I’m really pleased to have the lovely and very knowledgeable Bonnie Gean write todays post.
Everything you do online revolves around communicating with people who are interested in your products or services.
Then you are top of mind and there with the product or service they need when they are ready to buy.
How do you grow your audience? Over to Bonnie…
5 Community Building Activities to Grow Your Audience
Ask Internet marketers what the most important criteria is for making sales and they’ll answer TARGETED TRAFFIC – and lots of it! So, this article will introduce several types of traffic-generating activities you can rely on to help grow your audience and build community.
1. Blogging
It’s imperative to have a permanent home on the web to send traffic to. For this purpose, the blogging platform is easier than a stand-a-lone website because it doesn’t require you to know HTML or CSS to get the blog functional.
If you’re technically challenged, consider hiring a professional who can install a WordPress blog for you, make it secure, and add a professional theme based on your needs.
2. Article Writing
Once your blog is functional, it’s time to start filling it with content. Article writing fits the bill and reveals your expertise to the masses. If you decide to use high-quality PLR, be sure to rewrite it in your own voice.
If you feel writing isn’t for you, hire a professional to write for you. Once you have content, repurpose it under different formats, such as video, audio, and Infographics.
a. Article Submission
Never submit an article to a directory until it’s posted on your blog. Once it’s indexed for your keywords, feel free to share it elsewhere. Since you want unique content on your blog, revise your articles by more than 60% in preparation for syndication.
Add your calling card in the form of a resource box, consisting of no more than 6 lines. Don’t write your bio box for glory; write it to help readers understand what you want them to do next – this is your call-to-action!
b. Guest Posts
This article is a perfect example of how writing for others can also boost your visibility; and therefore, boost your traffic. Search for blogs in your niche that accept guest posts and send the blog owner an article to consider.
While some might suggest repurposing a previously written blog post, I want you to ignore this advice. Instead, write something EXCLUSIVE and be sure to tell the blog owner it’s not available anywhere else!
3. Schmoozing
Schmoozing is just a fancy word for networking, but regardless of what you call it, this method of making friends WILL definitely increase your targeted traffic if done right.
You can start by searching for Facebook groups or discussion forums that are in line with your business ethics. Search for opportunities to share your insight and help others get used to the idea of seeing your name associated with a niche.
Don’t forget that email can serve a purpose for building rapport, too. You want to make friends, which can happen through email just as easily as it does on other social platforms.
4. Infographics
Get others to promote you by using Infographics. It’s the #1 craze among social platforms like Facebook and Pinterest. These eye-catching designs deliver your expertise in graphic form and are very popular for repining and sharing!
Every infographic you release should have your domain name displayed on it. This will allow individuals to visit your site at their leisure and provides you with additional opportunities to grow your audience.
5. Video
In this faceless terrain we call home, it’s important to connect with people. Video helps make that possible and if you’re not actively participating, you’re passing up countless opportunities to spread your mojo!
If the idea of being on-camera makes you sweat, use the screen capture model. This will still allow you to connect with an audience and build your list. Though, I want you to consider doing on-camera videos later on!
These top 5 community building activities to grow your audience work like a charm, but only if you use them. Targeted traffic is within your reach, as long as you’re willing to put these ideas into motion. So, do it!
About Bonnie
Bonnie Gean is a full-time writer and Internet marketer with more than 20 years of experience running a home-based business. She shares the goods on building community and writes in-depth product reviews from her blog at http://www.bonniegean.com
Over to you…
What are your favourite methods to grow your audience online?
Top 5 Community Building Activities to Grow Your Audience by Jan Kearney
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Posting inforgraphics really helps bring traffic to my blog, especially when I share them on pinterest and StumblUpon!
I tend to rely on using other peoples infographics – and yes they often do go down very well! Thanks for popping in and your comment, Diane 🙂
That’s good to know, Diane! I shall have to remember this for my next article. 🙂
Do you add your domain name to all your infographics?
Thanks so much for putting all this down. I have a question: where do you find your infographics, and how can you verify that the info in them is true, without spending the day doing it?
Very helpful article, thank you!
Hi Amy, many infographics are based on stats. You can make stats say almost anything based on sample size and how the results were collected etc. “True” when it comes to stats is subjective anyway. Of course, you can make or commission your own infographics based on what you do – that will be true for you 🙂
Finding infographics – check out sites like coolinfographics.com or watch for them flying through Pinterest. You can make your own fairly easily online, I wrote about that a few months back https://www.mylocalbusinessonline.co.uk/quick-easy-infographics/
Amy,
I’m glad you enjoyed the article and thank you for saying so!
I am in the process of making my own. I know my way around Photoshop, so that’s not a big problem. Though, for someone who wants to dabble in making their own – it’s not the best route.
As Jan has pointed out, you can use outlets online to make some of your own. In addition to what she pointed out – I also use:
http://piktochart.com/ that also allow “FREE” subscribers to use some of their templates.
Have a go at it and let me know how much fun you had! 🙂
Great article with principles that can be put right to work. I liked the word schmoozing. It’s so much more fun then networking!
Will we see you schmoozing more now, Shawn? lol Thanks for popping in and commenting 🙂
I totally agree! It’s my word for 2013! I’ll use it so much, people are bound to start throwing rocks! hehe
Thanks for reading!
Thank you for all of the great information. I will sure to put it to use.
I’d love to hear how you get on, Cheryl! Thanks for popping in and commenting 🙂
Be sure to let me know how it goes for you Cheryl! I would love to know!
Hi Bonnie
I like the schmoozing word!
I would be interested to know your views on article marketing and it’s effectiveness in this age of Google updates and changes and the importance of social search – do you think it is still a worthwhile strategy. Also what software do you use for spinning or do you do it manually
Many thanks Bonnie for making me think!
Sue
Spinning? Spinning!? Pft! I can’t speak for Bonnie, I re-write mine manually. Haven’t found a spinner yet that doesn’t make you sound like a cheap article marketer from the Phillipines (no offence intended to people there!) if you don’t spend some time and thought on it. It’s not a 10 minute job.
I did used to write pre-spun articles for various spinners – it’s a knack to get them to come out reading well. But for me, you lose the personality.
It’s been a while since I did any article marketing specifically, and it does depend on why you are doing it. The old get to the top of google way doesn’t work – getting your articles reprinted does work well.
Hi Bonnie and Jan,
a great post Bonnie. I just have one question, if I can start by pasting the relevant section …
Never submit an article to a directory until it’s posted on your blog. Once it’s indexed for your keywords, feel free to share it elsewhere. Since you want unique content on your blog, revise your articles by more than 60% in preparation for syndication.
So am I right in thinking that you don’t submit the exact same article to any article directory a the one you’ve installed on your blog? You modify it substantially before submitting it anywhere ! Do I have it right?
Wonderfully informative post by the way – very much appreciated 🙂
All the best ladies,
Paul
Hi Paul, I’m not Bonnie but I have done my fair share of article marketing! (It’s how I started online)
In the not so distant past, you could get away with waiting for your blog post to be indexed and then syndicate. These days, you do want the original on your site and it to be different to everything else out there. I’m not one to say percentages, but yes a significant rewrite before syndication.
Hi Paul,
You are correct in your thinking. Rewrites by 60% or more is best when you want to share content from your blog with an article directory.
The idea is to keep the unique article available only from your blog. If you want to share it outside of the blog, then change it significantly so your blog keeps the unique original.
I’m not talking about “spinning” the content, but rather sitting down and writing it over by hand. You’ll get much better results!