Connecting With Your Community of Readers (Part 3)

As promised, I’m finishing up my session with you from BlissDom.  I was on a panel with 3 other fabulous bloggers.  You can catch up by reading:

• BlissDom: Part 1
• BlissDom: Part 2

My purpose in sharing the short version of my session with you, is to convince you to save your pennies and come to BlissDom with us next year!  {{giddy}}  I also believe that if you know something you should share it!

It’s time to wrap things up by getting to the deep stuff that no one ever tells you.  Well, they do tell you but you don’t believe them until you discover that it really does work after trial and error yourself.  {{HA!  Come on, you know it’s true.}}

Blog Community Tools – Tricks of the Trade

There are many tools that you can use to build your own community.  If you’re not ready to build your own – these tools will also help you to join and participate in other communities.  Once you’ve made a name for yourself in these communities, it will be a lot easier to create your own.

Facebook Fan Page – In my opinion, If you have a blog you should have a fan page.  Why?

• Because statistics are showing that Facebook is one of the most effective ways to promote your blog.
• Facebook is also growing faster than Twitter and has a more mature age range.  So basically more my demographic of readers.
• I wouldn’t bother creating a Networked Blogs page.  It just divides your readership with 2 different applications.
• There are people who won’t comment on your blog, but they will engage with you via Facebook.  Give them the option!

Some of my must have software and sites:

1. Tweet Deck for Twitter (they have an iPhone app – it’s fabulous!)
2. YouTube – this is a great way to allow your readers to really see your personality.  Use it to highlight a different side of you.  If you post about your family on your blog – use YouTube video to focus on you as a woman.  ie.  Fashion, movie reviews, etc.
3. Google Analytics – Site Meter is for newbies.  If you’ve been blogging for over a year it’s time to join the big girls and get to know your readers, referrers, and most popular posts.
4. Ning & Blog Frog – Use these communities to make a name for yourself and promote your blog.  Make sure to stay true to yourself and your personality and use it organically.  Friend people and interact with them regularly.  This will help you become known in your niche and in these communities.  Then you can create your own.
5. Link Within – It’s important to have loyal readers.  To do this, they’ve got to really know you and what you bring to the table.  This application will show your readers visually the related posts which will bring more page views and allow your readers to really see what you have to offer.

Spotlight Your Blog Readers & Top Referrers

There are many great examples, here are the couple we highlighted:

• The Nester uses Tumblr
• Amy posts her monthly notebook
• SITSgirls readers have to comment in order to be featured
• Pink Lemonade gives free ads as a thank you for being her top referral

Tricks of the Trade – The Easy Button for Traffic

1. Use Google Alerts to find out who’s posting about you.  Send them a nice thank you e-mail or comment.  This creates friendships which creates loyalty.
2. Use Google Analytics to find out what your top 10 posts are.  Use these topics and SEO words to create more posts that are related.  These are the topics you’re readers and Googler’s are most interested in.
3. Publicly thank your top referrers.  Post about them, give them free ad space on your blog, collaborate with them on fun projects.  Share the link love.
4. Guest post as often as you can.  Why?  This breads traffic – for both bloggers involved.
5. Interview each other and share traffic in your niche.  Why?  See #4

Share What You Know – The Next Level

First set your blog up for success:

• Put your picture on the homepage of your blog!  People have to know who you are to connect with you.  Be consistent with your profile pictures – have it the same everywhere so people can recognize you instantly.  Use a real picture not a avatar.
• Create solutions to your readers problems – then sell it.
• Teach as you learn
• Barter ad space for products you want
• Have the Mom-preneur who’s giveaway you’re  hosting giveaway 2 products.   One for the winner and one for you.
• Have an About page
• Organize blog parties and meet ups.

Now it’s time to take the lead:

• Create a product:  book, eBook, download
• Use your powers for good:  teach what you know, help charities or another blogger

Thank You for Reading!

This is just a small bit of the information that was shared during our BlissDom session.  I hope you learned something.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. I’m here to help!

This is the contact information to everyone who was on the panel.  What I shared with you in this 3 part post is my point of view. You would have had to attend the session to get theirs. {{wink}}

Amy – Mom Advice, @momadvice
Stephanie – Adventures in Babywearing, @babysteph
Mindy – The Mommy Blog , @themommyblog
Laurie – Tip Junkie, @tipjunkie

Also, if you’d like to attend a social media conference (blogging conference) but don’t want to travel far or spend a lot of cash, check out the Bloggy Boot Camps from the SITSgirls.  They are intimate and you will learn a LOT not to mention network with the movers and shakers in your local area.

I’ll be attending two more conferences this spring:

• May 1st:  Bloggy Boot Camp – Phoenix (I’ll be speaking)
• June 24th:  Evo Conference – Park City, UT

I hope you can come and we can finally meet in real life!  {{squeal in delight}}