5 Ways to Promote your Blog

Creating a blog and updating it can be challenging enough, but the real difficulty lies in promoting it. I have had Organised Clutter for over a year now, and I am still learning the ropes of the blogging world. Initially I did not have numerous social media accounts since I found it difficult to dedicate time to each profile and my blog – but now I have come to realize that these social networks exist to make our lives easier.

Connect with others from across the globe!

If you’re a blogger who wants to expand their horizons and reach more people, then it is important that you invest the time to create and maintain profiles on social networks. Now the problems is – there are hundreds, yes hundreds, of social networks out there, which one do you use to promote your blog? No fear, here is a list that I have made to help you understand the usage of the 5 most popular networks around:

#1 Twitter

Twitter is similar to blogging, except it is done on a minute scale. You have a space of 140 characters to express yourself and grab the attention of millions. With an estimated 500 million registered users, Twitter is your oasis to get the word out.

Tips:

1. Use #hashtags to get your tweets found. Hashtags are like ‘tags’ (used in WordPress, Tumblr and Google+)
2. Include a link to your blog within your bio
3. Customize your profile picture, header and background
4. Link your blog to Twitter so posts are directly tweeted
5. Follow other bloggers and show your support – it is all about networking!

Follow me on Twitter!

#2 Pinterest

Pinterest is similar to Twitter, except it is with images. Treat your account as a literal ‘pinboard’ of your interests/ideas/thoughts. It is like a place where you can collect inspiration and create excellent links back to your blog. As the fastest growing social network, my suggestion is that you start pinning!

Tips:

1. Hashtags are a huge part of Pinterest – use the wisely
2. Link your blog in the bio section
3. Upload your profile picture to unify your online presence
4. Create links to your articles by uploading images and providing a link
5. Create pinboards related to different themes e.g. if your blog is about beauty, you can have pinboards such as ‘Lips’, ‘Nails’ and ‘Hair’ (amongst many others) Don’t be hesitant to have random boards such as ‘Wish List’ and ‘Places I want to Visit’ – these give your blog a personality and humanizes you for your followers.

Are you following me on Pinterest yet???

Build your unique brand to stand out from the crowd

#3 Facebook

As the most obvious social network, Facebook is an excellent place to promote your blog. Only issue is, it takes time and dedication. Personally I find Facebook to be the most demanding network as I have to dedicate time to build the content for the page. However – it is also the most fun social network out there for bloggers so it is well worth the effort. Since I have made my Facebook page, I have joined groups (such as GIG Bloggers), which help you meet more bloggers and find amazing articles.

Tips:

1. Personalize your cover photo and profile picture
2. Customize the tabs to feature your blog and other social networks (check out my page to see how it looks)
3. Connect your blog to Facebook so all posts are directly available on your timeline

#4 Bloggers.com

In a nutshell, bloggers.com is a platform where you meet other bloggers. It is like a Starbucks for us – we can connect and follow others to keep up to date as well as provide a glimpse of our blog. You can participate in ‘Talks’, which can be treated as forum/discussion groups and build an audience for your blog. Claim your blog on bloggers.com to explore the world out there!

Tips:

1. Claim your blog by following the simple steps on the website
2. Add a badge in your blogs sidebar/footer to let visitors know how to find you

And while you are there, you can follow me.

#5 BlogLovin’ 

Having joined bloglovin’ yesterday, I must say it is one of the most useful social networks for bloggers out there. If you are on WordPress, then BlogLovin’ can be explained as being the ‘Reader’ – all latest posts from blogs you are following are streamed in one convenient place.

Tips:

1. Claim your blog by posting the code provided upon registration
2. Upload your profile picture
3. Follow bloggers and spread the word!

Here I am on BlogLovin’

It is best to determine which social networks are most useful for you specific blog

On a Parting Note…

What’s even more convenient and amazing is that social networks are available on your finger tips – just download the apps and viola! you can engage with readers wherever you please. Technology really has made our life easier, why not take advantage of it!

Social networking is an essential part of blogging. If you want to get the word out there about your blog, you need to have fresh content combined with an active social presence. Yes, some blogs have made it without social media – but why wouldn’t you want to connect with others on various platforms to expand your scope?

PS: I know it seems self-promotion-y, but I included the links to follow me to see how each page looks. Don’t feel pressurized to click ‘follow’ if you don’t want to (although I hope you do)