It never fails. I start talking blogging, and people want to talk traffic.

We’ve talked about this before, back when I shared some tips for gaining readers and more recently when we talked about judging blogging effectiveness.
Today, let’s talk traffic. That’s where the reality check is at, after all, right? That’s what’s important, right?

I have a tendency to be obsessive about things, and what better place to obsess than with the numbers? And how better to judge my effectiveness in this online world than by my numbers? Right? I have to remind myself, again and again, that no, this is not the case, at least not with the blogging I do.
I blog for me, because I felt like I had to. I can’t spend a lot of time with my stats, or I lose all focus for the real reason behind my blogging.
Why do you want traffic?
Are you trying to make money? Or do you want to establish a community around your blog? Or is it a pride thing, where you just want people to fawn over you and love you?
What are your reasons for wanting traffic? Spend some time with that. Dare I suggest you pray about your blogging efforts? Yes, and I even dare to suggest that maybe you shouldn’t blog.
How can you generate more traffic?
I’m turning to the experts (I am not one!) for help with this.
In a list I found recently at Problogger of 65 different ideas, I found myself thinking of some ways I could improve my traffic. Write a “5 ways to…” post is actually easier sometimes than anything else, and I needed the reminder.
My concern is often keeping traffic at my site once I have it, and there are tips here for not only getting the traffic, but keeping it once you have it.
If you’re looking for a step-by-step approach, try these five steps.
Offset all of that handy list with this post, which shares some blogging lessons we could all take to heart. But wait, I think that’s digression. We were talking traffic, right?
Consider engaging your readers and using some of these tips for doing that. Getting your readers engaged will likely get them talking about your blog, which will increase your traffic.
If traffic = popularity, then maybe you should consider how you can become more popular. There are a few tips (and action points) here, and I especially like how it encourages you to think about who your reader is. (Not so different from what you’d do in a book proposal, come to think of it…)
So what are you going to do first?
My plate is pretty full with other things right now, but I think I’m going to seriously consider putting some of this into action for my own personal blogging.
There’s always room for improvement, and whatever your blogging goals, traffic may be a way to measure your success. (I don’t think it’s the only way, mind you, but it is one way.)
What are you going to try? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

image source: Marketing Hackz

—
Sarah Reinhard blogs at SnoringScholar.com and is hopelessly active onTwitter and Facebook. She’s the author of Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families.

When Sarah Reinhard's not writing online at SnoringScholar.com, she can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook, or Google +. She's the author of a number of books, including her latest title, Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative, or Clueless.

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By Blogging19 Comments on Let’s Talk Traffic

19 Replies to “Let’s Talk Traffic”

  1. Antonella:
    I am a little surprised at your response to a suggestion from a fellow writer and woman of prayer. If you can actually say "it's too little to pray for" then you don't understand prayer and/or the way that God wants to act toward each other. This is not meant to be caustic but if you want to discuss further contact me at my web site: kc@atravelersview.org

  2. In all honesty, I can't pray for something of so little importance right now. I have much bigger problems to pray for!

  3. Good prayer! I have no time to work on this now but will tomorrow. Thanks to you ladies who have given me the tekkie info!

  4. Nope. I'm going to hold out and make you find your technical friend. Could you do a Jesus Prayer novena that God would introduce you to that person?

  6. Jen, thanks for fielding those! In fact, your way is probably less technical than I would have been, though maybe it's something to post about anyway. Hmm.

  7. Antonella,

    Have a technical friend help you get set up with http://dlvr.it/ .

    This is a service that lets you automatically post your blog posts on your facebook page. Your helper can get you all set up in about 5 minutes, it is a very user-friendly service.

    There are some other ways as well, but start there because it is very easy and flexible, and doesn't require any maintenance once it's going. The rest I'll leave to Sarah for her big post.

    Jen.

  8. Kathryn,

    Here's how you view your stats in blogger:

    1. go to blogger.com and login.
    2. Find the listing for the blog you want to look at.
    3. On the far right is a link called "stats".
    4. Click on that.

    You can look around. Notice there are several tabs, for "traffic", "sources" etc. Lots of info.

    Let me know if you have an trouble finding it all.

    Jen.

  9. Kathryn, I don't know that I can walk you through it right now, but maybe I can do a linky post with help.

    Antonella, sounds like a good idea for a future post.

  10. I read most of your links, Sarah, but unfortunately they are not for me. The more technically oriented…I just don't understand that kind of language. Those which offer advices about how to write…I just can't follow advices. I can only write what feels right at the moment. I would love to get more traffic, but I guess that will have to remain in the hands of God! However, I recently joined Facebook and twitter. Do you have any specific advice about how to get friends on facebook to
    read my blog?

  12. Ah, that makes sense, Kathryn. Did you figure out how to view your stats or do you still need help with that?

  14. Sorry, Kathryn, by "platform" I meant "what blogging software"?

    Though I am interested in your writing platform and think that you are addressing a very real need!

  15. Hi Sarah:
    I'm not sure what your asking me,I'm new at this. If it's where do I write……here goes. I completed a theology degree with prompting from the Lord when I retired. I have been writing "practical theology" for about three years. I have been very well received on a web site run by the Legionaries of Christ and have MANY articles there. I am also published pretty regularly in local bulletins, etc. BUT I have a real prompting from the Spirit to move to hard copy. Jen Fitz has also invited me to Blog here every third Thursday — Thank You. I think there is a hugh need for good catechesis for the people in the pews who are pretty well ignored and I think my writing fills in that gap. Many tell me my stuff is informative and thought provoking for them. Thank you for asking. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle of Transition Street! 🙂

  16. These aren't the comments I was expecting, but I'm glad for them. 🙂

    I don't think traffic is the end-all be-all, as you all know from reading me before. But I do not want to avoid the subject just because of that.

    Kathryn, what's your platform?

    Karina, I love how you've thought things through and how you suggest that personal touch.

    Jen, yes, yes, and YES!

  17. Kathryn, there should be a link to your blog's stats on the blog's dashboard. (That is true for Blogger and WordPress.)

    Answering the discussion topic: I hate having to think about traffic. I know it is important to publishers. But it is so much more fun to write what I like and enjoy the readers I have, and not worry about the rest. Grumble grumble.

  18. I think a lot of people look at blogs but never comment. Is there a way to check the number of people who have viewed a blog post but never left a comment?

  19. For me, traffic is about knowing I'm not just talking to myself and about (hopefully) getting some folks interested enough to check out my books.

    Ironically, I just used networked blogs to invite my facebook friends to follow my new blog, Rocket Science for the Rest of Us (http://fabianspace101.blogspot.com) I only asked folks who already use networked blogs, and it still took a few hours, but my "readership" went from 9 to 68. Hopefully, from there, people will enjoy the blog and spread the word. This blog is really about making myself accountable to learn about commercial space, which is the field Rob wants to get into after retiring, so readership is nice, but if I have to talk to myself, at least it's knowledgeably.

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