Rate my blog

coolslek · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 12:21 AM

I am new here. I stumbled on this forum through lisa's website. This is my first post. Please can you guys view my blog http://netformative.blogspot.com/ to tell me how to increase traffic.

I know to increase traffic is by being active in forums.

My blog is about general news. But I am leaning towards electronic gadgets.

Theresa · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:38 AM

Submit you site to blog directories. Blogcatalog is a good one.

Comment on other blogs in your niche.

Join social sites like Technorati. Favorite other blogs. Sometimes they will favorite you in return.

Keep posting. You'll start getting noticed after about 20 posts and may start seeing SE traffic at that point.

Add a category element to your template and put it near the top of your right column. When you make a new post be sure to include it within a category or two.

The top of your site is very ad heavy. The viewer has to look a fair ways down to find the substance of your site. I suggest moving your Google Search to the right and changing the top Google ad to a link ad to get your posts higher.

In my opinion, you should not stack ads one on top of another without giving the viewer something in between. I recommend moving your about me, blog roll, and archive up and intersperse the ads among them.

TechieGuy · #3 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 01:23 PM

Theresa has made some good points about joining social networks. Blogging is a social medium, so the more active you are, the better you will do.

I always recommend that those with RSS feeds to register with Feedburner. Feedburner allows you to do more with your RSS feeds.

As Theresa also mentioned, the top of your blog is ad heavy. I would move you archives to the top and your ads down. Also, you should categorize (or label with Blogger) your posts and then provided a list of categories above your archives on the right.

Unless you get a fair number of visitors (maybe 100/day), I suggest you tone down the amount of advertising. Once you then get more visitors, you can then add more advertising.

coolslek · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 09:31 AM

hmm.....i have done some little changes. Thanks for your feedback.

Rob · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 12:05 PM

I like your style suits in well with the technology that you are talking about, theres lots of ad units on there and its very overwhelming perhaps you should take some off as when you are making a new blog the last thing people want to see is a site overcrowded by adsense, when you start getting good traffic yes put them back on but until then to attract visitors I would leave them off.

As for you layout its nice like the poll bit of interactivity there keep your visitors there for a while, you have a big white space at the bottom either fill it or crush it down a little compact your ads, buttons etc.

I saw you were getting information about history in the world maybe you could place someone else RSS feed on there so your blog updates with new posts about history so you don't have to update it manually.

Graphics wise you could make some more pictures, use a rss button to make it more click able to the eye, just brighten it up and keep it alive!

Good luck.

augenauf · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 01:15 PM

It's pretty good, but I'm not sure if "everything" is a good niche

Theresa · #7 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 06:32 PM

Big improvement, Coolslek.

lisa · #8 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 06:50 PM

Just tacking on to what augenauf mentioned about "everything not being a good niche". I'm a little concerned about your focus. Your posts go from iPhones to John Chow and it's probably best to narrow your niche down to help you get more targeted traffic.

I really do like your design though. The cool blues and layout is very nice. Also good blend of the Google ads.

Kevin · #9 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 07:20 PM

alot of ads but hey your doing this for money to so

Rob · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 10:13 AM

I've actually only just noticed about the 'about everything' most sites fail from covering a really wide topic have you got no plans to perhaps shorten it down a little such as 'technology or gadgets'

Many big company's take up these rolls they have a huge empire and have lots of people working for them on specific topics otherwise it would never work, when you start getting good amount of visitors you are going to be promoting for a wide boundary and you may find yourself really struggling with search engine along lots of other things.

Just don't take too much on that you may find a little tricky I dont want to sound to negative but perhaps narrowing down on a topic or niche that you enjoy talking about and fluently writing about regularly is your first and only step to success and victory.

coolslek · #11 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Thanks people, I have a lot of work to do. I will focus on technology gadgets and blogging.

Rob · #12 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 01:49 PM

Great im glad you found a specific topic to talk about, Look into Blogrush once you start getting posts

http://www.blogrush.com

And get some back links to your site through reliable directories that are agreeing with googles rules or try some link exchanging through sites similar to target audience with value exchange.

http://value-exchange.sitesell.com

Good luck!

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