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Since leaving my job and staying home to concentrate on my business and blog, I’ve learned a few things that have helped my blog almost double it’s pageviews. Today I’m sharing them all with you :)
It’s important to note that my definition of “viral” is when your post receives five times your average traffic within a week. The term “internet viral” refers to posts that receive tens of thousands of pageviews a day and are something left a little more to chance, but can definitely be helped along with these tips!
1. Give Every Post A Pinnable Image Now that Pinterest is so popular, it seems that everyone on the web is pinning everything. Pins are extra awesome because they have long-term rewards–someone could pin a post from your site today and down the road it could go viral. Making your post images pinnable with text and a great image help to catch pinner’s eyes and make them want to repin your content to their boards.
2. Pin Your Posts More Than Once The same social media rules that apply to facebook and twitter apply to Pinterest–share multiple times. To avoid having duplicate pins on one board, create several boards that each image can be pinned to. I have a board especially for My Crazy Good Life. I also have one for recipes, a board for healthy recipes and fitness tips, and boards for each of my kids. One recipe post can be pinned in all of those places, maximizing the pinners who see (and share) it. You can see some more Pinterest tips for bloggers here.
3. Share Your Old Posts Many bloggers share their previous content using a plugin. Here are a few reasons this isn’t the way to go:
- You have limited control over what is shared You can tell the plugin which categories to share but unless you have gone through those categories with a fine-tooth comb you’ll eventually be sharing closed giveaways or posts that aren’t relevant anymore.
- You’ll be sharing the same message with each post From what I’ve experienced, each post that is shared using a plugin begins the same. I don’t know about you, but as soon as I see, “From the archives…” I focus my attention on something else.
- You can’t relate your posts to the season I want to share all of my fall and Halloween themed posts in the few months before Halloween–not in February. Unless you manually change the categories being shared you don’t have control over this.
Though a bit more time consuming, I’ve been using Buffer to manually share my previous posts. The one thing I don’t love about blogging is that if you’re not sharing previously written posts, they are lost under all of your new content. I sit down once a week and add my favorite posts to Buffer, write a personal message to accompany them and share away. I usually post twice a day to my facebook page and 3-4 times a day to twitter. This has easily doubled my numbers.
4. Use good Search Engine Optimization Posts that aren’t “SEOd” aren’t being seen. This is fine for the posts I write about my daily life, my InstaFriday posts or posts I write to remember things the boys do. Those posts are for me. The posts I want people to find are my recipes, party ideas and tips for tweens and teens. I use the SEO by Yoast plugin for my SEO.
5. Find new blogs Finding new blogs and leaving meaningful comments is a great way to grow your blog. You can do this by finding your favorite blogs and looking in the comment section for bloggers who have left comments – this way you’ll find like-minded bloggers that are good at interacting.
What tips do you have for creating content that goes viral?
I’ve definitely noticed as I used twitter and as you mentioned genuinely engaged with others, so did growth in my blog. I love it too! (the making news friends part :)
I love the making new friends part, too!
Love this advice, fellow Starter! It’s fantastic!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing.
(from #startexp)
I’m new to the blog game, but I use “Buffer” (bufferapp.com) to schedule tweets and facebook posts to promote a post. I love it.
Thanks for the advice and tips. I will definitely check out Buffer. Do you utilize tubmlr at all? If so, do you find any value using it? Or are sites like Pinterest better? Do you have more suggestions for cross-pollination? Thanks!
I don’t use Tumblr – I’m at the point now that I can’t see adding any more social networks unless it’s a HUGE benefit. I can only keep up with so much!
I think Pinterest is better for bloggers, unless you’re only posting photos.
I started using Buffer & I really like it! I like that I control when it’s posted. And now that they’ve added Google+, even the better! Thanks for the suggestion. :)
Thanks for sharing. This is great info.
My biggest problem nowadays is having the time to devote to things and implementing the things I’m not already doing!
Oh, Liz -I know. I’ve been waking up an hour early (5am) to get things done and it actually crossed my mind the other day to possibly wake up at 4. That might be crazy, though…
Liz and Becca – Sounds like you both need a virtual assistant! Check out my website at parsonspdx.com – I would love to discuss how I can help you both grow your businesses and implement more – without having to get up at 4am.
Sounds like advice I could use, too! I had 2 nights last week during which my head did not even hit the pillow. Not a good way to get ahead, and a definitely indication of poor time management.
Thanks for the great advice!
You’re so welcome!
GREAT tips. I’ve been surprised how my traffic has gone nuts since pinterest.
Isn’t it wonderful, Kerri? It’s a great way to keep your previous posts in circulation!
I like the way you think. Last spring I ditched the nRelate plug-in and started using my pinnable images (I always create them 500px x 500px) form previous posts as 150px x 150px teasers at the bottom of my posts. I choose the posts that relate directly to that post or that I think the reader would like based on the post. I am loving the idea of relating my posts to the season! Genius.
That’s a great idea, April! Technology can help us so much, but it truly only goes so far… Taking those extra few minutes really can help to boost your blog.
Incredible post Becca! Gonna retweet this right now. Every piece of advice is actionable.
I’ve never even explored the world of Pinterest, so I’m anxious to learn more.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much, Larry! Let me know if you have any Pinterest questions – I’m happy to help!
i enjoy reading your blog. you make things easy to follow, practical, and simple to implement. thanks!
Thank you, Marvia – you have made my day :)
Great post – thanks for the info! So if I do install and attempt to use this, would it be a good idea to go back and update old posts with the Yoast seo plugin deets?
Yes, Heather! I am still finding previous posts to SEO. When I add my SEO magic, I edit the image to be pinnable, as well.
I usually create a pinnable image most of the time but I don’t pin my own stuff that often. I had heard that it wasn’t good to do that so I only do it on certain posts. What do you think?
I totally think you should pin your own posts. I don’t think I’ve heard that you shouldn’t, and I know many people who do pin their own.
The only suggestion I would make is to not pin a large amount of your own posts at one time–that could look like your spamming your Pinterest followers. Used sparingly (3-4 times a day) I would recommend pinning your own posts.
great tips. i need to check into buffer i’ve kind of avoided it for a while but i think it’s time. maybe next week when the kids are finally back in school.
i pin my own- and to diff. boards- at all different times of day. i also try to pin others’ content as well. bloggers and non bloggers alike. i’m still me and those are my boards, you know?
I totally agree, Brett! And truthfully I don’t think many people would notice that you’ve got the same pin or different boards unless you pinned them all at the same time.
Buffer takes a few minutes to set up but is totally worth it!
Love these tips! Thank you for sharing them :)
Wow! This is an amazing post. I often don’t think about really maximizing my FB page like that. I really need to check out buffer and see what it can do for me. Thanks Becca!
I pinned these, not only to remind myself but also because there are great tips for all website owners/bloggers.
Great post, thank you! For Pinterest, when I add my post as a pin, do I need to hastag them or how are people able to view them? Please let me know, Thanks.
Amy J
http://amylynn83.blogspot.com/
Amy, when you pin something it’s shows to all of your followers. No hashtag needed!
So, I have a question. I’ve wondered for a while. Do I still need Yoast if I have WP Genesis with all its built in SEO?
Awesome post BTW. I didn’t know that about pinning images multiple times. I thought it was a pin it once and your done thing.
Amy,
I’m not sure about the Genesis SEO (I have Thesis), but I’d assume it does the same thing. Maybe install it and see if it has the same options?
Yes! Pin more than once – I’ve definitely seen a difference with that.
:)