Readers Question – where best to promote your site?
In response to my previous Readers Question about my traffic in February – SuperMom (love the name) from SuperMom No Cape, asked:
I do have a couple of Link Parties that I try to post to regularly. I’ve tried posting to several different ones but have chosen those two as they are ones that actually bring visitors. When I find a new link party, I’ll give it a try for a while to see if I get any visitors from that particular link party.
But the second part you wrote about is something that I have to confess has me intrigued… “plus I posted some of my projects on other sewing related websites such as Craftsy and Burda Style. I also posted projects to Tip Junkie, tutorial sites, free pattern sites, Craftgossip etc.” If you have time, could you explain that a little more. Thanks!
In deciding where to promote your own blog or website, think about where your potential readers might be hanging out when they aren’t at your site or a linky party.
Think of it like a date! If you were looking for your ideal partner, where would you find them? For a start, they would need to share the same interests as you – so where do you hang out (online), what sites do you read often? If you were looking for inspiration where would you go? What other areas of interest do you have and what sites do you visit for those?
What are the subjects of some of your best posts? If you wanted to find out more about that subject, where might you look? Is there a relevant tutorial site – or sites? To get traffic to your site, you need to get your site or post featured on bigger websites that attract a lot of traffic.
For example with my sewing blog. It started off very small and new so to get readers to notice me and visit, I would post my projects onto larger sites where I was allowed to do so. What big sewing sites are out there – well Burda Style is huge and has a section where members can post their own projects. Even better if you are able to offer a free pattern or tutorial then this will bring in lots of visitors over to your site. Even something simple, like my beginner projects, get a lot of traffic. For any subject, there are more beginners out there than there are experts – so don’t be afraid of simple projects. Sometimes being too ambitious or complicated can reduce your target audience to only those with the necessary skills or experience to make it work. This might be the only time I am going to advise you to aim low so that you include everyone!
Craftsy allows you to post your own craft projects, not just sewing, and if you can include some really great photos, readers will click into your project and be delighted to see a link to your site where they can find your tutorial or free template. For the ultimate traffic post a free pattern or tutorial and have it featured in the Trending list – at the time of linking two of my projects are featured here and this brings good traffic to my site. This is my Craftsy Projects Page.
Tip Junkie is another site where you can feature your own tutorials, projects and creations. This site has a lot of traffic and if you click the ‘feature on tip junkie’ box when posting your project, it will be shown on the front page, until pushed off by new arrivals. I have had some of mine feature here for a couple of days – yay!
Other sites you might try – depending upon your blog subject – are Craftgossip and U Create. Doing a Google search for your subject matter might bring up others that will feature your work.
Readers – know of any other big sites that allow us to post our crafts and creations to bring traffic? Do post links below in the comments.
Authored by: Deby at Moms Make Money
March 18, 2013 @ 10:50 pm
One pretty thing is a big site. Great one to find goodies too!
March 19, 2013 @ 8:02 am
Great find. http://www.oneprettything.com If you have step by step photo tutorials for your projects, you can submit them to be featured here.
March 19, 2013 @ 3:17 pm
Great info Deby! I’ll be nosing around looking for more useful tips! Thanks for sharing this at my party this week (another good source of traffic?? LOL!). I am also featuring this on my Facebook page 🙂
March 19, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
Thank you so much Kathe. Much appreciated.
March 19, 2013 @ 3:49 pm
Great post! I wanted to let you know that my site is also a place to submit your own projects…no approval necessary! I feature most of them on the main slider at the top of my home page as well as social media! Happy to have everyone submit their projects at http://www.ohmy-creative.com/
Susan
March 19, 2013 @ 3:56 pm
That’s great Susan, thanks for taking the time to pop over and comment. I’ll be adding you to my post promotion check sheet.
March 19, 2013 @ 4:13 pm
Thanks for the advice!
March 19, 2013 @ 9:31 pm
I’m just getting into sharing my stuff on other sites other than something like link parties, etc. I’m pinning this for future reference so I can find all those sites you mentioned above!
Visiting you via Fluster’s Creative Muster!
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
Exercise Encouragement Group Blog
March 20, 2013 @ 12:12 am
GREAT tips!!! Unfortunately, I don’t know much about promoting craft blogs:( I am a bit craft challenged but am hoping to change tat! I am hosting today at my site http://www.frugalfitfamily.com and I would love for you to share more tips there if you have a chance! I DO know that you can post blogs on Hubpages – you earn through them as well as through the google adsense and te eba/amazon affiliate links programs so you can add up some extra money with original content there. You are able to drive readers to your site and it is a great community to be a part of so the followers are there!
March 20, 2013 @ 12:50 am
You have so much info i will have to spend some time looking over your blog! Found you though the blog hop at Simply Vintageous and have subscribed to your emails as well as twitter. Maybe you will find time to come and visit me at The Little Shack on the Hill!.
March 20, 2013 @ 10:04 am
Thanks for all the good info. I just made my blog public, so I need stuff like this.
March 20, 2013 @ 2:19 pm
Thanks for the great info! I’m finding that it takes a little experimenting to figure out where it makes the most sense to spend my time and energy promoting our sites. We get a ton of traffic from Pinterest, Houzz, and GardenWeb.
March 20, 2013 @ 3:23 pm
Thanks Jen – those look like good places to promote your home, decor, remodelling and garden design ideas. Thanks for sharing.
March 20, 2013 @ 5:16 pm
I am so enjoying this series of blog help. Thank you so much!
March 21, 2013 @ 9:59 am
OMG: as always TONS of free informations and help from you!!!
You are a MUST!!!
Sorry, I have nothing to add, but I’m avidly reading what you write 😉
MammaNene
SergerPepper
March 21, 2013 @ 10:12 am
Great tips, thanks! I am still very new to the blogging world, and this helps!
March 21, 2013 @ 12:14 pm
Great post ~ I’m always looking for new ideas.
I’m co-hosting a Pinterest Linky party today and would love for you to stop by and Link Up!
~ Megin of VMG206
http://www.vmg206.blogspot.com
March 21, 2013 @ 12:32 pm
I’m visiting via Sincerely Paula’s weekend blog party and your newest Follower 🙂 I also Host a weekly Wordless Wednesday blog hop, if interested.. http://www.frugalplus.com/2013/03/wordless-wednesday-wlinky-springy-pets.html
~ Jill
http://www.frugalplus.com/
March 21, 2013 @ 2:27 pm
Great tips! Thanks so much for sharing. While reading this I went onto tipjunkie and created an account 🙂 It looks like with this site you have to post step by step instructions. You post all instructions and then provide your link back to your blog? Will also be sure to check out some of the others you and some of your commenters mention.
March 21, 2013 @ 2:53 pm
You certainly can post the steps on Tip Junkie, but the best way is to get readers to come to your site. So instead post it as a project, leave the instructions blank, just skip over those, add some photos and then I think the last page is to add your link – inspired by I think it says. This is where you link to your own blog post and ask readers to visit you to find out more.
August 20, 2013 @ 7:55 pm
Thank you for explaining this part! If it works out for me I would’ve lost some visitors skipping this valuable step!
March 22, 2013 @ 10:59 am
Thanks for the tips! Pinning!
selene @ restorationbeauty.com
March 22, 2013 @ 8:12 pm
I really needed this! I was just getting down on myself saying “I’ll never get good traffic because I’m not a mommy or a coupon blogger!” Now I have ideas of how to increase readership. Thank you!
March 23, 2013 @ 7:41 pm
Thank you so much for this post! As a new blogger, info like this is SO helpful! Pinned! I found you at Sundae Scoop Link Party–thanks for sharing!
~Abby =)
March 24, 2013 @ 6:50 am
Hello Deby, Thanks so much for answering my question as part of your Readers Question series. And thanks too for all the great links in the post as well as those provided in the comments. I’ll certainly be checking into all of them as I do have several step by step tutorials on my blog.
March 24, 2013 @ 9:21 am
Great tips, and I found some new sites to submit some of my tutorials to. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a wonderful day.
March 25, 2013 @ 12:37 pm
More great info! Thanks.
March 26, 2013 @ 1:18 pm
Thank you for the tips. Visiting from What’s Cooking, Love.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-strawberry-cream-omelet/
March 27, 2013 @ 12:27 pm
Thank you for the amazing tips!
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