Blogging Tips, Strategies And Tactics: How To Sort Through The Pile and Find The One That’ll (Actually) Work For You

“the vast majority of what you’re being told to do simply does not work. It’s not just less effective than advertised. It produces almost no meaningful results whatsoever.”
- Jon Morrow @jonmorrow, Boost Blog Traffic.com

You know there are gaps in your skills.

When it comes to getting traffic to your blog, you could do with a bit of help. Right? Well, maybe a lot of help.

You want your blog to be a relevant and entertaining place to be for your readers. A place full of content that people want to read and tell their friends about. That’s why you spend so much time writing content full of valuable information. Right?

But how do you find that help? Actually, how do you find the right help? That’s what you want to know, isn’t it? How to find the right answers, the right solutions, the right tips, strategies and tactics, the ones that’ll actually work and give you the know-how you need to make your blog relevant, entertaining and popular. That’s what you want to know. Right?

How do you find quality advice like that? And how do you avoid running into yet more meaningless drivel that costs you dear?

It’s a risk, isn’t it? A risk you don’t want to take. So you do nothing because that’s safer. Doing nothing doesn’t cost any cash. Doing nothing doesn’t punch your faith.

So, what’s the answer?

How Do You Avoid The Duffs?

Well, I’ll tell you what I’ve discovered and what’s started working for me.

In the beginning, when first starting out growing a blog, I tried nearly every tool, strategy and tactic I came across. I bought several so-called training courses on Blogging too. And got my fingers burnt.

Some people might say I was foolish. That I should’ve been more savvy.

But I was new. I was looking for help and advice. I was in that vulnerable learning mode. I trusted the courses and training I found (or who’s creators found me.).

Then, as one by one, the promised results never materialised, I snatched at any promise that sounded like it could work.

My problem was, I didn’t know how to do what I wanted to do and I didn’t know what tools I needed to make it work. So, I ended up snatching at anything that looked like it might have an answer, or a solution.

When You’re New To Blogging, You Trust People Who Tell They Know More Than You Do.

It’s only natural.

And, like you, I listened and was prepared to learn.

Like you, finding out not everyone is genuine, that not everyone does have an answer or a solution, came as a shock.

Yes, we might be gullible, you and me. But, more likely, we’re doing what any newcomer does…We look to those who (tell us they) know and what we should be doing if we want results. Right?

When the cold realisation you’ve picked another tired old hack that simply doesn’t work and whose results are meaningless, it nearly always comes as a hard and bitter lesson.

You start to reconsider if it’s all really worth it. You feel vulnerable and so you stop trying to do anything. Because doing nothing is safer than doing something that makes you look and feel stupid.

A Sure-Fire Way To Pick The Right One…

I have thank Corbett Barr here.

Because he taught me these TWO really important questions to ask, whenever deciding what to do, when, how and why.

It was his choice of tagline for his then blog, ThinkTraffic.net (now Sparkline) that pointed them out to me. ThinkTraffic’s tagline asked everyone arriving there: “Where’s your blog now? Where do you want it to be?”

It’s a great tagline.

Because it gets you thinking. It makes you stop and think about what isn’t working about your blog.

Then it makes you think about what you want you want your blog to actually do. It makes you think about what your blog’s actual purpose and overall goal is.

I took a while to realise this but these two questions Corbett Barr asked his blog readers everytime they arrived to discover more gems, are key to answering all the questions I might have about what tip, strategy or tactic I needed to concentrate on.

You’ll find they’re key to answering your questions too. Because your answers will give you direction for which path to take.

When you take stock of where your blog is now and think about where you want it to be, you can create a solid, reliable guide that will tell you exactly:

WHAT you need TO DO (what action you need to take), so you know exactly
WHAT you need TO HAVE (what tools you need, what know-how, etc) to help you make it happen.

Once you know what you need to do to get your blog to where you want it to be, you can decide what you need to get help with (because either you don’t yet know, or you don’t yet have the skills).

Knowing what you need to have, or do, so you can get your blog to where you want it be makes it a lot easier, to pick the right tactic, strategy and tool to get you where you want to be.

You’ll be a lot clearer about what you need to know and do. You’ll be more confident and know what training courses and advice to look for, who to ask or listen to.

And you’ll know what to avoid.

You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration and disappointment too.

Sound good to you?

Here’s What You Need To Do Now…

step 1: Take some time out.

Pencil (or add) it in to your calendar.

Actually take that time out, time where you can concentrate on answering the question of where you want to be.

And this includes what you want your blog to do for you (e.g. end result).

step 2: Get specific. Think about where you really want your blog to be.

Focus on that end result you want. The one that’ll make all your hard work getting there all the more sweet when it comes.

step 3: Get clear on how you’ll know when you’ve reached that end result.

What will have happened to tell you your blog is where you want it to be?

List the events, landmarks, achievements, steps, that have helped you get there. What compliments will you get from people? Actually, let yourself hear them at least once a week. And feel the pats on the back. It all adds up to making your end result all the more worth fighting for.

This knowing how to tell if and when you’ve reached your goal is the most important part of your answer. Because it’ll be your lighthouse, away from the rocks, guiding you into harbour. Journey’s end.

step 4: Stick to it.

What you need to do, what you need to have, what you need to know – Stick to those things. They’ll tell you. They’ll tell you better than any expert, any wannabe guru out there, who tries to tell you that they have the one true tactic that’s gonna get traffic flooding into your blog.

That’s how you know which one of those tools, tips, tactics and strategies is going to work for you.

The only proven blogging strategy is the one that gives you what you want. When you want it.

So, whenever you’re tempted to buy a product, or invest in some course or other, ASK yourself these questions…

Is this going to give me what I need to take my blog where I want it to be?

Will it build on what I’m already doing or learning?

…And be ruthless in your answer.

Because, if that tip, strategy or tactic doesn’t help you get from where you are now to where you want to be, it doesn’t get on your list of what to do, know and have. It’s just another meaningless waste of your time, attention and money…

“Get clear on how you’ll know when you’ve reached that end result. Pre-plan your signposts.” pic.twitter.com/SLboXetcj5

— Tom Southern (@CopyByTom) September 22, 2015

If you’re still tempted, ask yourself if you’re willing to still be where you are now, this time next week, next month. Or next year.

Or if you want to be in that place you’ve always dreamed of being.

You can get there.

You just need to give yourself permission. And stop distracting yourself by comfort-buying meaningless drivel.

Because your dreams are worth more.

And so are you.