Secrets to Writing a Successful Blog Revealed
Each month 451 Press releases a monthly report which includes the top 20 most trafficked sites on the network! Despite my endless efforts and struggles, I have yet to make this list… I know it’s shocking isn’t it, especially after I discovered through self-experimentation that Linking too Much will Destroy You!!!
So… what are the secrets to success that I am missing? Why is it that I sit here drenched in the tears of my own self-pity while others rejoice at the success of their blog? Perhaps a quick look at the top 5 websites on the 451 Press network could reveal some of the secrets to writing a successful blog!
1. 1PStart.com 
“1PStart.com is your ultimate resource in knowing all things gaming. Whatever your choice in console, we’re sure to cover it. Along with exciting contests, reviews, previews, trailers and screenshots, 1P Start has got it all! So make sure to hit 1P Start!”
Take a look at the latest article by Stuart Piazza which features the very funny image of the PS3 quoting, “Well, mine is bigger.”.
You’ll also notice that 1P Start tends to publish two articles or more every day! Hmmm… more content = more visitors? Maybe we’re on to something here! Good work Stuart and Alex! Hopefully this link is a good enough bribe to get them to feature my free game BattleCity Classic in an article!
“Pop Buzz UK deals in everything pop culture, all with a british flavour and from a Brit’s point of view. Like a drug, it’s addictive, with juicy stories, gossip and reports from the world of Celebrity, TV, Films, Music and a lot more besides.”
Dave keeps pumping out great content such as this recent post about The Simpsons 300 Film Mash Up Video.
As far as I can see PopBuzzUk sticks to posting one article a day, so more content cannot be the only key to writing a successful blog. So what secrets does Dave have? Well, one thing you will notice is that most of his posts include a “Read the rest of this entry link”. Perhaps this makes it easier for visitors to find the articles they want to read, while doubling his page views when they do find one they are interested in! Great work Dave!
“Some people use their automobiles only to get from Point A to Point B. You know there’s more than that. You get mad when someone makes a remark about your car that’s less than flattering. You get riled when a cool car is destroyed in a straight-to-video movie. You realize when a new car doesn’t deserve it’s name of a great car of the past. When you see someone driving a boring vehicle, you feel sorry for them. You know it’s not the destination that counts - it’s the journey. Welcome home gearheads. Welcome home, car freaks. Welcome to the site that fuels your automotive obsession”
This particular website has been fortunate to have had several great writers whom have contributed very good content for fans of the automobile niche. There are some excellent articles such as the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Review and the Great Music About Cars post!
Hmm… ok so maybe having a great niche topic and then writing excellent content is key to success! While that may be vague, the main idea is to provide a unique perspective.
Pretty cool that the top 3 sites are all on completely different topics too!
“Welcome to Xbox 360 Rally, the only home for all the Xbox 360 news that matters, with a touch of “home flavorâ€? not associated with most major gaming sites. Xbox 360 Rally brings you all the Xbox 360 News, Reviews and Previews you could ever ask for, with a healthy dose of sarcasm, and a dash of cynicism to get you through your day.”
Ah, another gaming site among the networks top 5! Check out the great use of videos such as in this post displaying a Halo video clip. Isn’t it great how it’s not a link to the video, it’s the actual video itself embedded within the page! Wait a minute, didn’t some of the other websites in the Top 5 do this as well?!
Looks like embedding videos within posts could be another secret to writing a successful blog! I know the videos sure helped catch my attention.
“TV Bloggin is a site that loves. It loves good TV and loves to hate bad TV. TV Bloggin brings passion and quirky humor–as well as news, views, reviews–to the medium we all spend so much time with but love to hate–TV.”
Another popular website where the author uses a unique writing style that is bound to capture your attention such as in this post regarding character development in CSI, or the lack thereof. Maybe the key to writing a successful blog is stepping on some toes! By this I mean, not being afraid to share your opinion even if it might upset some people. Trying to please everyone could leave your blog without flavor like rice cakes. Reading TV Bloggin however is like indulging in a delicious chocolate cake! mmmm…!
So… What are the Secrets to Writing a Successful Blog?
The main thing I noticed that the Top 5 blogs had in common was very good use of images and videos embedded within posts. This really stood out to me because this made the presentation much more appealing than endless paragraphs of text. When I went back to looking over my blog, it looked really boring since I haven’t been making good use of images. I therefore decided to include images and videos for this post, and doesn’t it look AWESOME?! w00t!
Secret #1: Embed images and videos within your posts to make your blog more interesting!
But wait, there is more! You will also notice that the Top 5 blogs do a very good job of linking to their older posts! Remember, the other day I provided Proof that Links Revive the Dead, so harnessing the power of the link to increase page views and help visitors discover your best content is also key to success! Just because a post is older, does not mean it is no longer relevant today. If it contains useful information relevant to what you are discussing, link to it! Keep those older posts working for you!
Secret #2: Link to your older posts to increase page views and to help visitors find your best content!
Hold on a second, it looks like these Top 5 blogs also do a lot of linking to other websites… ! Alas, it looks like this is another secret to writing a successful blog. Link to other websites and blogs in order to build relationships with other writers, make friends and generate back-links! If I find out someone has written an article about me or my blog, I will definitely go check out their site! Linking to other sites also shows your readership that you are dedicated to providing them with the best resources and material on your topic, even if it is available on a competing blog. Readers will come back to your site if you send them off to visit useful or enjoyable content because they will be hoping for more of the same!
Secret #3: Link to other websites in order to build relationships, make friends and generate back-links!
The next thing I found all of these blogs to have in common was very high quality writing. Good grammar makes your blog easier to read and therefore makes it appear more professional. No matter how good your content is, if it is poorly written, many readers will not come back. You will also notice that each of the writers for the Top 5 blogs use their own personal writing style. There is no secret writing style that will bring you tons of traffic, however being unique and yourself will help make you stand out. Stick to your style so that you become recognizable through your writing. Try to offer a unique perspective so readers have a reason to visit your blog instead of another that is similar.
Secret #4: Offer a unique perspective in a well written style you are comfortable with!
Last but not least is what goes on behind the scenes…! You need to market and advertise your blog if you hope for it to be successful. While it would be nice for visitors to magically appear once you start pumping out good content, unfortunately that is rarely the case. You need to tell some people and get the word out. If you stand upon a mountain on a cloudy day with a crowd below, it is possible you go unnoticed. Start throwing some snowballs into the crowd, and soon everyone will be pointing at you!
Secret #5: Start throwing snowballs! Advertise and market your blog to increase incoming traffic.
Hopefully these secrets will help you and your blog reach new levels of fame! I did my best to follow the secrets I have learned from the Top 5 blogs in this article and will try to continue doing so! The only problem is that doing so requires a lot of work and dedication! Looks like maybe there is another secret you need to keep in mind…
Secret #6: Success does not come overnight, it requires a lot of hard work and dedication! Be patient, research your content, and have a good time blogging!
So what about the other 15 websites in the Top 20? Did they also get there by following these secrets? Looks like it! Take a look at these great posts they have recently written:
6) hogwartsherald.com - But first, a quick pop quiz…
7) angelinajoliewatch.com - Angelina Jolie Horsing Around For St. John
8 ) mobilitywatch.com - Follow The LG Trax
9) hotornotbeauty.com - The Power of Leather - Armani Fall 2007
10) popculturebuzz.com - Music Review - Calvin Harris “I Created Disco
11) watchingtheview.com - Star Jones Admits Wedding Talk Was Too Much
12) wwedaily.com - Dispute over Benoit’s Estate
13) toybender.com - Mattel at SDCC 2007: He-Man!
14) britneyspearswatch.com - Kevin Builds His Case, Britney’s Looking Bad
15) lindsaylohanwatch.com - Lohan’s Rehab Stint Costly
16) watching24.com - 24 Character Countdown (Episode 24)
17) tottvwatch.com - Once Upon a Time, I Liked Jumping Out of Bed on Saturday Mornings
18) bradpittwatch.com - Busy Weekend
19) blognewswatch.com - Between Bloggers: Copyblogger and Away With Words
20) bead-arts.com - Artist Profile: Maggie Towne
Hmmm… wasn’t it Mike Rundle who said something about the lack of Quality among 451 Press blogs? Apparently he didn’t actually take the time to read any before writing that article…
August 17th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Hey, thanks for the link love, compadre! Don’t worry. It WILL happen. Keep writing good content, and keep thinking of readers first, traffic second, and you’ll be on that list in no time.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Thanks for the link and spotlight Deceth!
This is a great post and you’ve hit the nail on the head with all your tips.
The picture/video thing is very important, as it makes your blog more of an interactive experience than a journal.
I only reached number 2 last month because of Harry Potter… I milked the traffic for all it’s worth lol.
getting in the top 10 meanwhile has been a combo of luck, consistency and Digg!
August 17th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Thank you for the link!About 1pstart though, one of the reasons it is on top is because of the initial writers who were experts at using Digg, MySpace, and YouTube. They managed to get 1pstart HUGE numbers, so when others took it over it was much easier to maintain that momentum. Not to take anything away from the guys there now, but its hart to imagine that 1pstart would have had half the success without the founders (love them or hate them).
August 17th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Thanks for the props!
Todd Epp
TVBloggin
August 17th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Thanks for the mention and great article.
Honestly, I try to maintain my writing interesting into what sometimes can be quite limitating in the world of cosmetics and don’t try to milk the celebrity mania cow, because you’re not learning anything.
I’m pretty you’ll be on the list in no time. August is an incredibly slow month, don’t be discouraged.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Hey there,
Thanks for the link, Yeah, yeah I know who the hell “watches” wrestling its all just fake. I really liked the article.
Thanks again,
Scooter
August 20th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Holy smokes, thanks for all the comments and support everyone! I’m glad the article was well received!
I definitely feel that my blog is doing better and better all the time, especially thanks to all the tips I have learned from you guys simply by reading your blogs!
Thanks again!
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