Club Blogger

Written by Larry on August 14th, 2008

Driving Traffic to Your Blog With Social Networking Sites

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Social networking sites have become really popular and are an effective tool for internet marketers. They allow individuals to gather, discuss and report on current topics. In many instances, they allow the reader to become the news reporter, submitting stories that they find amusing, funny, alarming, informative and serious. They also allow bloggers an opportunity to generate traffic, readers and sales.

Social networking sites are best used not as places to make direct sales pitches but rather mediums to share knowledge. Savvy social networkers will consistently give away great information for free. And as a result, readers are clamoring to know more about them and are willing to purchase just about everything that they make available. This is because the first rule of correct social networking is to build credibility. Leaving a link to your sales page will not be effective in most cases. Below, we will discuss five social networking sites and how you can best use them to generate free, quality traffic to your blog.

1. Newsvine: Newsvine is an online website that provides updated, AP wire news. They also accept news stories from members. The site is similar to Digg in this manner. To get traffic to your blog using Newsvine, submit a story that is interesting and that a great number of people might appreciate. Don’t go there and just submit your blog link. Add some copy that makes people want to visit your blog. Make sure that your blog has some useful and interesting content so that once people visit your blog, they will want to come back.

2. Scribd: Scribd is a social networking site that is not as well known as some of the others. Still there is a lot of potential here in terms of traffic. Scibd allows individuals to share reports, white papers and e-books. These documents can be embedded into other websites or blogs and downloaded. To take advantage of this site, create a few, short e-books, add a link to your blog and then submit it to Scribd.

3. Slideshare: Slideshare is a website that gives people the opportunity to create and make available, slide shows. Other site users can view your slideshows and vote on them. Your best bet is not to turn your slideshow into a blatant advertisement. Again, provide something useful and entertaining. Add pictures and video if you can. Placing a large link to your blog on the first and last page and in smaller letters throughout the slide show should give yourself enough publicity.

4. Propeller: Propeller is very similar to Digg. Formally known as Netscape, this site is a powerhouse. Propeller posts often get ranked really quickly if you choose a non-competitive keyword. Again, make your site description sound interesting and helpful, not like a sales pitch.

5. Twitter: Twitter is a bit different from all of the above sites. It asks people what they are doing. People can follow you and you can follow them. To find friends offer to follow people and then ask them to follow you. Give answers that make people want to visit your blog.