Hello World, Can You See Me?

Every WordPress blog comes with an initial test post titled “Hello World!” as if the world might notice another blog post appear. We jump in. We write. We put our thoughts, sometimes our hearts, in the words and spaces. At some point we wonder if anyone, or enough anyones, will notice that we’re here . . . .

Ramp Up Your Visibility – 10 Strategic Locations

If we want to seen, we can’t lurk in the shadows. Sitting at home won’t get hordes of fans crowding around our web address. Commenting on blogs gets us noticed, but it takes time. What more we can do to get folks to see what we’ve got going on?

The key to visibility is being in strategic locations where people will show you off and where other people gather to look. Try ramping up your visibility from these 10 locations.

1. Someone else’s blog. Offer the perfect guest post for a blog with slightly more reach than your own. Each week choose a quality blog that has more conversation than your own. Study the blog and its audience. Know what makes it tick. Longer posts or shorter posts? What’s the tone — serious? irreverent? Choose a topic that fits right in. Introduce yourself and explain why you chose that exact blog for the exact the fully-written guest post that you’re sending along.
2. Free press release sites. Write a free press release. Learn the art of writing a press release about your latest news and offers. Spend time writing an attention grabbing headline and explaining the information in ways that get readers to care. Send it out a free press release service. Do one a day for a week. See what they bring. With a few tweaks your press release might also make an engaging post for your blog.
3. Internet radio. Become an active fan of an Internet talk radio show. Listen often. Participate and ask questions. Get to know the host and the audience. Write a list describing a subject that you’re qualified to discuss with them. Send it off to the host in an email proposing yourself as a guest. Better yet, start your own show.
4. One Social Network Group. Participate in one group at a social networking site. Rather than trying to keep up with every social networking site on the planet. Do some research and find the one which offers people and ideas that will help you grow. Start by finding groups active on a subject that you’re passionate about. Spend time writing your introduction and your profile. Let folks know what you’re interested in learning more about them and curious about how to become an active participant.
5. The Giveaway Counter Give something away for free. Find a way to let people sample your work, by offering them a “taste” of what you do. Choose a service or product of value. Know exactly what the product or service will cost when you charge for it. Check to be sure that it’s clearly branded with how to find you. If you can, invite folks to take two, so that they can pass one along to a friend.
6. Targeted email or forums. Invite bloggers to answer a compelling question. Use email to a short list of folks you want to get back in touch with. Or write on a forum that knows you. Ask a question that you know that many folks have interesting answers for. Use their answers to write a blog post. As you include each response, write a few sentences about the blogger who gave it. Promoting other people is a great way to get folks to notice you too.
7. Twitter. Follow the bloggers on Twitter who most interest you. Listen to what folks have to say and respond when they ask questions. Interact intelligently and politely when a short conversation ensues. It won’t take long before you have a sense of who’s there, and they have a sense of who you are too.
8. Virtual, audio, or brick and mortar classroom. Offer to teach something on the web, on the phone, or in person. You might make an open offer on your blog, or you might see someone with a problem and simply offer your help.
9. An event. Attend meetups and events. If you can’t find any, start one yourself. Choose one conference or group you’ll be part of this year.
10. YouTube. Make a video. Put it on YouTube. Put on your blog as well. Any video you make will tell folks something about you. Get some folks to Stumble and Digg it. Then call all of your friends.

Build a plan for letting folks know that you’re out here. Take your time. Pick the one location that most fits you and get going there first. Then move to your second choice. Every location offers an opportunity to reach out and let the living web know that you’re here.

What places and spaces for raising your visibility have worked for you? Which haven’t worked out at all?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!