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My Perfect Recipe to Building a Popular Blog – Step by Step

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Chances are you are not Guy Kawasaki. But that's OK. Because neither was I. So you and I can have a real heart to heart on how to REALLY create a popular blog starting with nothing.

Update: Please visit the updated version of how to make your blog popular.

Not all blogs are created equal.

Some blogs take off like wild fire within weeks of their creation, yet some might take months to even start seeing the light of day.

Your blog might be one of the latter ones.

You write great content, yet your competitor’s blog with mediocre posts seems to get all the traffic.

Not all blogs are created equal.

For instance, when Guy Kawasaki created his blog, he had the benefit of already being a famous persona in business and online. No wonder he had nearly 4,000 daily visitors within weeks.

Chances are you are not Guy Kawasaki.

But that’s OK. Because neither was I.

So you and I can have a real heart to heart on how to REALLY create a popular blog starting with nothing.

In the beginning, there was… hard work.

No other way around it. No silver bullet. No secrets.

Just plain old-fashioned “let’s drink lots of good coffee and stay up at all hours of the day and night, work around your family schedule and any other commitments you might have” kind of work.

And start from the beginning.

The very first question you have to ask yourself is this:

“IS MY BLOG WORTH READING?”

Is your content AWESOME and unique? Is it infused with personality? Does it help your reader to solve THEIR problems?

The opposite of the above would be:

  • your content is generic and can be found on every other blog in your niche.
  • you don’t offer any unique point of view on your blog.
  • you don’t have a “hook” that would keep your readers coming back (usually, the best hook is a mixture of personality and the unique angle at solving your readers’ problems).
  • you focus on the things YOU are interested in and don’t provide any solutions to your visitors.

Start there.

Examine your blog as impartially as you can. Ask a friend. Ask me. Ask someone to take a look at your content and give you an HONEST opinion.

Don’t do anything until you get over this hurdle.

Let your ideas flow

Your next step is to write, write, write.

Don’t do anything else, but write.

Edit yourself without mercy.

Come up with brilliant ways to write about the same old stuff everybody else is writing (if you can’t come up with anything fresh) from an entirely different point of view.

Provoke your readers’ minds.

Read my 202 bite-sized tips to increase blog traffic, pick out your 10 favorites, and write a post on each one.

Come up with great blog titles.

Let your readers know who you are

Time and time again, I see this happen: a FACELESS BLOG.

No “Hi, I am so and so…” No “here what I am all about”. No “feel free to get in touch with me”.

BIG mistake.

When I come to your blog, I – your average reader – want to see the man/woman behind the lines. I want to know if you are worth my attention. I want to know that, if I were to ask you a question, I would get an answer.

Your blog SEO (Start Engaging Others) starts with this:

1.  Your About Me page.

This is a good place to talk about… well, you.

Let your readers know who is behind your blog.

Why are you blogging? What are you blogging about? Why should I read your blog?

Very important: DON’T get carried away.

Yes, it is a page about you, but not really. It’s still about your reader. It’s about you showing them that you are worth a look, a read, a comment.

It’s still ALL ABOUT THEM.

2.   Your Contact Me page.

Equally as important.

Accessibility counts.

Here you add whatever you feel comfortable adding. Some ideas:

  • your phone number
  • Skype, AOL, Yahoo messenger ID
  • social networks (Twitter, Facebook, and such)
  • a “Contact Me” form (I use plugin called “Contact Form 7” on my blog; there are plenty of others to choose from).

Do you know how to market your blog?

In the beginning of this post, we established that neither one of us is a Guy Kawasaki, which means that we have to earn our blog traffic the hard way.

The problem is most bloggers don’t have a clue where to even start getting traffic.

So what they end up doing is a little bit of everything, frantically trying to be everywhere at the same time using as many random traffic generation methods as possible.

The end result? Wasted time, effort, possibly money, and no or at least not much traffic.

And that’s how many bloggers fail.

You publish great content, but have no idea how to get your content to the end consumer – your reader.

My perfect marketing strategy

You know why all blogs are not created equal?

Because some of them are created by doers and others are created by spectators.

DOERS are people who read about it and then go do it. They are the go-getters, the bottom-liners, the achievers.

SPECTATORS are people who read about it, but don’t implement it. They are the side-liners, the “I could never do what she did” crowd, the eternal students.

The good news here is that YOU are the one who chooses which camp you are in.

Here is MY perfect recipe for a popular blog. You can choose to follow it as-is or  you can modify it according to your own expertise, personality, and niche. But whatever you do, JUST DO IT.

So here we go:

1. Start with social media

Social media is the easiest and the quickest way to let people know who you are.

Quick tips: Stay purposeful and value others above yourself. Set a schedule to ensure that you spend enough time in your networks, but don’t get sucked in.

Start with Twitter or Facebook and focus on that one and only one, until you build enough relationships (not just “friends” or “followers” – relationships) to start spreading the word about your new and exciting blog.

Here’s how I did it:

2.   Create your own commenting tribe

Read all about it in this post:

3.   Comment on other blogs

Choose wisely, which blogs you want to comment on.

Your main goals should be:

—A. get connected with popular bloggers,

—B. network within your blogging peer group.

The former will help you to work your way up the blogging ladder; the latter will help you with traffic, comments, and honest feedback.

Once again, make a schedule and stick with it.

Choose how many blogs in each group you would comment on on a daily basis – realistically.

If after commenting on a specific blog for a while, the blog owner doesn’t seem to be interested in connecting with you, move on and find another blog.

More tips on commenting:

Also, my new CommentLuv enabled blog list is a great place to start finding quality blogs to comment on.

4.   Guest post on other blogs

I will never get tired of saying this: guest posting can be the single MOST PRODUCTIVE traffic generation strategy to pay attention to.

That’s the one strategy that will bring you all of the following in one quick swoop:

  • traffic
  • recognition
  • quality one way backlinks

You can start with guest posting right here, on Traffic Generation Cafe.

Some will say I am a tough cookie, when it comes down to accepting guest post, but I don’t bite either. 🙂

5.  Work on your SEO

While you are doing all of the above, start working on getting your content in front of your ideal search engine users.

SEO is a very important and quite underutilized traffic generation strategy.

I think most of it is due to the fact that it APPEARS to be quite complicated.

The truth is it is not at all, but it does require some learning and time.

I knew very little about SEO only a year ago.

I simply wanted to learn it and I did. Remember, DOERS and SPECTATORS…

As you can imagine, SEO is not something I can quickly address in this post, but what I can do is to give you a good starting point for your learning.

Step 1. First of all, get my free SEO report. Yes, I need your email address in exchange, but I promise to make it a win-win relationship for both of us.

In that report, you will learn ALL the basics of SEO: keyword research, on-page optimization, as well as the hottest link building tips ever – guaranteed.

Step 2. Next, I would read a few of posts from my Blog Audit Friday series. Here you’ll get a lot of hands-on tips on what you might be doing wrong on your blog and how to fix it.

Step 3. There is not step 3.

Just do step 1 and 2 and you will have a good basic SEO knowledge to get your blog ranked for many good keywords.

Marketing Takeaway

I have to stop here, because I have a feeling I can write a novel on the subject.

However, you don’t need a novel – you need a plan. And I hope these tips that worked for Traffic Generation Cafe will also work for you.

Just don’t get left behind on the side lines.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

  • Why do you think your blog is not quite where you’d like for it to be?
  • What are the things you’ve been putting off that you know you need to do?
  • Do you have a plan to get those things done?

Comment to show me that you’re alive!

ana hoffman traffic generation

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110 Intelligent comments · espresso yours below

  1. So the secret is … hard work and taking action.
    You are right Ana, but you know when you just starting, you ask yourself questions like : will this work? is it going to be popular? am i wasting my time? and so on 🙂

    So for the auditing, Ana, I would appreciate if you have a look at my blog because i am not a native English speaker, but of course i can understand in case you are busy and do not have enough time.
    Anyway, thanks for the inspiring post 🙂

  2. I am loving your site the more I read. Simply awesome. This is exactly what I am looking for. I have a ton of great content, but not that much traffic. However, I am not sure just how much this applies towards what kinds of niches. Thank you so much. You have gave me a great deal of ideas to increase my blogs traffic. This has just became my new favorite site.

    Thanks So Much,

    Ricky Strode

    • I’ve done a lot of audits for all kinds of sites, Ricky, and the basic principles of growing a site are always the same whatever the niche.

      The main difference is knowing where to find the audience that wants to read YOUR stuff.

  3. I found your blog courtesy of Google. I’m only two posts in but I’m hooked. Hopefully with a bit of tutelage from you and a few others, I’ll get the list building aspect locked in my head as well as figuring out WHERE to get leads. …that being my next topic to hunt. Keep up the good work and if you want a “pathetic-blog” to pick at, check out my poor baby. 😉

    Sher

    • Yes, Sher – standing out, making yourself visible to your potential leads, and then going to where they are hanging out is always a challenge (or several challenges I should say).

      We all have to start somewhere, right?

  4. Another great article, I found a recent site that networks guest bloggers, I’m still so new to the game I’m trying to stay ahead of the learning curve. Really appreciate all this great information that you’re sharing, thank you!

  5. This is probably the best article I ever read on how to build a successful blog. It also confirms that the basic techniques and strategies are the ones that work best. When I started my first blog, I was constantly looking for new, fance, secret marketing and traffic strategies – finally I realized that 90% of it is just a waste of time.

  6. Seeing this, i suddenly feel older and tired. Why? Cos of the sudden large amount of work infront of me. Well, gat to try.

  7. This is AWESOME, I like you already=) it’s true some blogs are not created equally, our job as bloggers is to beat the odd and boost our beloved blog(s). say hi sometimes on mine.
    by the way, awesome blog, I will be back for more. Congratz on your 1 year blogging=)

  8. Yep love it. I think there are more than a few things I can learn here. Namely your tips on link building but also your writing style. I call it bang bang scribbles. Did Oscar Wilde apologies for not having the time to write a short letter.
    Nice once again.

    P.s I downloaded your free e-book. Recommended for anyone who has not already.

    P.p.s Keep up the great work!

  10. I love your writing style, like a previous reader said, I too find my tabs full am really clicking away 🙂 I am learning a lot from you and I love it, you seem to get into my head!!
    Right now I have realized that my biggest problem is really understanding why am blogging and coming up with a clear mission statement, blogging blindly just doesn’t cut it!!That is something unfortunate I know too well, but hey I do love to write and always open to learn!!

    • I absolutely agree, Veehcirra; narrowing down your niche is one of the biggest improvements you can make for your business.

  12. Hi Ana,

    I love this post! I opened my blog as I read and kept clicking back and forth looking for the things you told me to look for.

    And then, you talked about the Contact Me page. Oooops! I realized I didn’t have a contact me page. My contact me is buried at the bottom of my looooong about me page.

    So, I quickly created a Contact Me page and then continued reading. And guess what?! I discovered that I’m a doer! Looking forward to doing more with your helpful tips.

    Thanks Ana!

    • Love it, Tiffiney – if you are not willing to DO, why waste your time on learning HOW TO do, right?

      Glad you found this helpful.

  13. Perfect, I am a newbie but enjoy writing.
    It will be nice to spend good quality time writing good quality articles.
    There are still many things to learn to have a good blog besides just writing….
    Thanks Anna

    • Writing is not all, you are right, Steve, but without good writing there won’t be a good blog.

  14. Hey Ana,

    love reading through lists like this. You reminded me I probably should spruce up my about us page with more personal details about myself. I originally launched wanting to distance myself from the blog, but over time I’ve been leaning towards personalizing it.

  15. Hi Ana,

    This is a great post! I’m a psychotherapist by trade, but even I get stuck with inner thoughts of “I can’t do this.” I like how your post is kicking me in the butt and telling me to just DO it! Very encouraging in a no-nonsense way.

    By the way, I found your site via MyGuestBlog.com.

    Thanks for all the help!

    • Welcome to Traffic Generation Cafe, Bobbi, and glad my post encouraged you to actually do it.

  16. I’m alive too, and this post is amazing. If this is what a good blog post looks like then I still have quite a way to go. But I’m studying and putting in the work…..

    It was reassuring to know that it does just take hard work – I am making slow progress – now I’ve read this I am happy to think that this is probably normal and I just have to keep plugging away at it

  17. I think also Ana your success is due to your giving nature. You do want to give and that comes across in yuor posts..

    Congrars on your success..

  18. Thanks for this post. I especially like the part about being a “do-er” there are so many people interested in consuming content of all kinds. It really takes a lot of motivation and dedication to step away from that mindset of consuming to becoming a producer, whatever that means for you, music, books, videos, articles. Thanks for the motivation.

  19. I am alive too — as far as I know. Couple of questions if you have the time to answer. How much time to you spend on your comments? Reading, responding, etc? And how often do you place comments back — in other words, someone comments and you comment on their blog in return? I’d think that would be an easy way to find backlink ops.

    • Good questions, Thomas; although I probably would’ve answered them differently at the time I wrote this post. My blog grew quite a bit since then.

      How much time do I spend on answering comments? More than I should, probably.

      I still answer almost every comment on my blog and it does take at least 30-60 min out of my day. However, I strongly believe that it’s extremely important to show my readers that I do care what they have to say.

      Returning the favor by commenting on their blogs? Not nearly as much as I should.

      I do it every once in a while, especially for returning commentators.

  20. Great list thank you! My only question would be how do you go about guest blogging? Just email and ask? Or is there a more formal way to go about it? Thanks!
    Lorain

    • That’s it in a nutshell, Lorain, but use the search bar for some excellent tips from some of my guests.

  21. Awesome article Ana,
    For last few days I am following your articles and now my attitude toward blogging changed a lot.
    Thanks to you

  22. Hi Ana,
    I am finding it more and more difficult to read your content. You put so much content in them, with links that give more detail, I end up clicking on them and before I know it my browser is full of tabs from your site.

    If anyone is new to blogging, this is a site to study and be sure to get a copy of her “Traffic Generation” book

    You’re the best Ana,
    Jeff

  23. I must say I am extremely impressed with this post. As a up and coming blogger myself any source of information I can find on perfecting my blogging technique is well appreciated. I added your website to my bookmarks and look forward to my frequent visits here to get nuggets of value from you. A Pleasure to meet you.

    ~AL

  24. —I’m alive!

    And I loooooooooooooove this blog, Ana 🙂
    I feel as if I network for hours. My kids are yelling “MOM! the dinner is burning!”
    It’s a full time job.
    Loooooooove all your info. thanks.
    PS. I am new, but I work VERY hard at commenting, Tweeting, Facebook, etc…I feel as if I’m doinq quite well for a newbe, but I want to do better!

  25. Hi Ana,

    I salute you for your inspiring and sincere thoughts in sharing blogging & traffic tips and guides here.

    I’m so interested to know about the tips to be accepted as guest blogger to many blogs of my niche.

    I really feel, I came to the right blog to get inspired and ask help to solve the problems about traffic and etc of my blog. I was so happy when you said that the readers can ask your opinion of things they need to improve on their blogs. This is because I really need someone like you to help to suggest some improvements to my blog. Thank you for your being so kind to help new blogger like me. Can’t wait to hear from you soon.

    • TariqnShaheera, you are most welcome. There are several posts on my blog with guest blogging tips – use the search function to find them. All the best!

  26. Wow Ana, I like reading your stuff! But, every time I visit, my To-Do list doubles in size, and my ideas folder is now full to bursting point!! Thanks for the great content Ana, particularly like the way some of your articles challenge the ‘accepted wisdom’ in a matter of fact way that show’s that – sometimes – there is no ‘right way’, just the way that works, for you, in your particular circumstance. All of which seems to point to – just be real and authentic to your objectives. It is not necessarily enough to copy everyone else……

  27. Great Information Ana
    My first time here and I am thankful that I found you.
    I like the way you interact with your post and also the value
    you offer. I am working on a plan to be more consistent and
    also to give more value. The blog face is on my agenda also.
    I need to implement some of this for time management because
    I am active as a Jesus disciple also in jail ministry, praise & worship,
    teaching children – 9 to 12. Wow ! This is why I know I need the
    grace of he Lord in this niche.
    In Christ & To Your Success
    James A. Buckley

    • Welcome to the tribe, James! I’m glad you liked my posts. You need to find sometime to improve the value of your blog, indeed. All you need is a perfect time management scheme which will not compromise your noble duties.

      Remember, DOERS and SPECTATORS 🙂

  28. Hi Ana, thank you for the ideas here. I have been very happy with my traffic…lately, for being featured in some nice websites, I have been getting about 2000 hits a day, but it’s usually just around 800 (so it may go down to around that number). Safely: 1000 per day because it increases everyday. My goal now is to do what I have been waiting and wanting to do for a very long time and that is to create my own product series to offer more to my readers…
    One question is: What is the ideal rate of increase of traffic for a blog? What are some measures to go by? Say 20% more each month or a stead 100 hits more per day? Curious (and of course it may just “depend”, I totally understand). Many thanks!!

    • Hi, Farnoosh – glad to hear your traffic is going up, up, up; well-deserved indeed!

      To answer your question: I have no idea! 🙂 I never paid specific attention to traffic numbers. I just know that they are increasing and that I am doing all I can to help that.

      Since no traffic is ever too much… the more, the better!

  29. Ana,

    “Quick tips: Stay purposeful and value others above yourself. Set a schedule to ensure that you spend enough time in your networks, but don’t get sucked in.”

    I find this to be a good tip for no matter what part of my business I am doing. Having a plan and scheduling my time has worked. Although it has been easy for me to do in my offline business, I have to admit it took me a bit to figure this out with my online business. It has been harder for me to monitor what is working and what is not.

    As usual this is another great post. I appreciate how you break things down so they are not so complex, ” like write write write.” Then you offer 202 ideas for our next 10 posts.

    • Very true, Sheila – those tips HAVE applied to everything I do.

      And I am also in the same boat with keeping up the schedule in my online business. It’s getting better now; comes with practice I suppose.

      Ana

  30. Great Post Ana!!

    The fact that this is the 79th comment and my Tweet was the 93rd speaks volumes for your awesomeness and the fact that you CLEARLY need to be listened to.

    Thanks for keeping me on my toes Ana 🙂

    • Awesome new avatar in action, Alex – me likes!

      Just got back from your blog; you’ve got quite an active one as well. I keep thinking I need to write you a guest post… What say you? Any topic in particular?

      Thanks for coming by!

  31. i’m a doer and started increasing traffic on my blog and withing one month of hard work alexa rank drop below to 100k, now looking forward to get and give something from this community

    • See? My point exactly, Vivek.

      It’s very possible, it’s been done before us without any magic wands. It can certainly be done again, and why not by us?

      Thanks for your input.

  32. You are so right about blogging, Oliver – why newbies think it’s a piece of cake, I have no idea!

    I absolutely loved it when you said “the traits are not sexy, but results are” – what a phrase! I might have to use it in one of my posts. 🙂

    I’ve been blessed getting to know you as well, Oliver – thanks for all your support, encouragement, and knowledge. Here’s to the friendship!

    Ana

  33. This is a great post. Great for newbies. Great for oldies (like me). Sometimes we just need to have it all in front of us to think about it again. I’ll refer to this again and again. Great pillar content!

  34. Hello Ana,
    Love your recipe. This will be extremely helpful for looking over my blog to see what I need to improve on and put in the missing ingredients. Thank you so much!

    Tomas

  36. Hi Ana,

    Perfect recipe! Wonderful breakdown of how to build a popular blog. Guest posting is something that I will be focusing on in the new year.

    Thank you so much for your awesome posts in 2010. Look forward to more in 2011!

    Hugs,
    Mavis

  37. Hi Ana
    I had to smile when I read…

    “In the beginning, there was… hard work”

    And I wanted to add… and then more hard work and then some more hard work… LOL

    Only joking, thanks for the super tips, I’ll let you know how things work out in 2011.

    Happy New Year

    • Hard work – no question about it, Keith. Of course it always helps when you actually enjoy it as well. 🙂

      Here I am sitting in front of my computer 3 hours before midnight on New Year’s eve… and loving every minute of it!

      Happy New Year to you to, Keith. Hope to see more of you on my blog in 2011.

      Ana

  38. Great blog Ana, you have some of the best tips out there for us new bloggers. Keep up the great work, Thanks

  39. Hi Ana,

    I totally appreciated your comment about being a spectator instead of a doer. I was stuck in spectator mode forever…well, except for these past 6 months. 🙂 I hope you’re okay if I adopt that into my language, I think it’s such a great way of explaining the “stuck in learning mode” that so many marketers struggle with.

    The whole post was great and I will be sending you my guest post asap. It’s the only one of your five steps that I haven’t focused on very much. 🙂 That’s changing now.

    Heather

    • Heather,

      I’ve been so greatly impressed with your ability to act upon the acquired knowledge, I would’ve never guessed you were anything but a doer!

      I definitely look forward to your post; I have no doubts it will be spectacular.

      Ana

  40. Hi Ana,
    This is a very informative and helpful post for someone like me who’s just starting out on my blog. I will follow your number 3 advice on commenting.
    As for the SEO tips, I will bookmark this post of yours so I can re-read and really implement it on my blog.
    Thank you very much.. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

    • Hi Johanna,

      Newbie or not, I am definitely confident that bloggers who wants more traffic can benefit from this post. I’m glad you understand my point.

      Happy Holidays,

      Ana

  41. Hey Ana,

    You are just amazing! Every time I check out your blog, there is something really useful in store. Once again a comprehensive overview with a lot of top-notch tips. The first and probably the most important thing, beginning bloggers don’t do is acting. It doesn’t get much more simpler than that – reading and attaining new knowledge is all good, but there is no point if you don’t actually start applying what you’ve learned.

    Social media and Twitter in person are defintiely BIG. Building a presence there is an absolute must, especially for Twitter. It has turned into my number one referral traffic source as well. Spending time on it getting new followers is without a doubt worth it. Same goes for blog commenting. Showing your presence on other related blogs is the best way to get people to know you.

    • What a compliment right off the bat, Daniel – thank you and thank you for honoring me with your presence every once in a while!

      Twitter, commenting, etc – have to do them all, no two ways about, but have to do them right.

      Ana

  42. Ana, as always your post is packed with common sense. There is not one point I could argue with, however apart from being a “doer” your suggestion of scheduling your time is an absolute necessity. Not only does it force consistency but sharpens focus. I have to admit I’ve definitely been scattered this year – but 2011 will be a good year. I can feel it in my bones!! In my humble opinion, a person needs to go no further than right here to get all the ingredients for a perfect blog recipe. I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to meet you, not only as a wonderful person – but one of the most inspiring bloggers of all time! Keep up the terrific work (as I know you will) – and I thank you so much for all the generous advice and support you provide to all of us. ~Jayne~

    • Thanks so much, Jayne – your comments always inspire me to keep going!

      See that’s the thing though – most of what I write about is really common sense. Many of us know it, but as I mentioned – the difference between knowing and doing it is quite vast.

      2011 – here we come!

      Ana

  43. Thank you, Ana!
    It’s like you read my mind. In my frantic end-of-year push to pull everything together, and finally launch my site on January 1, I’ve turned into a writing machine. From my About Me page to my first several posts, I awake each day with new material and ideas that I know will help people realize their goals.

    And like you say, there’s no silver bullet. But when you’re sure of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, the hard work part of it all doesn’t seem so hard.

    I’m already implementing part of your recipe, and will no doubt look to it for guidance going forward. I love to get your e-mails and read your posts… they’re always fresh. Always super useful. And for that, I thank you.

    Here’s to an insanely successful 2011. You rock, Ana.
    Best–
    Leah

    • Good morning, Leah – thanks for taking your time out of your insanely busy writing schedule to still visit my blog and leave a comment.

      You are so right: hard work is pleasure when you do what you love to do.

      I can’t wait to see your new site when it’s open for business; do stop by and let us know.

      Thank you for your encouragement; I really needed it this morning.

      Ana

  46. Hi Ana:

    I had to laugh at your guest post section as I always feel a little twinge of panic before I submit one to you! But, it has only helped me become better and I applaud your standards.
    I am beginning the migration to WP and and have been putting it off out of fear…no more! 2011 is the doer in me coming out!

    Lisa

    • Lisa – you are a trooper when it comes down to guest blogging!

      I bet I turned off quite a few bloggers from ever posting to my blog, but as you said, I am all about quality here. 🙂

      As far as your migration is concerned, I completely understand: I’ve had to do something similar in the past. Wasn’t without a glitch, but needed to be done.

      Let me know if you have any questions with that; I will help with what I know.

      Ana

  47. Hey Ana

    I love a perfect recipe.

    One that doesn’t need more salt.

    Thanks for all of your great posts in 2010 and thanks for always making me think.

    Your friend

    Peter

    P.S. can’t wait to see what you do in 2011

    • Hello Peter,

      I’m glad you always find my blogs thought-provoking. I will definitely continue to share more great post in the coming year.

      Happy New Year,

      Ana

    • Hello Ray,

      Thanks for the compliment. Things are really overwhelming sometimes when I think about it, but I enjoyed every single time I blog and share my ideas.

      All the best,

      Ana

  49. Great tips! Thank you so much for the informative post.
    I have been blogging for about 5-6 months now and LOVE it! I’ve built a solid following and my next move is to monetize a bit. Your tips will be a great list of steps to help me get to the next level!
    -Steve

  50. Hey Ana, these are some great tips and I believe number 1 is the most important. “Stay purposeful and value others above yourself” is a valuable phrase in itself and can change the results of network marketers drastically.
    Have A Happy New Year!
    Sherman

    • Hi Sherman,

      I also love that phrase and it is very true for me. I always remember that, it reminds me of my main goal and help me to stay in focus.

      Happy New Year,

      Ana

  51. Ana – You make some great points in this post, but none better than this: “Ask someone to take a look at your content and give you an HONEST opinion.” That is so true because having a fresh pair of eyeballs evaluate your blog will help you to realize important details you wouldn’t have before.

    I also like the tips and resources you gave for marketing a new blog effectively. This is some golden information you’ve provided in such a short post on making a blog popular/successful.

    But the sad part is, as much as some people want to build a popular blog they won’t apply the helpful information they receive to make things happen. I guess that’s what you mean about the difference between doers and spectators.

  52. Anna,
    All great points. One area that I think you might want to add is to set goals for your blog. Too often, bloggers have a “I will build it and they will come” mentality and do not have any set goal (100 unique visitors a day, 25 comments a week, etc.) or any Goal Action Plan to reach their goals.

    It is important to know where your blog is now (starting out) but more importantly where you want it to go and, most importantly, how you are going to get there.

    To your success,
    Erik

    • Truthfully, Erik, setting goals is my weak point.

      Traffic Generation Cafe has grown so quickly that I am having hard time keeping up with it let alone think of its future. 🙂

      Very good point though: we do need to know what our goals are, otherwise how can we get there if we don’t know where we are going?

      Ana

  53. Hi Ana,

    Excellent advices! I’ve seen bloggers to shine up from different niches and in the different ways. Some, if you were popular before is easier, but lot of them began being important in Digg, for example, and later expanded frontiers.

    Solve problem yes in technical niches, but not always – entertainment blogs doesn’t apply to this rule and are successful too.

    Content is king also marketing, copywriting, SEO, and social media this is the recipe-ingredients all together. A good-blogging-dish needs to be spicy and full of flavours 🙂

    Agree completely to be proactive and not reading without applying the concepts learnt.

    From your call to action: my goals for mine, multimedia-streams (working on that) and improve in guest postings and more social media content to my blog.

    Happy New Year Ana! 🙂

    Cheers,

    Gera

    • Hello Gera,

      I’m glad to hear you already have a plan and you are already working on it. It is not enough to just learn because it’s more important that we actually apply it. 🙂

  54. Wow – great tips Ana. And great links to more tips, too! I also agree with the master one thing at a time tip. I have a friend who is a writer and is always trying to take courses on writing and I keep telling her to master one form of writing before she moves on to another. By not learning one thing completely she is not giving herself the chance to improve.

    • You are right Danielle. I hope your friend will follow your advice. Too much information can only lead to information overload and it is useless if you just take everything without really understanding it. We need to focus to one strategy first and master it before taking another one.

      Thanks for the comment,

      Ana

  55. I’m trying to get more of my followers/clients into blogging, so I’m sharing this link on my Facebook page. Thanks for the great tips, I’ve implemented a couple of them myself this morning!

  56. Hey Ana, All great and useful tips. I’m especially interested in the ‘commenting tribe’ idea. I know that you do it and it’s had some positive benefits for all involved.

    Also I wanted to mention that ‘SEO Fast start’ by Dan Thies is a great guide for improving your search engine optimization. Dan is an expert in the field of SEO and he offers this guide completely free of charge.

    • I know where you are coming from, Rakesh – my first blog failed as well.

      However, these are the exact steps I used to make Traffic Generation Cafe a success.

      Hope you use some to your benefit.

      Ana