Hey I’m Here!
I remember all too well when I had my blog set up. There were 6 or 7 posts and I had 6 or 7 readers — all friends who were doing me a favor. I wanted so much to find a way to say, “Hey, I’m here! Come read me!”
I’m not patient in such situations. I’m a person who likes to make things happen. So make things happen is what I did.
That First Comment
I had no experience of blogging, but I had heard of blog directories, so I Googled to find some. I found more than plenty. I spent that very first week submitting my blog to every directory. I’d submit to several each day. Then I’d go read blogs and comment. (Commenting is another post. ) After 21 days, but it happened, I got a comment from someone I didn’t know. (You never forget your first comment.)
Directories
While I was submitting to directories, I discovered more than one kind of directory. A directory is a listing of blogs with a description a link for each that readers can search and follow. Some directories list any kind of blog and place them intocategories. Some accept only certain types, such as only business blogs. You can find out what information you need to gather, how to submit your blog, and three extensive directory listings by following this link on the NEW BLOGGER Page.
Click Exchanges
You may by now have run into a Click Exchange such as Blog Explosion, Blog Advance, Blog Mad, Blog Clicker, or others. Each of these can be used to build up your traffic. Notice I say traffic, not readership.
Most people who use a click exchange sit and click without reading, so they don’t really see you blog. They are only trying to gain credit so that you will click on them. So know that when you build up those clicks and get that traffic, most folks stay only the required 30 seconds. Maybe 1 in 100 will actually read you long enough to come back again.
However, I do have something good to say about click exchanges for new bloggers and folks with personal blogs. When I was a brand-new blogger, I used a click exchange. I would read the blogs I liked, review them, and leave comments. Those bloggers I read often became my friends. Many are still my friends today. The Google Blogspot nav bar can help new bloggers out the same way.
The big click exchanges have forums, games, and other incentives for bloggers to meet and interact. So don’t overlook them or say pfft if you’re looking for a sense of community and some folks to talk to.
One caution about using click exchanges: When you use a click exchange, you are really surfing. Be sure you have a strong virus program and a firewall. My virus program has intercepted more than one trojan while checking out blogs on the best click exchange, and we have a serial router system with two firewalls. You’ll also need to empty your browser cache often, because every site will leave a cookie. You might want to set your history to zero.
Meet the World Head On
Like everything else, the world of blogging keeps on turning whether you stay at your blog waiting or go out to find it. It’s more fun if you go meet it head on. Lots of folks seem to take up blogging at this time of year. Don’ t think that you’re the only one. Blogging is still new enough that even a few months experience makes a blogger seem a pro.
Have fun and meet some folks. Then bring them over and introduce them. We’ll show them around and make them feel at home.
If you have a question, leave a comment. After all, comments are another way to say to the rest of us, “I’m here. Come see me.”
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related
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