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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!!
A variation of #1 above, I actually am planning to approach some sites as an independent writer.
I’ve done this in the past (in a portal) with moderate success.
Do you do it Liz? If so, can you provide some tips?
Thanks!
Liz,
This is an awesome list! I’m going to experiment with a few of these.
Mike
Hi Hendry,
If I were going to approach a site as a writer I would make sure that
Hope those help you get started.
Smiles,
Liz
Hi Mike,
Do you want to start with a guest post over here? You’re welcome to if you have an idea. 🙂
That sounds like a fine idea! Let me put something together and send it to you for review!
Mike
Excellent plan!
What a great list Liz! Thank you, as always, for your generous sharing.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for the succinct packaging on this topic that always seems to be so overwhelming. I like the idea of trying things on to see if they fit. I guess I’ve been doing that at Twitter and with Press Releases now that I look at it that way. I think I’ll tackle #6 next and work on asking compelling questions. I liked the link to Jonathan’s site and his example. As always, you rock!
Hi Donna!
Thank you for coming by to take a look. I’m glad you found value when you came! 🙂
Hi Erica!
It does seem overwhelming but, like every other big task, as soon as we chunk something down to pieces, we can tackle it.
No one has to do everything. Ever. 🙂
Liz,
Whew! Thanks for the reminder that I can use the Do Less attitude when it comes to blogging 🙂
Awesome list. Thank you. A double thanks for the helpful links.
Hi Erica!
That might be the easiest thing I did all day! 🙂
Hi Karl!
Thanks! Glad you found this useful. 🙂
Liz, thanks for this, first time I’ve been to your site and some valuable stuff. It’s made me make an approach to someone I’ve wanted to do some writing for for months, and now finally got on and done it.
Thanks for the helpful push!
Helen
Hi Helen!
Welcome! I’m working that value proposition, every day. Thank you for the encouragement.
You’re not a stranger anymore! 🙂
Hey Liz!
Thanks for the mention in #6 on your list! What’s funny is, I started doing this more because I had questions I wanted answered from really smart people (like u), so I just started asking and the whole process began to take on a life of its own. And, I learned that so many other people were looking for the same answers, a couple of the “round-up” posts even went viral on Digg, stumble and delicious.
Who knew?! 😉
Stay warm, my friend!
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan!
Thanks for stopping by to say “hello!” Your curiosity led to a fabulous series that, as you said, even went viral more than once. Simply by asking questions everyone wanted to know the answers to, you got a whole boatload of attention. 🙂
Thanks Liz. That’s helpful to start with.
Thanks, Hendry!
Your tip about Twitter is spot on. Networking helps.
Commenting on other blogs is now on the top of my list this year. One enabling thing for that is to read lots of blog posts. RSS is your friend. I try to comment on at least a couple of blogs daily, and more on weekends.
Another great way to get yourself known it to participate and talk about it. There are lots of start ups looking for folks to not only ‘do their thing’ on the site, but share about it. One for me has been Utterz. That sites fun and the tools keep getting better. I’ve been playing evanglist there and that’s netted me some personal thank yous and blog visits from the team. (and a bag of swag)
Help others whenever you can. That doesn’t mean you have to buy them groceries or fly to another state. It’s enough to promote their causes, and offer hugs. Some folks in my circle really shine in that area, @shashib for instance, not only got involved as another person sharing about Frozen Pea Fund, but took it to his local social network, and his media contacts. Do what you can, people will get to know you more that way than what you say.
Great post Liz.
Todd!
Your advice here is fabulous! I especially like the part about being a helpful evangelist . . . promoting other folks is the best way to make real connections with real people.
Do what you can, as you just said, and other folks notice that you’re there.
Great comment. Thanks for adding so much to what I only started. 🙂
Hey there, Liz – I’m catching up on my blog reading after returning from a business trip. Thanks for the shout out and also for the terrific list. The “helpful evangelist” is a perfect orientation to work from.
Hi Tammy!
Hope your trip was fabulously successful!
It’s way more fun to be sitting on the same side of the table when we talk business, isn’t it? 🙂
Liz, thanks for the list, and the links they lead to… which has worked best for you?
Hi Ming!
This year, I’m trying to show up in person wherever I might, but especially in Chicagoland. 🙂