Joining the Blogosphere

In an effort to gain recognition, I recruited my brother (more, he offered his assistance) to help me reach the millions who reside in the Blogosphere. Cheesy, I know. But it's fun to be a part of a community, as anonymous as it may be.

Here is what I have discovered:

Step 1: I signed up for Google Analytics. Now, I can monitor the traffic that comes and goes on my blog. Don't worry, I won't get the names of the people who are reading. It just shows how many people are coming and their general location/region. It also shows how your visitors found your blog. Anyone else looking to promote their writing can start by doing the same thing at www.google.com/analytics/. That won't gain you readership, but it will help you determine how your various other efforts are helping.

Step 2: Technorati.com. I was not familiar with this site, mostly because I'm not exactly tuned in to the internet world. But I'm making an effort to keep up with the evolving medium for writing. As a professional writer, I don't want to be left behind. From what I understand, this site is meant as a sort of hub for bloggers everywhere. It provides news from around the world, as well as blogger news. Which sites are popular, which are worth visiting, whose site covers what topics, etc. Technorati already knew about my blog (which gave me a little warm, tingly feeling) via my brother's Complaint Hub.

Step 3: Learn to write. People will read your blog if they have something to gain from reading it. Writing solely about your own experiences won't help unless your experiences are so outrageous that everyone will be thoroughly entertained by them. Most of the successful sites keep an eye on the tech world news and comment on issues as they see fit. If you can provide a unique perspective on a widely publicized issue, you have your foot in the door.

Step 4: Write often. The more you write, the more people will find your site and read it.

Step 5: Read other people's blogs and comment when appropriate. According to my brother, who is my number one source on all things bloggy, an interesting comment on a random blog can provide a new reader for your own blog.

Step 6: Don't get comfortable. Once you put forth an effort to expand your readership, you have an obligation to maintain that effort. Have to keep the masses happy.

I will keep you all updated on how my efforts are working. This is as much a guide for my own benefit as for anyone else's. Hopefully you all gain something from this.