Social Media Tips for New Bloggers

So you’d like to start blogging, and have a pretty good idea of what you’d like to write.  Now you just have to figure out:  How do I get people to start reading my new blog?

A friend in this situation recently asked me for some social media and promotion tips.  I’ve only been blogging for one year, but I’ve experienced some fun successes and have definitely learned a few things along the way.  Here is my best advice to new bloggers.

Social Media Tips for New Bloggers

Things I Did (or Wish I Had Done), When I Was Getting Started as a Blogger:

1. Find and Interview a Blogging Mentor

Something I did right out of the chute which was extremely helpful, was email a few existing bloggers I admired with some specific questions.  Any advice for me?  How did you grow?  Is trying to build Google GFC numbers a waste of time (retro, year-old question now…)?  Do you prefer Blogger or WordPress?  How did you get hooked up with Disney Movie PR information?!  You get the idea.

To this day, I still email the lovely Sippy Cup Mom to ask for her input on new blogging ideas and opportunities.  And the wonderful, Colorado-based Moose Tracks and Tater Stacks continues to be extremely supportive with anything I need.  ** This is moms supporting moms in the Blogging World, at its best.  It’s awesome, and we need all we can get… so please be sure and “be that blogger” yourself, too!

2.  Get a custom URL

Don’t use  “MyNewBlog.wordpress.org” or “MyNewBlog.blogspot.com”.  Because I didn’t want to spend any money on my blog, at first – I did that for a long time.  But later on, once my blog started to gain some momentum – I really wished I had just spent the $10 from the start, to register my own domain name.   I don’t think you are taken seriously until you have a custom URL.   And if you wait and get one later on, after blogging for a few months (like I did), you’ll lose ground on all those existing links to your site thusfar.

You can register your own URL from numerous sites, such as GoDaddy.  If you are going to purchase server space (to host your own blog site, vs using server space on a free blogging platform like Blogger), shop with that in mind – sometimes they’ll throw in a URL registration for free.

You can then point any blogging platform to your custom domain name.  Even the free blogging platforms will allow you to use your own URL (although it may cost you something like $10/yr, to use along with free WordPress).

3.  Create a Blog Button – Post the Code

Try to decide on a look/feel, then create a blog button and make it available (code for people to grab) in your sidebar.   Many bloggers will “trade” – adding your button to their site, in return for your doing the same.  I often get random visitors from my button being posted places, and it helps with search ranks, Google PR rank, etc.  (I’m currently struggling with the problem of my original blog button, which I still use, no longer matching the look of my newer blog.  Oh, well.)

4.  Building Twitter & Facebook Numbers

Ok, here’s some serious dirt to get your hands in.  For pure social media number building, I did the following:

• Crafted my Twitter Description (and sometimes avatar picture) with the interests I wanted to include on my blog. Then I used the free app Tweepi to build Twitter followers.  It allows you to follow around 2-300 people at a time.  I’d pick a similar user (travel, outdoor, or Disney blogger) and follow THEIR followers.  Leave it a few days, then drop those who didn’t follow back.  Rinse and repeat.  May sound like a bit of a low-brow technique, but it works likka champ.
• Build a Facebook page for your site.  Building these numbers can be a slow, ongoing effort.   But I can tell you that even though Facebook continues to change the rules (not all your followers will see your posts, unless you pay up) … I still get more blog traffic from promoting my posts on Facebook , than from Twitter.
• March 2013 UPDATE:  To maximize how many of your fans see your posts on your Facebook page, mix up how you add your content.  You will receive the highest number of views for status updates (try posting the actual article link as a comment), followed by photos (which also allow you to include a link).  You’ll receive the least number of views for posting a link directly.
• Make sure you get your social media icons up in your blog sidebar right away, towards the top and easily available for clicking.  I think a Facebook like box widget is great (you can build yours here).  Readers can “like” your FB blog page, and they don’t even have to leave your site.  Make it easy for them to follow you!
• If it’s something you’re interested in doing on your blog – hosting giveaways will build your numbers faster than anything else (particularly Facebook likes).  Early on, I got most of my giveaway gigs by pitching new/small businesses I came across on Twitter, asking if I could feature them on my site.  I’d recommend using the free tool Rafflecopter to manage your giveaway entries.

5.  Read and Comment on Like-Minded Blogs

Especially early on, this is one of the best ways to have people discover you.  The bigger bloggers may ignore you, but if you leave a nice comment on a blogger’s post, along with where to find you and your blog… many will reciprocate and drop by.  Check out their blog roll to discover their network of similar blogs.

I also did blog hops during my first few months.  When you find a blog hosting a hop, you leave a link to your blog, then hop around to the others to check out their site and follow them.  Most return the favor.  Time consuming, but it can be fun and it did help me get my social media numbers started.

6. Be Nice & Pay That Social Media Love Forward

I make a dedicated effort to give back social media love – connect with people, respond to comments (when appropriate or feasible), & always respond to tweets directed at me on Twitter (unless they’re deliberately rude, which they sometimes are…aaah, some people’s kids, I tell ya).   Almost daily, I “like” others blogger’s posts on Facebook, and send re-tweets on Twitter.  If I read a post I like, I make sure that I use those social media buttons at the bottom to send a little shout out.  Customizing that recommendation tweet a bit first, even better.

 *o*     *o*    *o*

Well, there you have it.  It’s been a great year for me – so much fun can be had by this blogging venture!  I hope some of these ideas get you and your new blog off to a great start…

Was any of this helpful to you?  Drop me a comment – I’d love to hear from you!