This is a guest post from Standford Smith (@pushingsocial) from Pushing Social. In this post, Standford explain how we can use twitter to get our blog notice most of them even if your blog is new.
There’s a myth that says that you have to slog it out in the blogging trenches for at least a year before you see significant traffic to your blog. To be fair, that may have been the case a few years ago. But now, with Twitter, it’s very possible to launch your blog and attract some crazy traffic within months rather than years.
Now you can jump in the middle of highly targeted conversations, rub elbows with mega-influencers, and watch your posts go viral with a single tweet. You don’t need PPC or a giant email list. All you need is persistence, good manners, and some clever tactics.
I’ve seen it happen first hand. My blog Pushing Social started in April 2010. It already has 300 visitors a day, averages 50 retweets a post, and attracts bunches of influential twitter followers. Not bad for a 5 month old blog.
Here’s the kicker – My only promotion method has been Twitter. Here’s how I did it:
#1 Participate in Tweet Chats
Almost every night of the week, hundreds of people are getting together and exchanging tweets in Tweet Chats. These chats are labeled with a hashtag such as #blogchat, #techchat, and even #dogchat. The moderator asks a question, everyone tweets a response. You join in by answering questions and adding the hashtag to the end of your tweet.
Just find a chat in your niche, show up, and start tweeting. You get to share your blog’s URL at the start of the chat and chatters usually follow fellow participants AND visit their blog.
#2 Follow and Retweet Links for 10 Niche Influencers
Find the movers and shakers in your niche. These folks are usually the ones with a large following AND are included on a large number of lists. For example: @AskAaronLee has 140,947+ followers and is listed on 4,535 lists a clear sign that Aaron can move some serious traffic with a single tweet.
Once you’ve created your list, go follow each person. Now keep an eye on their tweets and retweet whenever you can. The idea is to get on their radar screen. Once they notice you – they are likely to retweet one of YOUR links – putting your blog on the map.
#3 Directly Ask Influencers to Mention Your Posts
Be careful with this oe. Although it is extremely effective it can backfire if you don’t use sound judgment. Here’s the best way to do it. Take at least two weeks and make a point to leave great comments on your influencer’s posts and retweeting their links. After two weeks, consider Direct Messaging (DM) the influencers that follow-you with a request to tweet about your post.
Only do this once or twice a month. If you abuse this you’ll just get unfollowed (or blocked). Also make sure you are only requesting a mention for your very best posts.
#4 Follow-up On Mentions
Soon you will get people mentioning you on Twitter. When you see yourself mentioned, immediately follow the person mentioning you. Follow-up and answer any questions and if they retweeted you then DM them your thanks.
I also suggest you visit their blog and read through their recent posts. This will put you on the person’s radar screen and increase your chances of getting retweeted and promoted in the future.
#5 Include URL when welcoming newcomers
As you get new followers, take the time to write each a personal welcome. Along with your welcome include a link to your About Us page or your latest blog post. Keep this up as long as you can. Warning, don’t auto-direct-message your new followers. It’s rude and sends the wrong message. No greeting is better than offending a potential influencer with a impersonal Auto-DM.
#6 Be Generous
I’m still a fan of #ff (Follow Fridays). But, I would suggest your pick 4 or 5 key influencers and write a 120 character tweet that explains why you are recommending them for #ff. This makes your tweet stand out and will certainly catch the attention of the person you are recommending – driving traffic to your blog.
Can You Do This?
If you are launching a blog then give these techniques a try. Which ones do you think you can use right away? Are you already using any that are showing results?
 Stanford Smith obsesses about how to get passionate people’s blogs launched and noticed at Pushing Social…when he’s not fishing for monster bass. Follow him to get his latest tips. |
This is an AWESOME post! I really enjoyed reading it. I'm a blogger newbie – my blog's only been around for 3 1/2 months. I noticed that when Aaron tweets about my posts, i get a big amount of people coming over to my blog. It's pretty awesome. I'm trying to do as many of the things you mentioned above as possible but due to time restraints at the moment I'm slacking a little bit. However, I fully agree with what you are saying.
Thanks for this awesome post. 🙂 I will subscribe to your blog. If you fancy stopping by my blog it'd be highly appreciated 😉 http://www.socialglitz.com
Cheers,
Antonia 🙂
Hey Antonia, Glad you liked the post. Just pick a few of these tactics and hit them hard. From there you can branch out to more of them. The biggest thing is to take action.
Visiting your blog now 🙂
Did someone talk about me? LoL! kidding!
Sometimes I don't get users to a blog you know. Tee hee! I guess its the combination or right timing and right title.
And you and Stan do it well.
This is great information, I agree that asking some of the major players to mention you is a great way to get noticed but I've always avoided that route. I want to wait until I get more firmly established, no sense in asking for publicity until I've got something worthwhile to publicize.
Great information. I gave up on Twitter for a while and then got rid of a lot of followers. So, yes being strategic and targeted is much better.
Thanks for this information. There is so much to learn but your top 6 brought to my attention the presence of Tweet chats. I KNEW there were things going on that I didn't understand! I'm going to give it a shot trying to find some in my niche. Any advice on how to do that? I'm trying to write to HR people about things that are interesting or challenging for them. Thanks again!!
Hey Stanford.. This is just great…!! Thnx for your really useful tips
Hi Stanford–
Thanks for the tips. I like the tweet chat idea. Being the (dumbass) Twitter virgin that I am, I just learned what the hashtag is…
I'm also going to incorporate the “about us” page URL in the welcome message.
Gracias!
P.S. I noticed when @AskAaronLee tweeted a comment of mine, I got the attention of followers who normally don't respond…yes, life really is just like high school!
Hey Stanford! Nice tips you shared. Thanks!
Yep TweetChats are awesome. That's how I really got my blog rolling. I bet Aaron could run a pretty good TweetChat (hint hint).
The thanks goes to Aaron – It's a privilege. I know that Aaron is careful about who gets to talk to his audience!
My advice is to plan to attend #blogchat on Sunday night at 9:00ESt, it'll give you a chance to see a great chat in action. Then use the link I used in the post to see all the chats that are available. I'm sure there is an HR chat sometime!
Here's a little secret. Getting the attention of the major players is HOW you get established. I promoted my very first post like it was my 100th. Just my opinion 😉
Jump back in – the water's fine 😉
Awesome tips that I will set in motion immediately!
Thanks!
Paul Castain
LoL! Whats the hint again? 🙂
Glad you found them useful Paul, Stand did a great article its better when implemented. Good luck!
These tips are simply good sense mixed up with common courtesy (not so common anymore). Thanks for the tips. Retweeting to my followers. I hope your day is great & getting better!
I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of these twitter steps to get your blog noticed. Great post Stan…I got to hit you upon twitter now 🙂
Best post I read all week! Great way to take real life social media and apply systems. Love it.
Thanks so much Stanford. So happy to have read this and found your own blog over at pushingsocial.com
Looking forward to reading more.
Nanci
Great advice, will try it!
DryerBuzz was here — great tips — what's the best chat?
I can't believe I'm on Twitter everyday and I've never heard of TweetChats. Thanks for posting the spreadsheet; that's going to be incredibly helpful.
Great information here! Thank you!
Very helpful! Thx
Glad you found em useful Jesse 🙂
Really great thoughts there. I’d been needing that for some time, so thank you.
Thanks for the tips. I like what you're bringing to the table here
Keith
Great tips, thank you. I am new to both the Twitter and blogging worlds and I appreciate the advice. Now would you please mention my posts? (LOL– just kidding. But I DID read your article!)
Thanks for the tips. Lets me know that I am on the right track. I really like your idea about getting involved with chats on twitter. I am going to give that a try this month. Thanks again for sharing such useful information
I’m pretty blown away by your twitter chat schedule. Very impressive. Makes me feel like a real slacker. Thanks for the post. Keep obsessing about social media, you’ll never be bored! Visit us too at http://www.stickyJesus.com. 🙂
Thanks for good points Stanford.
Thank you!
Great advice, thankyou. I have been playing around on Twitter just for laughs for a couple of years – and that generates a lot of rubbish. But now that my online work is beginning to take off I want to establish a productive use of twitter (I’ve got new, niche-respecting accounts of course) – and you have encouraged me ! Thank you.