by Carrie Monroe

Created on: August 12, 2011   Last Updated: August 13, 2011

There are many tools for bloggers looking for more traffic and readers to their blogs.  Many of these tools already exist within the blog hosting sites like Blogger, Typepad and Wordpress.

The first step in creating blog traffic is to pick a layout that is appealing to readers and that best represents the blog writer.  The layout should be easy for readers to read so be sure to visit some your blog post after picking a background or theme.  Some backgrounds can hide the font color and some background and font color choices can be hard on reader’s eyes.

Make posts easy to read.  Rambling on about a subject gets boring.  Most people will avoid huge blocks of text because everyone is busy.  Making posts short, including pictures and writing in lists or bullet points can make your blog more appealing to busy readers.

The next step to increasing traffic is to post regularly.  Set a schedule and try to stick to that schedule. An easy schedule to stick with for beginning bloggers is Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  Some people prefer to post every day.  Readers are more likely to visit and come back if you post often. 

Tag your posts.  Most blog publishing platforms have a feature where writers can tag posts in the edit post page.  These are usually one word tags like dogs, writing, cooking or whatever that will direct people looking in search engines to your site.

Make it easy to follow your site.  Blogger will show people who follow your site in the sidebar.  You can also add a blogroll that shows the blogs you follow in the sidebar so people can follow those sites.

Following, commenting and interacting with other bloggers is important.  If you want more followers and more comments follow more blogs and comment on other blogs.  Be sincere in your comments.  Many people find new blogs to read and comment on based on comments from other blogs. 

Another tool is to directing readers to other posts on your blog.  At the bottom of the post it will suggest three other posts a reader might like.  This is a great way for readers who are new to the blog to see posts they may have missed.

One easy way to increase blog traffic is to activate Share buttons.  These buttons appear at the bottom of a post and allow the author and readers to easily share the post on  facebook, twitter and other social networking sites.

Network with other bloggers.  Teaming up with other bloggers for blogfests, challenges, interviews and giveaways can be a great way to get traffic.  Interviewing another blogger can bring their fans to your blog.  Blogfests bring other participants to your blog.  Contests and giveaways can be another fun way to get more traffic but these should be more limited. Blogs aren’t just all about the blogger and the more you network with other people and participate in the blog community the more followers you’ll gain.   

Don't get disappointed.  Getting traffic to your blog takes time.  Some people will have hundreds of followers overnight while others take time to build numbers.  Be kind and courteous to each new follower.

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