Have you ever read a funny blogging tips article?
I hadn’t until I read today’s guest post.
When a Huffington Post writer and published author asked to guest post, I didn’t ask questions. I was thrilled. I eagerly responded “absolutely!”
My instincts served me well.
I bring you the hysterical Stephanie Lewis (a.k.a. Little Miss Menopause).
10 Outside The Box Ways To Promote Your Blog
You’ve brushed up on your writing skills, picked great topics to blog about, and given your posts really catchy titles. But is this enough?
Developing a good product is half the battle, but finding consumers of your creation is the important part. Just ask big names like Kleenex and Nike. How do they find people whose noses and feet are constantly running?
Your blog is your merchandise and now you must find customers to read it. Here are ten unusual ways to get droves of people to your blog (after they’ve wiped their muddy jogging shoes and snotty faces of course!) and motivate them to share it with others.
1. Strike that! Reverse it! It’s totally obnoxious to beg family and friends to circulate your posts amongst their contacts. Nobody wants to associate with a clingy blogger (a Clogger!) Try this instead. Confide to everyone on Facebook (and in real life) the following:
“What I wrote is intensely personal and I’d just die if it ended up making the rounds online. Thanks in advance for your understanding.” Then sit back and trust how discreet people are. Right?
2. Sex sells! Everyone knows that putting Sex in your title will get you plenty of clicks. But (in this day and age of typos and auto-correct) you can safely drop the letter ‘S’ in Sex and your post will still go viral! That’s right – – you can quit referencing sex and start writing about “ex.” We’ve all got one. An ex-boyfriend, an ex-employer, an ex-con, an ex-mother-in-law, or even an ex-smoker. Put them to good use.
3. Bumper Stickers!
- Since you’re literally trying to drive more traffic to your blog, make a sign for your car that says, “How’s My Driving??” and put it on your fender.
- Put your blog’s URL instead of a 1-800 phone number.
- Be sure and change lanes without signaling and cut motorists off on the freeways to ensure tons of hits. On your blog, that is.
4. Flirty Shirty! If you’re a single woman, wear a low-cut blouse and head to local bars to seduce. When guys ask for the best way to connect, provocatively pull out a business card with your blog’s address straight from your cleavage. After a couple of drinks, I’ve even been known to sneak into the men’s bathroom and scrawl, “For a Good Time, read OnceUponYourPrime.com” on the toilet stall.
5. Chatty Children!
- If you have kids, never discount the “out of the mouths of babes” phenomenon. Have your son or daughter memorize your blog address and then casually mention to their teachers and friend’s parents that mommy just found a lacy pair of panties in daddy’s car last week and has started an online Lost & Found.
- Title all future blog posts, “To the Other Woman!”
- Alternatively, have the cute tots run a lemonade stand, and print your blog address on the paper cups.
6. Sing For Your Supper! Become the Weird Al of blogging. Parody songs like Rod Stewart’s “If You Want My Bloggy and You Think It’s Sexy, C’mon Reader Let Me know!” Nobody can resist a good Elvis impersonation . . . “You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Blog, Writing All The Time!” Or just collaborate with a professional rap artist and call yourselves, “Snoop Dogg Blog!” Music can do for your web address what it did for Jenny’s phone number, Remember “867-5309?”
7. Yahoo! No that’s not a cowboy’s whoop n’ holler. Yahoo has a website where users can ask/answer any kind of question and they allow you to leave a link or image there. Ask the question, “Does anyone know of a good blog to subscribe to?” And then leave answers directing them to yours. Any other existing questions asked by others (i.e. “Who’s Weird Al and Elvis?” or “What’s Jenny’s phone number?”) always refer them to your blog for answers.
8. Social Media Mash-ups! Everyone knows that online networking is the heart of promotion, so instead of putting something on Facebook, you can double or triple your exposure by combining several venues together. Pin a Tweet. Tweet a Pin. (Or Twin a Twit! C’mon, why not?) Stumble Upon a Tumblr, Snapchat an Instagram, Youtube a Linkin. The point is if you Yelp loud enough, people will link, wink, sync, flag, snag, tag (not to mention tic, tac, toe!) your posts.
Here’s a comprehensive list to get you started https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites
9. Contests/Raffles/Sweepstakes – Every year when the Academy Awards show is televised, I host a competition on my blog too. But instead of The Oscars, I call it, The Bloscars with prizes for different category posts. I get more followers and traffic during this period than the entire rest of the year.
10. Guest Posting – – You don’t have to be a famous celebrity who’s appeared on Oprah to write for another person’s blog, but you do have to summon up the courage and inquire if it’s a possibility? Maybe they’ve never considered this option and they’re desperately searching for content. The worst that can happen is they call you out for cutting them off on the freeway (see #3).
And now I’d like to offer my gratitude to Janice Wald for letting me try this on her wonderful blog today.
Even though many of these suggestions may seem rather far-fetched, the point of the list was to give you the freedom and encouragement to start brainstorming creative promotional concepts for your own blog.
People think they must stick to conventional tried and true ways, but there are so many original ideas out there just waiting to be imagined — if you just think outside the (tissue) box!
From Stephanie Lewis, Once Upon Your Prime
Admin Blogger’s Commentary:
How do you show a blogger applause? You know the answer. Go visit Stephanie’s blog Once Upon Your Prime. If you like to laugh (and who doesn’t?), you won’t regret it.
Before you go, please share, so other people have the benefit of Stephanie’s humor, as well as her important serious point– creativity is to be encouraged in blogging.
What was your opinion of Stephanie’s post? You know mine. What was your favorite tip? I look forward to your views.
MostlyBlogging is seeking guest authors.
Related Posts and Pages:
5 Smart Things You Can Do to Be a Better Blog Promoter
5 Powerful Ways Busy People Can Promote Their Blogs
The Ultimate Guide to Blog Promotion
79 of the Most Effective Ways to Get Free Blog Traffic
