How do I get more people to see my blog?

[keyboardhousewife]

Don't laugh, but my blog has only 1 sad, solitary follower - though it gets just over 1000 hits per month and has been going for a year - www.yumyumbubblegum.blogspot.com

I'm on FB, Twitter and Pinterest.

What the Dickens do I do?? All suggestions gratefully received.

Hannah,
Thanks for that. I've heard Google Analytics mentioned before so must look into it.

I didn't realise that with own domain you still had to use wordpress or similar. When you say you link directly to blog articles, do you mean your 'follow me' badge is at the bottom of each blog entry as opposed to just on the sidebar?
thanks

Hi, no I mean that when I promote our blog, I link to specific articles. For example, 'Read why mums get MUCH less done when their toddler is at nursery than they think www.etc' The link I provide goes directly to that article, rather than our homepage.

This means that each article has the potential to reach a wider group of people who will identify with THAT issue or topic. And also that the people clicking through know what they're going to read, so will hopefully like it!

When we first launched we waited for people to come to us, like us and come back of their own accord. But people need to find you in the first place, and be reminded that you exist. Building a strong network on Twitter (and increasingly on Facebook) of engaged people (there's no point having 1,000s of followers or likes if they never visit your blog) has really helped to up our numbers.

Does that help?

Thanks a million for that explanation. I'll have to read through several times to get it all. Then I need to sign up to G Analytics, then get a Facebook acc, having resisted all this time... It's neverending! But hopefully I can get back to actual writing at that stage.

Ah that's the problem... you spend so much time promoting your writing, you have no time to write :) I guess it's all about finding a balance. But once you get your head around it, you'll find a system that works for you.

I'm just developing a half hour a day Twitter strategy to help increase followers and engagement... been trying it on a client and it's worked, so will write a blog on it soon.

RazaMeTimbers, are you referring to buying a domain name or hosting? Neither are difficult but hosting is usually more expensive than a domain name alone. You don't have to buy hosting from the same company that you buy your domain(s) from - but you can and it may be less hassle.

A UK domain (.co.uk, .org.uk, etc) is roughly in the region of £5 per year. Other types of domain can be more expensive.

Hosting costs are variable. You can still find free hosting accounts but it's much better to use paid hosting. For blogs, you chiefly want to look for database support e.g. for my Wordpress blog, I use a MySQL database.

If you just want the domain, you can buy whatever you want and 'point' it to your existing Blogger website. Not a problem. Plus, you can use your domain for your email. (I'd suggest you set up a catch-all.)

HTH x

Btw, if it's any clearer... with your own hosting, you can use whatever you like to build your website - which might be Wordpress or Drupal or whatever.

With your own domain, you can can point it to any website - which might be a website that you host or it might be a 'free' site like Blogger. x

fcknits,
I'm totally clueless. I don't know which I meant! Maybe I'm not really at that stage yet. I'm copying your info though (thanks for typing it out) and will try to apply myself at a later date.