How to Promote Your Blog in Three Ways

Building an audience means getting people to follow you so you can reach them at any time. Here are some tactics you can use:

1. Get email subscribers with lead magnets: Offer a free resource in exchange for the visitor’s email address. This could be an eBook, course, template, checklist, report, or anything else valuable to your audience. Promote your lead magnet effectively without ruining your blog’s reading experience.

2. Start a private community on Facebook: Create a group and leverage the Facebook algorithm to promote it. Ensure the group is private and gatekeep potential members to maintain quality.

3. Build a following on X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn: Create zero-click content that offers valuable, standalone insights without the need to click. Repurpose tips, insights, and tactics from your existing content.

The primary benefit of using email lists to build an audience is that your email list will always belong to you. You can contact your audience anytime as long as they allow you to. This direct line of communication is invaluable for promoting your content and keeping your audience engaged.

To optimize your content to rank in Google, follow these steps:

1. Find topics people are searching for: Use tools like Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to identify relevant topics.

2. Understand search intent: Figure out why the searcher is looking for a particular keyword by examining what’s already ranking on Google.

3. Align your content: Create content that answers the questions searchers have about the topic. This increases the likelihood of your content ranking higher in search results.

Here are some tactics to borrow an audience:

1. Optimize your content to rank in Google: Use SEO strategies to make your content discoverable.

2. Offer to update other people’s posts: Find posts on other websites that are declining in search traffic and offer to update them, subtly linking to your content.

3. Share barebones posts on Reddit: Share stripped-down versions of your content on relevant subreddits, leaving only a link back to your original post at the bottom.

4. Build relationships with amplifiers: Cultivate good relationships with influencers, podcasters, YouTubers, journalists, and newsletter writers who can share your content with their significant audiences.

Owning your audience is crucial because it allows you to reach them anytime, without relying on the whims and fancies of other people or algorithms. When you own your audience, you have direct control over your communication channels, making it easier to promote your content and keep your audience engaged.