{Google +} Gaining Followers Through Hops

January 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment


A good way to gain followers to your blog is through blog hops. Each blog hop as there own rules so make sure you follow them correctly. The newest social media craze is Google Plus. Since Google announced that Google Friend Connect was going to be discontinued, many bloggers are switching to Google Plus.

ShePromotes.com if offering a weekly Google Plus Blog Hop to help you gain more followers. Link up your Google+ page every Wednesday and follow these rules:

  1. You may link up 1 Google+ page each week.
  2. Add at least 1 other Google+ page to your circles, preferably the person above you on the linky. (If you already follow them, then choose someone else!)
  3. Share about the Google+ Gala! Grab the button at the top of the post and link back to http://shepromotes.com/category/weekly-blog-hops to spread the word. (This is optional but a great way to support each other!
  4. You can also grab the linky code and include it in your own post!


Filed Under: Google Plus

Why List Posts Make Good Content for Your Blog

January 6, 2012 By 8 Comments

Sometimes it is best to go into depth about a subject – focusing on only one or two aspects. However, another great way to cover a topic is to make a list post. List posts are popular because many readers want only a three to four sentence description of various options. We all tend to be busy people and we tend to scan content instead of reading it in depth.

Another value of lists posts is that list posts look neater. Each point is highlighted and easy to find and the descriptions are succinct and to the point. I am not suggestion that your blog should consist entirely of list posts, but this is a great way to bring traffic to your blog.

CopyBlogger suggests:

Any headline that lists a number of reasons, secrets, types, or ways will work because, once again, it makes a very specific promise of what’s in store for the reader. A nice quantifiable return on attention invested goes a long way toward prompting action, and as long as you deliver with quality content, you’ll have a satisfied reader.

If you don’t know where to start, the article 10 Steps to the Perfect List Post, by Ali Hale on ProBlogger.com will lead you in the right direction.

Recommended Products:

Problogger’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog

I selected this post to be featured on www.educationblogs.net. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!
Filed Under: Blogging Tips

Twitter Blast – $100 Amazon

January 4, 2012 By 2 Comments

What is a Twitter Blast? You the blogger can join for $1 with one account – Twitter. Signups end on January 14th at 9AM EST. The event will go live on January 15th and end February 1st. If you want to sign up as a blogger, click here. If you want to enter the giveaway, come back to my blog on January 15th!

Filed Under: Blog Events, Giveaways

Why Blog Events and Blog Giveaways are Beneficial to Your Blog

January 3, 2012 By 11 Comments

I have another blog that I have been working on for about four years. The traffic wasn’t so good. I tried using a variety of methods to get myself more traffic, but it just wasn’t where I wanted it to be. It was then that I discovered blog events. I had hosted small giveaways on my blog before, but I would only get a handful of participants. When I realized that I could partner with other blogs and we could drive traffic to each others blogs, I was thrilled.

How Blog Events Work

Blog Events/Giveaways are hosted by one or more blogs. There are basically two types of blog events: prize provided by hosts and prize provided by your blog.

  1. Prize Provided by Hosts: In this type of blog event, the hosts determine the prizes to be given away and the blogs participating pay a fee to the hosts that goes toward the prize (and sometimes towards administration fees). Each blog will get a number of social media links (such as FB, Twitter, Google +, GFC) on the giveaway form. When a participant fills out the giveaway form, they do certain tasks to gain entries into the giveaway. These tasks can provide likes to your blog’s Facebook Page, followers on Twitter and Friends on Google + or Google Friend Connect. Usually all of the blogs in the event include the giveaway form on their pages harnessing the power of their readers in providing more traffic and social media connections for your blog.
  2. Prize Provided by Blog: Some blog events/giveaways ask that you provided a prize for the event. This prize is given away on your own blog. You provide your own giveaway rules and decided what you want participants to do to enter the giveaway. The benefit is that there is a link list of blogs provided by the hosts that you included with your giveaway post. This link list allows participants to “hop” around to each of the blogs participating. You can gain more traffic and social medial connections as people visit your blog from other blogs on the list.

Sometimes hosts ask that you provided your own prize, but they will have a grand prize as well. There is usually a fee associated with these, but you are also allowed an entry for the grand prize.

Providing a Prize

It would be awfully expensive if you had to provided prizes for all of the events in which you participate. Instead, think about getting a sponsor for your prize. Contact companies that have products that you feel passionately about. Tell them about the blog event and how it will generate exposure for their product. Ask if they will donate one product for you to review and one for you to giveaway to your readers. Be prepared to tell them about your blog and your interests. You may have to contact a number of companies before you get a response.

Finding Blog Events

If you would like to participate in blog events, I have set up a database of blog events that I know about. Are you hosting a blog event? Fill out this form to be included in my Big List of Blog Events!

My Results

Before I started focusing on Blog Events and Giveaways, I had 100 Facebook Fans, 55 Google Friend Connect Friends and 125 Twitter Followers. I was only getting about 1,000 pageviews per month. Now I have close to 6,000 Facebook Fans, 2,000 Google Friend Connect Friends, 5,000 Twitter Followers and over 25,000 pageviews per month.

A Word of Warning

Getting involved in blog events and giveaways will give your blog a boost, however, you must also be focused on providing great content on your blog as well. Make sure that you also blog about things that interest you, products your like, recipes you have tried, or whatever you wish the focus of your blog to be. Good content is what is going to keep the numbers going!

Filed Under: Blog Events, Blogging Tips

Mommy Blogs Make A Difference

January 1, 2012 By 10 Comments

The Leapster Explorer flew off the shelves due to Mommy Bloggers' reviews

A recent article in the Huffington Post attributes the selling out of certain toy products at Christmas Time to Mommy Blogs. That’s right. Mommy Blogs don’t just talk about toddler tantrums, but actually use and review products that are helpful to other women, especially moms. Most of the Mommy Bloggers I know are more focused on product reviews, couponing, deals and even giveaways then they are on the day to day blog journal of their children’s accomplishment. Let’s face it. Mommy bloggers have found a way to get their opinions heard and at the same time bring in a little extra cash for their families.

Mommy bloggers are so influential now that toy companies specifically search out top mommy bloggers for product reviews and blog giveaways. Toy companies used to give out free samples to TV stations, newspapers and magazines hoping for positive coverage. Today almost 70% of the free samples go to bloggers who write reviews and may even be asked to giveaway an additional product on their site driving even more traffic to the product.

Some companies hire PR firms specifically to search out Mommy Bloggers. Others keep a list of mommy bloggers that they work with when new products are released.

Bloggers hoping to review great products should work on increasing their viewership and social media presence. The more traffic you can generate for a company the more likely they are willing to work with you. Companies and PR agencies who are looking to work with mommy bloggers may contact me for a list of great bloggers!

Filed Under: Blogs
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »