – My True Life Story
Twitter: donpurdum
August 18, 2016 at 2:33 pm #
Hi Donna,
It’s great to be back after some much needed R&R, refocusing and making adjustments to my business model.
With that said… Building organic takes an incredible amount of work and some time.
As you said, it doesn’t just happen in a vacuum and it doesn’t mean leave it up to just sharing your posts on FB or any other social media platform.
It means engage, be creative, and create value for those you want to attract both on and off of our own platforms.
The right amount of focus, clarity and engagement will make all the difference in the world.
It’s great to be back Donna and I’m looking forward to re-engaging with you!
Have a great end to your week!!!!
~ Don
Don Purdum recently posted..Increase Sales: Discover the Secrets Your Prospects Aren’t Telling You
Hi Don,
I was wondering what you were up to lol. We all need that R&R from time to time especially when we are running our own business.
Great to see you refocusing and adjusting your business model. That can only mean you are growing and that is wonderful!
I’ve been doing a bit of that myself. Took many things I was doing and shifted them around a bit. Then working with someone to get it all shined up.
You said it! We need that right amount of focus, clarity and engagement to grow. It’s like the perfect recipe.
Enjoy the rest of your week and the beautiful weather,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Law Of Attraction – My True Life Story
Twitter: kimseasok
August 18, 2016 at 11:57 am #
Hey, Donna.
How you doing today? Hope you’re doing great usually.
Honestly, the above was a great advice related blogging and growing high productive.
I love what you mention about responding to readers. Actually, it’s extremely important for blogger to enhance better performance.
You know? I first focus on writing and promote the article, but not all traffic is payment. You did it right way that’s why you’re a high income blogger.
Recently this year, I plan to work with more engagement and authority. I think it works as I got decent questions both Facebook and email. What’s more, I could make awesome income with just less than 200 visitors a day.
Thanks for always educated me…
Kimsea Sok recently posted..How to Become The Expert Blogger Even if You’re A Freshman to Blogging
Hi Kimsea,
As long as we blog for others, we become “experts” in our niche. I know you well enough because that is exactly what you do. You are putting other people before yourself and that is the secret to being a successful blogger.
But we do have to make money….so we have to offer our products and/or services to others. We have to let them know what we have to offer so they can benefit further.
Thank you so much for your kind words,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Law Of Attraction – My True Life Story
Twitter: AmarTemok
August 16, 2016 at 5:58 am #
Hey Donna,
Glad to read your wonderful post,
Static method for growth of blog is also effective by writing more and more blog post and after that sharing on social media.
Be online and helpful to audience and suitable answer for their question, makes your blog dynamic growth.
Eventually, thanks for sharing your worthy post. Looking forward to your positive reply from you.
With best regards,
Amar kumar
Hi Amar,
You said it all….being helpful to people and answering questions for them does make a blog dynamic in growth.
A blog can be static too, depending on the niche. I do have a static one for e-com that does the trick.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Law Of Attraction – My True Life Story
Twitter: atishranjan
August 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm #
Excellent pieces of advice, Donna.
I loved how you clarified Static Growth and Organic Growth. Though I am using these methods already, it’s still a great affirmation from you that I am going right. I am more interested in growing my blog organically rather than static. However, a mix both is what every should do.
Thanks for the awesome write-up.
Atish Ranjan recently posted..Benefits of Taking Part In Discussion Forums.15 Best Forum Software Explained
Hi Atish,
Yes, there is a difference between static and organic growth. I do agree that a mix of both has to be done.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Law Of Attraction – My True Life Story
Twitter: joyhealey
August 13, 2016 at 7:50 am #
Hi Donna
Haha – well there’s always plenty of trouble on my blog! Because I try to post about the things that have gone wrong, to help anyone else who has the same problems.
This month it’s commenting, which has resulted in a huge drop in comments to my site. Watch this space!
I certainly don’t want to double the number of blog posts to try and grow. It’s tough enough as a part-time blogger trying to keep up with one post a week and the rest of the week to promote and engage.
When I see these “blog every day” challenges I know they’re not for me. Although I guess when your blog is new it’s a good way to get some content on board.
I’m taking a slightly different approach too, in that I’m going along to local small business groups and letting my blog talk for me. (I’m not a great talker!)
It seems to be working as a way to reach a different audience, and funnily enough just yesterday I was able to talk quite knowledgeably about different auto-responders and answer questions, just as a result of what I’ve learned blog-hopping.
Joy – Blogging After Dark
Hi Joy,
Really, we all have trouble, don’t we?
And we all go searching out those folks and blogs that help us get through them.
That’s a pretty simple, but totally accurate sky view of blogging as a business.
Sounds like you’re developing your own groove for helping folks with trouble, keep rolling with that, my friend 🙂
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Build Your Business With eBook Marketing
Twitter: simplyilka
August 13, 2016 at 7:01 am #
Hi Donna!
Connecting with people is so important. And it’s a sure way to increase traffic to your blog – and have people return as well. I just wish it would not take so much time. But consistency and availability is crucial, like it is in every real life friendship.
Thanks for sharing Donna. Best, Ilka
Ilka Emig recently posted..News – Trademarked hashtags for Rio 2016 Olympics
Twitter: kim_willis
August 13, 2016 at 1:11 am #
Hi Donna,
Love this post.
You strike gold with each point, but I LOVE this one:
Bring Trouble To Your Blog
I guess it’s another way of saying ‘find the pain points’ but using the word ‘trouble’ brings a tad more emotion to the topic.
And you are right – hanging out with people is the key. Bloggers and marketers have to go deep into a niche because that is where they will find the opportunities. When we go deep, we become an insider – a quasi-expert who has so much more knowledge and ‘feel’ for the topic than an uncommitted outsider.
An example:
An hour ago I was chatting to a guy on Facebook about a particular aspect of affiliate marketing. Because I had previously ‘gone deep’ on the topic, I had the knowledge and the confidence to share it, and offer him a conceptual solution to his problem (‘trouble’). He could sense it and quickly became another warm/hot lead for me.
You give some excellent example of how to learn about the troubles (and a lot more besides) in a given niche (e.g., Facebook groups)
Leveraging that valuable knowledge into blog posts, social media posts, and just good old fashioned conversation will generate more leads and put more dollars into marketers pockets.
Thanks again
Kim
Kim Willis recently posted..Who Cares About Your Network Marketing Business?
Hi Kim,
Thanks for your story and perspective.
I hope you keep finding “trouble” haha
It’s the most important part of any blogging business… any one at all.
To do that, you must “go deep” as you say, into your niche to really understand and relate to your crowd.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Blogs That Rank High On Google Search
Twitter: Fingertipwealth
August 12, 2016 at 4:30 pm #
Hi Donna
Loved this post. One day you wake up as usual and something seems different. Your level of confidence has grown. Your perspective has changed. At the same time you mysteriously start getting great comments and people seeking you out. The balance has shifted and you never even noticed. You are doing things because you want to not because you HAVE to.
As our friend Kim said only the other day to a group he teaches. ‘This is Social Media Marketing. It means talking to people. If you can’t be bothered then don’t do it.’ Maybe I paraphrased that, but it’s pretty close.
As Sarah says, you need to find people where they are comfortable. Visit them, don’t drag then to your place. Great analogy.
My favourite item is ‘Bring Trouble to your Blog’. Excellent advice. You become the authoritative problem solver. I have done this in a few groups recently and have been amazed by the appreciation…
Thanks Donna
Richard Seaton recently posted..Killing The FEAR Monster
Hi Richard,
Love that shift of balance when it happens lol.
I agree with Kim that if you cannot be bothered then don’t do it! I tell this to many people who ask me about the business of blogging. It pays to be blunt right from the start because blogging IS a business and if one has false expectations I tell them to get a job. Yes..I can be the “mean old lady at the end of the block” ha ha ha
I see we both have a favorite fro Sarah “Bring Trouble to Your Blog” That always works!
Great seeing you here!
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..10 Top Sources Of Blog Traffic That You Are Not Using
Twitter: DocMate
August 12, 2016 at 8:57 am #
It’s easy enough to say “increase your traffic with social media!”, but it’s definitely a bit more involved than that. There are some steps you can take to maximize your social media R.O.I. and make sure that you’re reaching the right audience. On Facebook and LinkedIn, join groups specific to Interior Design, or whatever other niches your work falls into. On Twitter, use interior design specific hashtags (like #DIY, #vintage, #interiors, or make your own!) and follow your design idols.
Here are some great examples of Interior Design blogs who we think are nailing it!
Design Sponge Lots of images, links and multiple contributors.
Apartment Therapy Focused on smaller spaces & particular cities.
Ikea Hacker We love a good hack!
DIY Not A great community of DIY-ers sharing projects and advice
Hi Paul,
It sure is more involved to increase your traffic with social media. There is so much more to it. Using your example of Interior design you have given great targeted headlines here. Thanks so much for your input.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..10 Top Sources Of Blog Traffic That You Are Not Using
Twitter: DocMate
August 23, 2016 at 4:51 am #
So true, Donna !! this will also helpful in decreasing bounce rate as well
Twitter: saraharrow
August 12, 2016 at 7:43 am #
Meet Your Audience Where It Exists <—- love this Donna
Find the communities, forums and social media groups where you target audience hangs out.
So many bloggers want to drag their audience to a place where they are comfortable, and then grouse they have no traffic! You have to go where your audience is. This is why I live on Facebook…
If readers only take one point from your post it should be that one. Thanks for sharing your blogging wisdom once more Donna x
Sarah Arrow recently posted..Content Upgrades? Start Here!
Hi Sarah,
Yea, this is really important.
I love the way you say that bloggers want people to come to where THEY are comfortable, viz., their blog.
It’s not important WHERE people learn to trust and follow you, only that they do.
If it’s on Facebook, fine.
It it’s somewhere else, that’s fine, too.
Your blog is always important because it build your personal brand and the trust factor with folks, even if they NEVER visit your actual blog (but they almost always will once they come to trust and value you).
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..5 Top Newbie Blogger Mistakes
Twitter: yonderwillow
August 11, 2016 at 7:36 pm #
Hi Donna. I think the strategy you take to grow your blog depends on what your blog is about. My website came first and I added my blog as a tool to improve the SEO for the main part of my website.
The lion’s share of my traffic comes from Google from people searching for the specific products that I promote. I spend a little bit of time on Facebook, Twitter and here and I get some referral traffic for my efforts, though nothing like the search traffic I get from Google. That’s where my audience is,so SEO is the best place to put my focus, at least for now.
Ben recently posted..You Do Have Magnetic Insoles in Your Shoes, Right?
Hi Ben,
Thanks for adding a different perspective, here.
If you’re promoting products primarily, through e-commerce or review articles, or affiliate sites… it’s a bit different than “blogging” per se.
You can rely more on cold traffic in that case because people are searching for a specific product, and your SEO efforts pay off when you’re on page one of Google.
Sounds like you’ve done a great job and I hope you keep rolling along.
I would suggest, that as you roll along, even with an e-com or affiliate site, that you really try to build a good prospect list… Google can kill your business when their metrics change and your money pages get de-ranked. But if you have a good email list, you’re still in business, just gotta change things out some.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Should I Quit Blogging Or Should I Stay?
Twitter: ChrisDeeWaard
August 11, 2016 at 2:50 pm #
Hi Donna,
Great post. I can definitely relate to “doing what I’ve been told to do” when it comes to blogging. When I do write a post, I share it on social media sites, do some blog hopping, but that tends to be the extent of things.
I have always had trouble getting involved with others whether it’s one-on-one, real world groups or even in online communities.
I was always more comfortable by myself, still am for the most part. Unfortunately, it hasn’t helped me to make an online living. I guess what I need to do to get out of my comfort zone is just dive in and start interacting with others, or I’m in trouble.
Hopefully, this will be the re-starting of my journey forward.
Thanks for the virtual kick in the butt.
Have a great upcoming weekend…….Chris
P.S. I’ve decided to stay in the IM niche for the time being. I will probably have an update to my last post about my health occasionally. We’ll see.
Chris DeeWaard recently posted..Affiliate Marketing Basics
Hi Chris,
I think a lot of bloggers get tripped up here. They think that if they’re online, there’s no reason to come out of their shell. It’s easier and more comfortable to be anonymous.
That just doesn’t translate into business building though.
People don’t want to join your list or buy your products or hire you to provide services if they don’t have a deeper sense of who you are… that’s what leads to trust.
I don’t buy things from people I don’t trust, do you?
It’s really important to build those bridges, my friend.
Good luck with it.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Should I Quit Blogging Or Should I Stay?
Twitter: KathieMac
August 11, 2016 at 12:12 pm #
Hi Donna,
Really excellent advice here.
“You can grow your blog to a limited extent by running a well-structured operation.
But to really reach into the hearts and minds of the people in your target audience, you need to explore, even invent ever newer ways to Grow Your Blog Organically.”
I think you are so right, growing your blog by joining blogging communities, who are your target market is just so smart. It is a very good way of bringing people to your blog. Making sure that what they see when they get there, is equally important. Engagement follows then naturally. You can then give solutions to problems that they trust you with.
All organically grown, your blogging business. Love it.
Hi Kathryn,
Glad you’re on the same wave length with me here.
I’ve been doing this business for quite a while, now, and I’ve been coaching others to find their own success.
I can pretty much guarantee, blogging is NOT about numbers or metrics or amounts of traffic.
It’s all about earning people’s trust. That process begins with connecting with them as people, letting them know you understand and can help them.
This is very difficult to do from paid ads and “traffic drives” that just get tons of random people to visit your blog.
Growing your blogging business more slowly, through organic means, is always better in the long run.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: stellachiu97
August 10, 2016 at 10:05 pm #
Hi, Donna
like that you pointed out the important of organic growth of the blog than just emphasis on how many people in the list. The engagement is the factor of conversing visitors to clients. This is good reminder for us all.
I am starting to observe more about what people talking in FB groups. There were people who have cancers, complaining about so many diet plans that they don’t know which one to choose from. That stimulated me to write a post on “Is there a perfect cancer diet plan for cancer patients?”
Like Ryan and Sherman Smith, I love Quora. I have spent some time to understand the system. Instead of doing guest posts, I can build my authority in my niche by answering the questions (problem). The format suites my style
Thanks for your post.
Stella Chiu
Stella Chiu recently posted..Effective Medicine for Cure without any Side Effect – Part 2
Hi Stella,
Glad you’re liking the Quora format.
The thing is, there’s no perfect place to go for organic traffic.
It all depends on your niche, where your audience is hanging out, and what fits your unique style and preference of communication.
Build engagement, however, wherever you can do it best. That’s the key to organic growth.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Busy Bloggers Are Underachievers
Twitter: mitch_m
August 10, 2016 at 4:19 pm #
There’s that email thing again; one of these years I might actually set something up for that. lol
Maybe I missed it above but my best way of growing my blog organically has always been commenting on other blogs. These days I help my cause by also sharing posts on Twitter that interest me and, hopefully, will interest others who are connected with me there. Value always has a place in growth.
Mitch Mitchell recently posted..Mobile Friendly Versus Mobile Speed
Hi Mitch,
Commenting on other peoples’ blogs is certainly a powerful way to grow you blog organically. But to expand your audience, you do have to outreach beyond your regular crowd.
Twitter helps do that, as do Facebook, LinkedIn and any social media site where your target audience convenes.
Find out where your leads and prospects are, then let them know how to find your blog. That’s really the path to organic growth.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: imtorsten
August 10, 2016 at 2:32 pm #
Hi Donna,
I love how you state to “bring trouble to your blog”. Solving a problem that your targeted audience faces is a great way to drive traffic, increase the audience and find customers.
I found that great places to lurk around and see what trouble people are into are Facebook groups, the good old niche forums, or answer sites like Quora.
You usually can find an abundance of troubles to address and use a a base for blogging ideas.
Thanks for sharing,
Torsten
Torsten Mueller recently posted..What Is The Best Link Cloaker To Buy Right Now?
Hi Torsten,
Yes, bringing trouble to your blog will certainly attract those in search of solutions to their problems.
That’s why you need to “lurk around” Facebook groups, niche forums and answer sites. Your target audience is there, seeking ways to overcome their troubles.
When you lead them to your blog where they can find solutions to their problems, they will certainly follow.
Donna Merrill recently posted..Build Your Business With eBook Marketing
Twitter: BAMoneyBlogger
August 10, 2016 at 2:28 pm #
Hi Donna
Organic way is the long lasting way in the world of online marketing.
Numbers do have their own value but value doesn’t know what numbers are. It simply believes in results.
It is better to have ten blog visitors daily with 30% conversion rate that means 3 out of 10 would buy your product.
On the other hand having 1000 daily visitors with 0.0001 per cent conversion means the focus is on quantity and not the quality.
It shows that the traffic grown with organic traffic brings more results proportionate wise as compare to static efforts that could be so impressive but not very much profitable.
What is the use of a big jump in monthly profit that could not be sustained for the subsequent months and one has to nose dive again on previous income level.
It creates uncertainty and for any kind of entrepreneurial activity uncertainty is a big blow on over all confidence level.
Thanks for sharing such a thought provoking post.
Have a great rest of the week.
Mi Muba recently posted..How to cleverly monetize your blog interview post?
Hi Mi Muba,
Organic growth is a slower process to develop, for sure, than paid advertising or buying followers.
But it also is more long lasting, as you’ve pointed out, and is the better business model to follow for long term growth.
It’s also a better business model for getting conversions of subscribers to buyers and clients, because it’s based on sincere relationship building and engagement.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Twitter: coachtocoachguy
August 9, 2016 at 7:52 pm #
I love your advice Donna!
Especially where you shared and advised us, to engage our
audience, not just head count them!LOL!
It’s so easy to get overly wrapped up in various non important metrics,
like how many likes or retweets etc!
Our target audience really could care less, how many twitter followers someone
has, especially if we can’t help them solve or address one of the
most pressing issues!
Thanks for opening our eyes, and helping us get back on track!
Mark recently posted..How To Take Advantage Of One Of The Most Powerful Small Business Tools!
Hi Mark,
Engagement is the biggest difference between making folks part of your business, and pushing them away.
It’s important to find ways to bring people to your blog… but it’s at least equally important to make them glad to be there.
That always means improving their lives, and that very often means giving them solutions to their problems.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Your Blog Is A Sales Funnel
Twitter: notnowmomsbusy
August 9, 2016 at 4:21 pm #
Hi Donna,
As always, this is great advice. I checked my stats this past weekend and I noticed my organic traffic was third on my list. Not too bad but it was #1.
I already know the reason for the drop is due to the change in my blogging schedule.
Now that I know what it is, I can make a plan and move forward.
The good news is I do the things you mentioned here, I just have to make more time for it and be more consistent with it.
As far as doing anything different to grow my blog organically, I can’t say that I do but you gave me something to think about.
Thanks for sharing Donna. Hope you’re having a great day.
Cori
Cori Ramos recently posted..Five Reasons Why Your Blog Visitors Don’t Stick Around
Hi Cori,
It is always good to check those stats to see where people are coming from. Indeed, a change in your blog format can knock things around a bit, but as long as you remain consistent, you will see a spike of organic traffic.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Should I Quit Blogging Or Should I Stay?
Twitter: ravichahar27
August 9, 2016 at 6:55 am #
Hey Donna,
People are working hard to get more organic traffic to their blog. The ways you have mentioned work the best.
Connecting with other people has the major influence on the traffic of your blog. Asking questions and solving the problem would let people connect with you more.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful article with us.
Have a great day.
~Ravi
Ravi Chahar recently posted..40 Incredible Ways To Increase Facebook Page Likes?
Hi Ravi,
Yes, people do work hard to get organic traffic.
They often have only a few notions of how to do this, and rarely apply consistent, well planned strategies.
I’m glad you found some valuable ones here.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Don’t Get Busy – Get Focused
Twitter: leadingedgeadv
August 8, 2016 at 8:35 pm #
Hi Donna,
I like your idea of bringing trouble to your blog. People are definitely getting online to solve their issues and taking advantage of the targeted communities. Finding the right group that connects with the problem you’re solving is huge. It’ll get you much farther than trying to shove it in just anyone’s face.
Great advice, once again!
~Lea
Lea Bullen recently posted..The Real Reason You’re About to Lose It
Hi Lea,
It’s a funny idea to bring trouble to your blog because most people do everything they can to avoid trouble.
But let’s face it, your readers, your prospects, your followers… they all have trouble in their businesses and in their lives. They’re happy to find some leaders and authorities in their niche who will welcome these problems and dive head first into resolving them.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Hey Donna,
This line is the kicker
“Blogs that focus on static growth fail to understand that real growth, though, comes from actually engaging folks, not just head counting them.”
A lot of people, including myself, get into this blog publishing routine that doesn’t go beyond a certain threshold as far as traffic and conversions.
This year, I’ve been spreading myself more so. Not only do i go to blogs, but also I’ve been going to Quora and Inbound.org where I answer questions as well as engage with other bloggers.
This sites give me ideas of what topics to focus on and also it helped me to narrow down my target audience even more so, which resulted in getting more email subscribers.
Thanks for sharing Donna! Have a great rest of the week!
Sherman Smith recently posted..Why Solopreneurs Struggle With Generating Blog Traffic
Hi Sherman,
You made a really important point here… that getting involved in communities where your target audience hangs out gives you really good ideas for developing content, like your blog posts, email newsletter, eBooks, info courses, videos etc etc etc
What’s really important about that observation is that so many people develop content that simply does not resonate with their target audience.
So they work really hard to develop the content, people tell them it’s interesting, but they don’t subscribe to their newsletters, if they do they don’t open the emails, and they’re very unlikely to buy their products or services… all because the content they’re being exposed to simply does not resonate with them.
You learn a lot by getting around and immersing yourself in communities where your target audience is already active and engaged.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Build Your Business With eBook Marketing
Twitter: ryanbiddulph
August 8, 2016 at 4:07 pm #
Hi Donna,
I’m using each of these methods, following your lead, and I’m big on Quora right now too.
Totally revamped my blog design so now folks see social media account prominent on my home page. They can take things off site which is no prob because they have their preferences and all roads lead to Rome….and Blogging From Paradise 😉
Seriously though, when you’re helping on Groups, or Quora or Communities, asking questions and answering, folks will remember you, and eventually, many will click your blog link and become readers, then customers.
Just today I made another audio course sale and eBook sale for the same person. I noticed him from Twitter engagements. The power of social media, done right, strikes again.
The issue is folks think static-style or linearly, doing A plus B to get C, and C is never enough. Gotta think organically, growing by connect with folks through their pain points, across a wide spectrum of channels funneling into your blog, and these folks will spread your word through social, thru email and yes, search engines will come to love your stuff too when you do things organically.
Super post Donna.
Ryan
Ryan Biddulph recently posted..How Being Sandwiched Between 2 Turkish Brothels Corrects Your Biggest Blogging Mistakes
Hi Ryan,
Glad to hear that you’re spreading your wings.
That’s the way to expand your business and grow your following, not by just standing in one place, doing the same thing every day, and periodically increasing your effort.
The point of an online business via blogging is for things to get easier, not harder… always doing less, not more. That’s only possible when you understand the dynamic of growth as a business model.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How Can I Promote My eBook
Twitter: blogginganne
August 8, 2016 at 2:59 pm #
Great advice, as always. Ideally, this works well enough for a community to eventually evolve around your own blog (just here!)
Anne recently posted..July 2016 Traffic & Revenue Report
Hi Anne,
That’s the idea, to build a community, a tribe of folks who are interested in what you’ve got going on at your own blog. That’s where the engagement matures into a following.
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Build Your Business With eBook Marketing