Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

May 19, 2006

Directories and Click Exchanges as Promotion

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 12:03 pm

Hey I’m Here!

New Blogger Logo

I remember all too well when I had my blog set up. There were 6 or 7 posts and I had 6 or 7 readers — all friends who were doing me a favor. I wanted so much to find a way to say, “Hey, I’m here! Come read me!”

I’m not patient in such situations. I’m a person who likes to make things happen. So make things happen is what I did.

That First Comment

I had no experience of blogging, but I had heard of blog directories, so I Googled to find some. I found more than plenty. I spent that very first week submitting my blog to every directory. I’d submit to several each day. Then I’d go read blogs and comment. (Commenting is another post. ) After 21 days, but it happened, I got a comment from someone I didn’t know. (You never forget your first comment.)

Directories

While I was submitting to directories, I discovered more than one kind of directory. A directory is a listing of blogs with a description a link for each that readers can search and follow. Some directories list any kind of blog and place them intocategories. Some accept only certain types, such as only business blogs. You can find out what information you need to gather, how to submit your blog, and three extensive directory listings by following this link on the NEW BLOGGER Page.

Directory Listings as Blog Promotion

Click Exchanges

You may by now have run into a Click Exchange such as Blog Explosion, Blog Advance, Blog Mad, Blog Clicker, or others. Each of these can be used to build up your traffic. Notice I say traffic, not readership.

Most people who use a click exchange sit and click without reading, so they don’t really see you blog. They are only trying to gain credit so that you will click on them. So know that when you build up those clicks and get that traffic, most folks stay only the required 30 seconds. Maybe 1 in 100 will actually read you long enough to come back again.

However, I do have something good to say about click exchanges for new bloggers and folks with personal blogs. When I was a brand-new blogger, I used a click exchange. I would read the blogs I liked, review them, and leave comments. Those bloggers I read often became my friends. Many are still my friends today. The Google Blogspot nav bar can help new bloggers out the same way.

The big click exchanges have forums, games, and other incentives for bloggers to meet and interact. So don’t overlook them or say pfft if you’re looking for a sense of community and some folks to talk to.

One caution about using click exchanges: When you use a click exchange, you are really surfing. Be sure you have a strong virus program and a firewall. My virus program has intercepted more than one trojan while checking out blogs on the best click exchange, and we have a serial router system with two firewalls. You’ll also need to empty your browser cache often, because every site will leave a cookie. You might want to set your history to zero.

Meet the World Head On

Like everything else, the world of blogging keeps on turning whether you stay at your blog waiting or go out to find it. It’s more fun if you go meet it head on. Lots of folks seem to take up blogging at this time of year. Don’ t think that you’re the only one. Blogging is still new enough that even a few months experience makes a blogger seem a pro.

Have fun and meet some folks. Then bring them over and introduce them. We’ll show them around and make them feel at home.

If you have a question, leave a comment. After all, comments are another way to say to the rest of us, “I’m here. Come see me.”

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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20 Comments to “Directories and Click Exchanges as Promotion”

  1. May 19th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
    Ohad said

    Liz,
    yet another great post. I have actually given up on directories but your approach makes sense as to using them to find and interact with other blogs.
    Thanks for sharing you experience

  2. May 19th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ohad,
    You are an optimist, as I am one. You find the good things in everything you look at. Thank you sir.

  3. May 19th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
    James Brausch said

    Hi Lizz,

    As usual… cut right to the chase and give excellent information.

    Give and you shall receive. The best way to get read is to read the blogs of others and contribute. Your blog is one of my must read every day. Sorry it has taken so long to actually post a comment and say Hi.

    Keep up the great work!

    -James Brausch

  4. May 19th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
    Steve said

    Hi Liz, excellent post. I remember my first time too… ahem… that would be my first comment…

    I think directories can help get some mileage. It is tough to promote your blog when your link isn’t out there.

  5. May 19th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
    Keith Dsouza said

    When i started I went on a clicking spurge but like you I too made some good friends, some of whom i share emails with and love reading.

    Well I have not stopped though as I get lots of new sites with interesting people and interesting things to read but its less frequent, and has become a leisure now.

    I am lucky enough to have jumped from over thirty million in alexa to 734,358 as of today in traffic rankings, and that really makes me happy to know that out of 80 million sites I am getting up there.

    BTW for those who don’t know this cute blog from Liz is ranked 83,799 all over the world.

    Cheers
    Keith

  6. May 19th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi James,
    Thank you for stopping to say, “Hello,” and for the kind words. They’re a boost on this Friday. I’ve been trying all morning to get a semi- to fit in a closet and it’s just not working. So thank you again for the support on what is working. :)

  7. May 19th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Well, put Steve,
    It’s always interesting to see when one of my directory links pops up in my stats . . . I’ve made some really good blog friends by following them back. I’m always curious to find out why and how someone landed on me out of the however many blogs in a directory.

  8. May 19th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Keith,
    Congratulations on how quickly your blog is growing. It’s not just the directories, but the quality and frequency of your postings. You seem to have a following at your blog that knows you well.

    Thanks for the stats on my blog. You make me blush.

  9. May 19th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
    Keith Dsouza said

    Hey Liz,

    Yea I do have some good friends named Google, MSN and Yahoo, these guys just give me some good hits every day.

    I didnt need SEO’s to get up there, it just needs some small modifications in how you blog to get there, maybe I will write something up on that soon.

    Some people made me spektical over a personal blog being technology related, but the friends above just reaffirm me that I am doing some good for the community who can use the infromation i provide.

    Keith

  10. May 19th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Keith,
    I know what you mean, exactly. It doesn’t take much to get the attention of search engines with a blog –quality and relevant content that people want to read. That’s all. You have it.That’s how you got there. :)

  11. May 19th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
    Keith Dsouza said

    Oops, I dropped my plan to write something, I just saw James’s blog and he already has something interesting there to help on those.

    Keith

  12. May 19th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    So go comment on James’ post and get a conversation going. :)

    I need to work on getting that semi into that closet again anyway.

  13. May 19th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
    MrVisible said

    Well, I guess I know what I’m doing with my afternoon.

    Thanks for all the advice. This site is a real wealth of information.

  14. May 19th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
    HART (1-800-HART) said

    I went to James pages .. and spent about a half hour reading .. some interesting stuff .. might have preferred a few pictures, links, etc.. but good stuff .. then when the smoke cleared .. all I can think of was 3 thoughts…

    1) Don’t blink - you’ll miss it .. (that’s what we used to say about the small time I spent my teens in)
    2) {not posted here}
    3) Yes.. I would have left a comment except the blog is setup to force you to REGISTER in wordpress first - to me (i.m.h.o.) that’s quite Lame. HINT: Options/Discusions/ tick/tick/tick tick/tick/ blank/tick/blank/

    Now .. online directories.. I will browse that page you linked .. I have a bit of spare time :) I remember when I first started blogging May 31, 2005 .. I signed up for a gajillion directories .. most requiring that you need to place their code .. and I added them all in my sidebar - of course .. on version 1 blog. Then, when version 2.0 came out, the sidebar had enough stuff on it and I never put the codes back up. I don’t think I’m in any of the directories anymore. Mind you, I haven’t checked either. Maybe I am? I can’t remember them all and I’m sure my keywords and description has probably changed even if I am in there.

  15. May 19th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi HART,
    I need to do a post on the Login thing. That makes me crazy too. I just won’t do it. It’s only second to the folks who hijack my back button.

    The directories do take a lot of effort and linking, but they also teach you how to make links and to use your template. I you find out which ones bring traffic and which ones don’t. I’ll admit I’ve dumped most of those on my business blog. But I still have plenty and get traffic on my writing blog.

  16. May 19th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mr. Visible,
    You have such a nice way of saying that I talk an awful lot. :) Do take HART’s advice and mine in the comments just above this one and look directory over before you put the time into them. Not all directories are worth the same. Robin Good’s list is considered the best.

  17. May 19th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
    Steve said

    MrVisible, I read every single post that pops up here. Some good stuff. Liz sure does talk a lot but I like talkers… :)

  18. May 19th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ahem, Steve,
    You really don’t have to agree with EVERYTHING I say. :)

  19. May 19th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
    timethief said

    Hi Liz. Thanks for the invitation and for all the information. I especially needed to hear about “click exchanges”. Because I’m such a newbie I never realized the implications of surfing around and random clicking until now. This is a great Friday twice over because I also found and interesting blog in your SOB’s sidebar with some solid leadership advice in it and I left a comment behind. I’ll have to consign some of my weekend time to reading all the comments above mine and gleaning some knowledge from them too. Then of course I’ll also have to make some time to blog. :D

  20. May 19th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Timethief,
    You are indeed becoming super blogger woman. I’m glad to see that you’re findind your way around to lots of new blogs and that they’re starting to find you. You’re going to be a star!

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