Bloggin Ads

The more that social online communities develop, the more users are becoming aware that direct advertising is not something they want to pitched. The world of online media and networks has taken away the power from businesses who would like nothing more than to fill the space with advertising. Naturally there needs to be some kind of profit plan for any business, but online advertising as become an opt-in/opt-out choice that leaves users comfortable with some unobtrusive ads.

So how does a blogger promote their new posts, or their blog as a whole without sounds like a salesman attempting to convince the audience that their product is best? Unless you have an audience like Mashable where you can post links all day with little connection with the community, you’ll have a tough uphill battle ahead of you. But today’s post should offer some insight into the issue.

The Approach

As a writer for several other blogs and a consultant for online media for various levels of clientele, I’ve been able to watch social networking trends and some acceptable practices within the community that can really drive traffic to your site.

I. Introduce Your Post with a Question – Tease your audience with a question that not only gets them to   click, but also gets them to think. For example, I wrote a post on “Cookie Cutter Customer Service” on my own blog and teased it on several social networks using two questions. “Customer service is not for everyone. Have you experienced cookie cutter customer service? ….link to post.” The second promotion went as such, “I love a good cookie as much as the next, but not when it comes to customer service …link to post.” Both methods pulled the reader to be curious enough to click but also curious enough to think on their experiences.

II. Keep Track of Your Comments – I have been on a lot of sites where comment traffic can get really heavy. The amazing thing about the comments section is that the conversation continues long after the post is done. Dig deep into your comments and if the discussion is hot and heavy, feel free to point it out across your network. “Amazing debate on [insert post topic], make sure you chime in …insert link to post.” Another method would be “Don’t be left out of the discussion, make sure your voice is heard on [insert post topic] …insert link to post.” Don’t be afraid to let people know that something is happening on your blog and they need to be involved. It’s a subtle way of promoting your post, but also pointing them to worthwhile conversation.

III. Ask for Promotion – Do this only if you think your content is of high quality. If you think your post provides extensive value to the entire community, then be proud enough to ask for a Stumble or Digg to get your post in front of as many eyes as possible. Do this in moderation or people will turn you off and simply decline any want to help your post.

IV. Seek Social Proof Amongst Your Readers – Have fans repost your blog on their own networks and let the grassroots promotions get you where you need to be. In Twitter alone I have people who retweet my efforts further extending my visibility to their own networks. It’s not something you want to ask for every post, but pace yourself. Chances are is that if they like one solidly written post, they will continue to explore your site and find your other posts.

Closing Thoughts

The above mentioned techniques are socially acceptable and will not get you any flack in your communities. I can’t tell you how often I’m spammed on Twitter, FriendFeed, and Facebook by people who want me to click on their links time and time again. They do so little interaction they only care about their ranking and not about helping others and in turn benefiting from a supportive community. I completely ignore these individuals and in more severe cases will ban or drop friends all together.

So don’t be one of THOSE people and enjoy the fruit of your works by gently nudging people to your site with innovative teases while still maintaining your online reputation.

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Post Written by Luis Sandoval. He is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

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