Note: This is an excerpt from my first monthly newsletter that is sent to all email subscribers of Blogging Flail
You’re not going to believe this, but I’ll tell you anyway. Keep this in mind as you read this post — I re-branded Blogging Flail one month ago, in early December 2014, and implemented a strategy to:
- Gain more visitors to my site
- Increase engagement on my site
- Increase email subscribers to Blogging Flail
- Increase my engagement on Social Networks
So is my strategy working?
What if I told you, that I started networking with some of the biggest names in blogging. I don’t mean simply following them on Twitter or leaving a few random comments on their blog, I mean actual networking.
Do any of the following names ring a bell?
Yaro Starak, Carrie-Anne Foster, Peg Fitzpatrick, Steven J. Wilson, Ana Hoffman, Tim Bonner, Adrienne Smith, Richard Martin, Kevin Duncan, Sue Anne Dunlevie, and a host of others.
Each of the individuals listed above have either left comments on my blog posts, shared my content on Twitter, left me comments on my Google Plus posts, or best yet – engaged with me via email.
Pretty crazy huh?
Now I’m not where I want to be just yet, but it is a start, and I’m about to show you how I went about doing all of this in just 30 days.
Month One Activities
Want to know what I did in my first month?
Well, you’re going to need to sign up for my email list to find out.
This information is only available to subscribers of my email list. Simply sign up for my list by clicking here, and I’ll send you links to all my past monthly summaries.
What are you waiting for, sign up now…
Great strategy Craig! The best way forward is hooking up with great names. They will help push you up. And of course, keeping awesome stuff for your subscribers will attract more subscribers. So I’m jumping in to see what’s inside.
Happy New Year
Wow! What a pleasant surprise Enstine! Thank you so much for the unexpected visit and comment. Thank you for the compliment, it means a great deal coming from you, i hope i dont disappoint you.
Hi Craig!
I have no doubt in my mind that if you keep setting goals for yourself and making continual progress, you’ll end up where you want to be in no time.
I’ve always told people that networking is one of the best ways to get noticed fast. Networking with influential people pushes you up close to their levels just through the power of association – not to mention the fact that networking often gets your name in front of a new audience.
In fact, when people ask about SEO I usually say, “Ignore it for the most part. Focus on networking instead!”
Because the truth is, networking is what gets you the relevant, natural backlinks that Google loves.
Anyway I’m looking forward to keeping up with your progress, I know you’re accomplishing great stuff already and I’m so glad to hear that!
Thanks for the vote of confidence James, much appreciated.
At one time I simply focused on SEO, and thought that was all I needed to worry about. Optimize for those keywords, and everyone will find me. While I don’t want to discount the advantages of SEO, it sure didn’t help me find the visitors and engagement networking can bring.
In the last 30 days since I’ve started to focus on networking, I’ve seen a huge difference on the level of engagement to my site. Who would have thought that by just doing some simple networking it would made such a big difference. I’m sold!!!
I’ll catch you over on your site sir. Interested in learning more about the advantages of pop up’s.
Thanks again James!
[ Smiles ] Yes, I recognize those names; they all belong to the authority figures of blogging!
Hey Craig.
It took me over 18 months blogging to realise that there is so much more to it than tapping away at a keyboard for hours and then hitting the publish button.
And the key element I was missing was reaching out to people and creating meaningful relationships.
Thanks for the mention 🙂
No thank you Richard. Your one of the ones that made me see the light.
Hey, Craig,
I’m super glad to have met you, and think your strategy is excellent. 🙂
Definitely agree that networking is where it’s at. To what level we take it, and how time consuming we make it simply depends on the life cycle of our business.
Treating our subscribers like gold is something that is rewarding personally as well as in every single aspect of our businesses, in my opinion. You’re one smart cookie!
Excellent job, and I look forward to sharing your content.
Take Care,
– Carol 🙂
Thanks again Carol. And it’s been a pleasure getting to know you better as well.
I really like your quote – “to what level we take it, and how time consuming we make it simply depends on the life cycle of our business”. Isn’t that the truth. I’d love to be doing more of that right now, but given my current situation, there’s only so much I can do. I can definitely see the focus on networking changing based upon where you are at.
I think you’re the smart one Carol!