5 Little Known Ways to Grow Your Blog
This is a guest post by Kim Roach of BuzzBlogger.com. She provides us with some novel ideas for growing our blogs, some of which I’ll be trying out very soon. Enjoy!
I just finished off a large Starbucks Doubleshot and have now settled into my favorite chair to share with you some of my favorite (largely untapped) traffic strategies.
These aren’t your traditional, run-of-the-mill traffic tactics that you hear all over the web… article marketing, guest blogging, forum marketing, Twitter, etc…
All of those are fine and good, but in this article, I’d like to go outside the box a bit and show you 5 little-known traffic strategies that I’ve been using to grow my blog.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in…
1. Convert Your Content into Ebooks
This one little strategy is bringing me thousands of extra visitors with very little extra work on my part.
You simply convert one of your articles (or a collection of related articles) into a PDF. You can do this for free at http://www.youconvertit.com or http://www.pdfonline.com/convert-pdf.
You then submit your newly created ebook to:
There are hundreds of ebook directories online, but these are the most popular one’s that will send you 99% of your traffic.
If you’re a blogger, you could easily be driving thousands of extra visitors to your website simply by converting your existing content into ebooks.
Important Note: You MUST make sure that you have links pointing back to your blog within the report. I also highly recommend that you include a promo at the end of your report that sends people to your squeeze page where you can grow your list of subscribers.
If you have paid ebooks, you can submit them to http://e-library.net/add.html.
You can also submit your ebook to a few document sharing sites like Scribd.com, DocStoc.com, eSnips.com, Calameo.com, Issuu.com, and Yudu.com.
There are so many ways that you can re-purpose your content for extra exposure. You could easily be getting 10x more traffic from every article you write simply by reformatting it into ebooks, videos, podcasts, forum posts, etc…
2. Build Your Tribe
Social media seems to be all the rage nowadays.
However, there are very few people really teaching how to take full advantage of this worldwide phenomenon.
But as a blogger you have a very unique opportunity to create exponential growth using the power of social media. But to do that, you must first build your tribe.
With a blog you’re able to create a small cult-like community of raving fans. However, very few people are building and fostering their tribe appropriately.
Because to build a real community, you’ve got to be in the trenches… replying to every comment, engaging in every Twitter conversation that touches your sphere of influence, reading and replying to ALL of your emails, offering special chat times, and most importantly – adding value at every point of contact.
Once you have a tribal community, you will have created an invaluable asset – an ARMY of people who will comment on your posts, Tweet your content, engage in conversation, and become your very best social evangelists.
Everyone on the Web has now become a content creator or buzz facilitator using tools like email, Twitter, Digg, Delicious, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Wikis, and instant messaging.
It is now easier than ever to create rapid growth in your company using the buzz factor of your existing audience.
Create remarkable content and then allow your readers to promote your content for you. Your readers are now the center of any successful marketing.
3. Content Integration
I’m sure you’ve heard about the power of article marketing and guest blogging, but you can take this a step further with the use of content integration marketing.
Content integration is basically where you integrate your content into other people’s traffic funnels. So this could be blogs, membership sites, products, emails, etc…
But the one’s I’d like us to look at further are products and membership sites.
Most of you are probably very familiar with creating content for other people’s websites, but we rarely think about creating exclusive content for other people’s products or membership sites.
These are HUGE, largely untapped traffic sources.
Membership site owners are constantly looking for great content that they can put inside their member’s area. In fact, that’s one of the hardest parts of owning a membership site (continuously updating it with new content).
But it represents a huge opportunity for you to come in and provide exclusive, high-quality content in return for massive exposure to a large group of buyers.
I’ve done this myself with other Internet Marketing membership sites and it has sent me thousands of extremely high-quality visitors and hundreds of subscribers.
You can also integrate your content with other people’s products. Simply find a popular product in your market and then create some extremely high-quality complementary content that they could offer as a bonus.
This is a win-win for both of you because they get to delight their customers with even more premium content and you get exposure to a large base of buyers.
By pairing your products and content with other products within your market you are going to create an instant, perpetual flow of traffic to your website.
4. Ad Swaps
One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make is not building a list of subscribers. Bloggers could dramatically increase their income if they focused on building their list of subscribers rather than their RSS readers.
(This is Pat stepping in really quick. I just have to reiterate what Kim just said, because the list is hugely important! For those of you who do not yet have your own lists setup, you can check out my Beginner’s Guide to Starting a List Here.)
So, why is a list of subscribers so powerful? Well, essentially it allows you to create traffic on demand. With a list, you can send thousands of visitors to the page of your choice with the push of a button.
So you instantly have a built-in community of readers that will read all of your future posts, comment, tweet, and drive sales 10x higher than you would be able to produce with your blog alone.
With a mailing list, you have now built extreme leverage into your business. It doesn’t matter how Google changes their algorithm, because you’ll always have a fan base that you can tap into at will.
Plus, once you’ve built an initial “seed” list of 500-1,000 subscribers, you can then start building your list exponentially using the power of ad swaps to add hundreds of new subscribers in a single day.
Essentially, an ad swap occurs when two list owners each agree to mail their list about the OTHER person’s free offer. This is usually a free offer placed on a squeeze page in exchange for someone’s name and email address. As a result, they both add hundreds of subscribers to their lists in a single day.
Some of the best places to look for ad swap partners include:
- Matt Garrett’s Internet Marketing AdSwaps
- Warrior Joint Ventures
- Adswap Finder
- ListSwapper.com
- JV Notify Pro Joint Venture Community (You Must be Registered to View this Section)
- JvMe.com
- The IM Joint Venture Social Network
5. Bonus Strategy
Now, before I end this article (and the caffeine high wears off), I’d like to share my all-time secret traffic strategy.
You can generate all the traffic you could ever want by using this one little secret…
Are you ready?
Come a little close so I can whisper it in your ear…
*** At the end of the day, it’s really all about VALUE.
If you deliver truly remarkable content on an ongoing basis, then no one can hold you back. You’ll be surprised how quickly you start to build up a group of raving fans when you put out truly great content.
And when I say truly great content, I’m not talking about good content or even great content. I’m talking about producing remarkable content on an ongoing basis.
I need to crave your content more than I do my daily Starbucks.
It’s got to be that good.
Turn your marketing into an experience that your readers look forward to each and every day.
If you’d like to discover ALL 24 of Kim’s hidden traffic sources, go to http://www.buzzblogger.com/freetraffic to claim your FREE Underground Traffic Report.
Posted on : April 16th, 2010
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- Cold Selling Sucks – 5 Ways to Build a Relationship With Your Traffic
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63 Comments (Click Here to Leave a Comment Below)
I have been reading more about creating an eBook. The creation is not the most difficult part, though. Marketing and actually turning a profit would be more difficult for many!
Great post!
Hey Pat and Kim!
I’ve mostly been doing guest blogging and “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” style tweeting (though of course, it’s fortunately all bloggers I think write great stuff!)
Ad swaps are something I should really look into as well – I remember thinking about doing them at one point, but they kind of fell to the backburner…and then off my list completely
Thanks for the reminder!
Hey Sid,
Great to hear from you!
I think you’ll definitely like the ad swaps. I actually did one a couple days ago that brought in 773 new subscribers. The key is finding good swap partners who are dedicated to providing good value to their subscribers like you.
I like the idea about tweet swaps. I’ll have to start trying that out as well
Cheers,
Kim
“little known” is really a good title for this post. Good post, Kim.
But the best tip of all is the last one. Adding value is a timeless way to grow an audience
Indeed!
Value is always the key.
- Kim
But nothing is better than blogging and affiliate marketing.
Pat, thank you for having Kim Roach as your guest. I learned something new. I did not know about ad swapping. Kim made some valid points especially about the information on subscriber lists.
BTW, Pat I always look forward to your blog entries. After reading your posts, I always feel that I have read something of value and I never feel like I am wasting my time when I come to your site. You always go outside of the box and that is what I like about your blog. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the links to submit my free ebook. I already have a free ebook on my site titled “How to Work With a REVA: A beginners guide to working with a real estate virtual assistant” and now this will really get it out there. I love the other tips too and will be printing this out for my reference binder. Just one of the ways I always have great info at my fingertips!
Pat, it’s great that you featured Kim’s post as it’s amazing and full of value. This is a must-print and post for me
Hi Kim,
I really enjoyed reading this article this morning. Maybe it’s partially due to me being a coffee lover as well.
Seriously though, these look like some very useful and unique ways to build long term traffic. Your approach involves giving the reader more value versus just focusing on “stats” , which is something that really stood out in your post.
I look forward to implementing these into my business – and reading the report.
Take Care, Mike
Thanks Mike!
I’m a coffee lover as well
I’d love to hear more about your results after you implement these strategies.
Cheers,
Kim
Kim,
I’m in the process of working on my 1 year anniversary stuff for my blog and the tip on ebooks here is invaluable. I’ve been assembling the content into a pdf, but those ebook directories sound like a great tool. I’m definitely going to do that. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Kim, thanks for the great post. I believe many people can benefit from turning their highly valuable content into a free ebook/report. Using the report to grow your email contact list is invaluable when you get down the road and have a product you can charge money for. Giving it away free is very enticing to people for a simple email address. These people have asked for future updates so you have conversions waiting to happen. Great information, thanks again.
Convert your posts into ebooks. I didn’t know that there were places to submit these. That’s pretty cool to know. Does it affect you as far as duplicate content in anyway?
I also like your line about “build a real community… reply to every comment” but noticed that this doesn’t pertain to guest posting.
Just saying!
Great tips.. Building that list will make it a lot easier for you to be a blogger making money then JUST a blogger.
Kim/Pat, thanks for the great tips. I agree that providing readers with value is the most important part of any good blog. I never really thought about “content integration” before. Interesting idea. Building a tribe has been the biggest hurdle for us so far.
Remarkable content is a “little known” way to grow your blog? Come on now, everyone has heard that “Content is King!”
Seriously though, excellent post. I’ll definitely remember these tips.
I planned on having a giving away an ebook to get people to sign up for my list – great idea to use one posted around the web to draw people to my blog! Thanks for the tips.
[...] 5 Little Known Ways to Grow Your Blog | The Smart Passive Income Blog [...]
Great ideas. It makes me want to go create an e-book.
Kim-
That’s really great stuff. Every time I begin to use one of your traffic techniques, and it starts to gain traction, you come up with another one that is just as good, if not better. Something that I can use once I have a good handle on the one I am using.
Also, I like your constant, delivering value. No matter what you are doing to grow your business, if helping people is first and foremost, you will succeed.
I know your ideas work, because they worked on me. Now, they are working for me. I can’t thank you enough.
Thank You-
Matthew Zinda
Thank you so much for your kind words Matthew
That means a lot to me.
Cheers,
Kim
Another great post Kim! I have to say your hidden traffic sources report is one of the things I continually go back to regularly (like daily!) to get more ideas and keep myself on track in the traffic department. Thanks for all the great traffic ideas.
Hey Jackie,
Great to hear from you!
I’m actually in the process of updating the Hidden Traffic Sources report so it’s about to get even better
Cheers,
Kim
Some very good advice. I had not thought of Content Integration so will be trying this out.
Kim Roach is definitely the Traffic Queen and an awesome mentor(author of article). She writes the best articles on driving traffic. Everyone you need to connect with her, opt in to her list..nothing but gold nuggets there. Pat this is one bad ass blog my friend. Make it a great day!
Tim
Thanks Tim! No one has ever called my blog bad ass, so that’s pretty awesome! Cheers!
I saw your picture the other day so it is nice to see a face that goes with the brains. I get the feeling I could really learn a lot from you. You keep doing this and people are going to think I know what I am doing.
Terrific voice by the way. Have a great weekend as I now have to grab a cup of hot coffee to digest what you just sent me. Paul
Thanks for the information about ebooks sites! I wasn’t going to read this post, because I am so behind in everything, but now I’m glad I did. The inspiration will help me move forward faster.
Thanks for the tips. Maybe I can make money online afterall.
Great post Kim. Like always you deliver amazing content.
hi Kim and Pat,
I am taking steps to start my own blog, and I read Kim’s ebook on traffic sources the other day. I just wanted to let you guys know I really appreciate the tips on both of your sites. There’s so much information out there it can be hard to know which advice to follow, but I feel strongly that Kim’s system is the one that is going to work for me. I’ll let you know how it goes when it’s time to launch!
Nice blog Pat,
I just got news of your blog through Kim today and I’m sure I’ll be back.
I gotta say, I’ve been on Kim’s list for a while and she always seems to be able to add value to my business on every post or email.
She certainly practises what she preaches with the remarkable content, join her and you’ll prosper, it’s that easy!
PS: Another Ad Swap site I’ve been trying over the past few weeks is Safe-Swaps.com. They have verifed lists so you can be sure of your swap partners list size before you swap. They have also incorporated a ranking tool that shows how many swaps were successful for each member..(I hope this helps)
Good luck to all,
Neil
Thanks Neil. I’ll definitely be following Kim because of the great content she provided in this guest post, and all of the support she gets from her subscribers.
Thanks for the additional adswap site! Cheers!
Thank you Pat and Kim. This reinforces the attitude and approach we must take with our online business: we do not have competitors online. We have a community, friends, and partners.
Excellent point Oliver!
This is so true.
It’s amazing what happens when people work synergistically.
hi Kim
as allways you are filled with loads of great traffic generating and money making ideas which actually work thanks for sharing resources (sites )with us
great work say are you a genius i think so
thanks and regards
peter mcgrath
Hey Pat and Kim,
thank you both for the awesome content. I´ve been following Kim for about 6 months now and I must say if you want Traffic she is the go to person. Every week she delivers excellent tips and she definitely cares about every single subscriber on her list!
Pat, excellent work on your videos -specially the Facebook Tutorials are excellent! I´d be following your newsletter from now on, too
Have a wonderful day,
Heide
Wow!
Thank you so much for your kind words
That means a lot to me.
Cheers,
Kim
Hi Kim,
I have read your free traffic report and it is excellent and I have learnt a lot from this report. I’ve also watch a few of your long videos and the great content just blew me away!
Thanks for the great stuff! Look forward to learning from you!
Cheers,
Ming Jong
I need to find a way to work these into my website. Great article, Excellent blog, follows the 5th Bonus Strategy to the tee…
Mahalo…,
Mike
I’m really thinking of creating an eBook out of the previous posts we’ve done. I’d like to add that if you’re gonna make an eBook, make sure it’s formatted well so anyone, including those who use assistive technology, can use and enjoy it.
Hey Pat, I have been following Kimfor a month now it seems she always has something of great value. One can never get enough info on traffic. Thanks for all the info. Alan
Hi, Pat.Thanks for sharing Kim’s information.Great and useful as usual.Greetings from Argentina
Hey Pat,
First off great post, and thank you Kim (I will be going to your site for sure for more!) I have been reading the Smart Passive Income blog for a while and have gained some good insight and used many of the recommendations I was searching for when I decided to setup my own site. I have kinda modeled it after yours as far as the concept. I also want to include information on semi-passive types of income like franchises and real estate investments down the road but I am still in the early stages of setting up my blog and business.
Anyway, thanks again!
Richard
@Pat please explain how submitting your free eBooks to the eBook directories will help you build a list of blog subscribers? Do these sites require users to enter in their name and emails before they download the eBooks just like they will have to on your site and do these sites give you exclusive access to the names and emails of those who downloaded your eBook?
Owen, these sites don’t require you to enter any information like name or email before downloading the eBooks. Instead, they are done totally for free, but it’s the content within your eBook (which should include links back to your own site, multiple times throughout!), which drives the traffic back to your site.
Thanks for your response and I think once my eBook is completed I will just leave it on my site, I need to be able to build my list. It would have been nice if those sites allowed the authors of the eBooks to build their list as well.
[...] of all, I’d like to thank Kim Roach for a killer traffic growing guest post last Friday, and I’d also like to thank her tribe. Many of Kim’s loyal followers came [...]
Kim,
I have to say this is one of the best guest posts I’ve read in a long while. Some great tips with a couple I’ve never heard of (the ad swapping one) with one which every blogger should base their marketing strategy on and that is adding value.
Within the last year alone, I’ve stopped following a number of high-profile bloggers due to them constantly selling either their own affiliate marketing products or telling me I only have so many hours to sign-up for so-and-so’s special offer. It just gets old week after week. I understand people have to make a living but there has to be a balance which I feel some bloggers like Pat does perfectly. Giving people value is the best sales pitch there is.
Again, great guest post!
Wesley Craig Green
Kim,
Thank you for the super tips. I am just in the midst of going over my posts of a year plus and reformatting them into ebooks so this info is very timely … I had no idea about the places I could submit my ebooks to! That alone is major never mind the other four which pack quite a wallop too!
Hi Kim
Just when I think you’ve come up with the ultimate post, you spring another one on us!!
Great content yet again Kim – you have a big UK fan here!
I am really keen to exploit the social media source for traffic as I believe there is great potential to be had. (That may well be my next idea!)
Thanks Kim
James
All sucessfull entreprenuers say to add value and be the best you can be.
This is the best article I have stumbled upon in a long time. Very informative with all the links you need to get started. You sure practice what you preach…”Your Value Is That Good”
Thank you so much for the post, guess who’s just earned a new follower!
Thank you Kim, been following your tips for about a year now and you always come up with new stuff! How do you do it? keep up the good work. Thanks, Tim
I’ve got that super great content working for me and know a lot of internet marketing tips, but I’ve got to say that I learned some great tips from this article that I will be implementing… thanks!
Great article! You really have to update your blog frequently and post useful content on it to keep traffic moving on your blog.
Hi Pat, you have a nice blog here man and the content is great. Keep up the good work so I can come here more often and check out your awesome blog post. Keep it up!
Im concerned that I haven’t set up an email subscriber list yet. I know I should be setting one up with Aweber, but I currently have feedburner managing my email subscriptions and RSS. Is there a way to convert feedburner email subscribers to Aweber?
Hey Kim & Pat, thanks for the traffic tips. I am currently trying to start building a list and have created a small mini-course which I offer to my subscribers…slow going but people are signing up!
Thanks for the tips..I hope to convert my blog into an ebook and increase the traffic…
Thankyou…I im off to put your tips into action.
Great article, very useful info for me. But an ebook probably wont work for my posts, because of pictured. That might fall into copyrighting.
Hey Pat, firstly thanks for another quality post. You mentioned to make your content into an ebook, you can also get good results and more visitors by creating videos from your blog. I’ve done this on several occasions by literally reading the blog post and making a quick powerpoint presentation – its worked great to add more material to my blog and get more visitors!