Ask the Blogger!

Nobody’s Reading My Blog? I Need More Traffic?

Question: I have been running a blog for almost 3 months, during this period the blog changed the layout for a better one, then I was learning step by step how to build some backlinks and everyday a learn a little more, I even bought some ebooks like Blogging to the bank 2.0. However it looks everything I do and all my efforts doesn’t bring any solid results.

My average of visitors per day it is around 80 (once it went to 800 but it was one time only) my PR it is still 0, and all the time I read some websites saying how they increased they PR and how they get hundreds and sometimes thousands of visitors.

I would like some advice on how to get more traffic because I’m really desperate as I like to blog and stuff but it seems I’m blogging to nobody?

Ahh, the number one question we get here at Ask the Blogger.com. How do I get more traffic???

The first thing you need to realize is that you don’t need tons of traffic to make money with your blog.

You CAN make indirect income from your blogging efforts by building your brand name and becoming a thought-leader or expert or guru in your niche industry. When that happens, it doesn’t matter how many people read you, it’s all about how many of the “right” people read you.

Advertisers want focused eyeballs from their direct target markets. So if you can provide them with a small readership of their exact target market, you can get them to value your blog, and then pay you to reach those readers.

Now, on to the big question. How do I get more traffic?

In the previous article I wrote, link above, I defined some ways you get more traffic. Those are:

Solve Problems & Think Of The Reader

The best websites or blogs solve problems. People come to the Internet mostly for that reason, to have problems solved. Maybe they need a chicken recipe for dinner? Maybe they need to know how to put up drywall? Whatever, people like to get answers online.

So does your website or blog solve problems? If not, why are readers visiting your site? What are you offering them that they don’t have? Put yourself in a reader’s head. What do they want to know… then give it to them.

Try Digg

Digg.com is a fast way to get attention. Essentially, you write some content on your website of blog that you think is interesting. Then you submit it for free to Digg.com, where it could be exposed to hundreds of thousands of readers if it’s good enough. If it is, watch out, you can see thousands of visitors to your site very quickly, helping you build an audience.

Link Unto Others

Don’t be stingy with your links. If you want to get more traffic, you should be exchanging links with other websites or blogs that match your content. People follow links as that is the nature of the web.

Social Networking

Open up a Myspace.com and Linkedin account and network with similar people in your industry. Don’t spam people, but really go out and introduce yourself and make some friends. Ask those friends to visit your site and build relationships with them.

Things To Avoid

Stuff like traffic exchanges and webrings don’t really work. Sure, they’ll get you some hits, but what they don’t get you is targeted hits. Avoid trying to build a quick audience with tools that claim you’ll get “XXX” # of hits in “XXX” days. Usually it doesn’t work.

Good luck!

Do Bloggers Really Make Money?

Question: Do bloggers really make money?

Of course they do. Some… more than others, but every blogger has the opportunity to make money from their efforts. I get this question a lot because many new bloggers start blogging each and every day. Sometimes I forget that fact. So answering this question makes a lot of sense.

Take a look at this post from Problogger that surveyed bloggers on their earnings.

49% earned under $100
23% earned over $1000
16% earned over $2500
9% earned over $15000

For me the most striking ‘lesson’ from these surveys is that while there is significant hype around the idea of bloggers making money – that the vast majority earn very little (or nothing). A quarter of those who earn something make less than 0.33 cents per day. If that’s not a reality check then I don’t know what is.

On the flip side – a smaller group of bloggers are making good to great amounts of money. While I’m sure there are some votes that are put in the highest category falsely – I do believe that there are an increasing number of bloggers who making significant part time income through to full time income from their blogs. That top category is significant and seem to be growing.

If you’re a new blogger, then don’t fear, there is money in blogging. You should focus on writing great content now at first, and building a readership. Then you figure out how to make money with it.

How Do I Learn About Starting An Internet Home Business?

I want to be successful online, but I need to learn how. Is there any information out there about how to start a successful online Internet home business?

AsktheBlogger talked about OneSource and its wonderful wholesaler product directory in another post. But you know what? There’s way more that they have to offer.

Specifically, check out the banners on the right of this entry. Those are direct link to FREE ebooks that can help you learn how to start a successful home Internet business. These books are written by WorldwideBrands guru and radio show host Chris Malta.

You can listen to Chris’s amazing radio show as well to learn even more about how to be successul online.