I've tried the blogging thing. It's not that I don't enjoy it. I just don't have the time to devote to it. I work in an office 10 hours a day and then I run my handcrafted jewelry business in my free time. family, dogs, house and land added to that and I'm time starved. (Don't get me wront..family is first!) What are the top things I should concentrate on to increase traffic on my blog and hopefully my website?

I'm no expert (and there's loads of genuine experts who post modestly here).

But for me it's an attempt at regularly updated passable content, a little active promotion, regular reassessment... and patience.

I do find it to be a slow progression - the 'magic bullet' which will fire us all into the stratosphere hasn't been aimed at me yet.

I have been lucky enough to have been stroked with a few 'magic feathers' along the way though.

I feel Evan looking over my shoulder as I type that last bit. :)

Thanks Ken...I figure I may give up sleeping for a while to devote more time to my blog.

Hi Reese, I'm experiencing the same time crunch you are. I've decided to pre-write some posts to have on hand when I don't have time to post.

I've also been using Picasa to select photos and publish to blogspot.

These things save time so I can get to other things.

Marge

Psst...I'm gonna give you the secrets...Lean a little.

It's time.

It takes a while for any blog to build a steady stream of traffic. There are things you could be doing during that time that will make it a little shorter and yield a better class of readers.

1. Quality- both in your posts and design.
2. Consistency- you don't have to post everyday, but have a regular posting schedule.
3. Timely- Write current content. Don't write about something that happened 6 months ago.
4. Professional- In both style and feel.
5. Engage- Talk with both your readers and fellow bloggers. If you keep the party going no one will leave.
6. Patience- Don't try to hurry your success. It will only bring failure faster.
7. BadEvan- Do as I say not as I do.

In truth I'm no expert. I do have a faithful following and I make a little cash blogging. But there are many here that are far better at this than I. One thing I've got going for me...You never know what I will say and where I'll say it.

BTW. I was Ken... I got a lil excited there for a min. Then I realized it was a metaphorical feather. Damn.

It really all depends on what your expectations are. Ask yourself the all important question: Why am I blogging?

Do you have a strategy? Is it realistic? One thing is for sure, without traffic, your blog will never "go" anywhere, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, it just depends on your own personal goals.

My number one rule for blogging:

HAVE FUN!!!!

If you do that, you will have better content. It won't feel like a chore. People will recognize and want to read what you are writing.

Everything else is ancillary.

You are absolutely right, Aldon! If it isn't fun, something's wrong.

I'm hoping that magic bullet is out there somewhere.

Meanwhile, the thing I've found works the very best for getting "quality" traffic, is to visit other blogs and comment on them. I tend to get back what I put in. If I'm not a good blog visitor, I can't really expect good blog visitors.

Yes. It does take time. And patience.

I enjoy it alot, but only when I get a comment. Like, one comment...... like, someone is out there... :)

I blog like crazy, then goto once every few days... then blog like crazy.

Oh, and I also write something and have it scheduled so it posts without me.

The scheduling assists me 'cause my clients and kids, and projects and dogs and clients etc come at me all at once sometimes

Thanks for all the tips. My main reason for having the blog is to attract people to my Etsy site. I think maybe I need to make it a broader based in appeal to attract the customers I want.

I do enjoy the "social" aspect of it.

Not sure what's going on with the feather, though.

Evan,

I have had my eye on Ken for some time, you find another target!

Ken, Stan, Graham...didn't you go to kindergarten? Didn't you learn to share?

I only write about things I really am interested in, that I really want to write about. Hopefully that can make it fun for the reader.

I post on both my blogs every day - not always a long post but something. I try to have a few draft posts ready so that I don't get too overwhelmed.

...And then there's staying up really late to put in more time, too!

that is on;y a partial list.

and yes, I went to Kindergarten and watched all the rest of the kids share, after I choose what I wanted!

I got put in timeout for not sharing....sigh