Blogher 07, session three {Technical} Building Traffic

Technical Tools To Build Traffic
Grabbing an audience and keeping them engaged is enhanced by technical know-how. We're going to help you get some, including how to use syndication to your best advantage, and a little DIY search engine optimization. This is a reprise of what was one of our most popular sessions at BlogHer Business in March, featuring, once again, Elise Bauer and Vanessa Fox.

this session is so full it's two room, completely full, with many people sitting on the ground!

EB:

*"Want to know where everything I'm about to say is? Go here.

What you need to have to get traffic: Content, Community & Technology. And, be useful, timely &/or entertaining. I don't have time to cover all three, so I'm only going to cover Technology.

Have you heard of Google Alerts? How about custom searches, like this one, Food Blog Search?

Keep your images under 15.5k  Make your typefaces big enough for everyone to read.  Reduce clutter. "What are you going to carve out so people can find the important stuff. Don't make people do a lot of work to find thing on your sites. Broken links hurt you on SEO (Search Engine Optimization.) How do you find broken links? Go to alexa.com Type in your URL to see what's going on in the back end of your site. Use something to measure your stats. Don't fly without a map, so to speak. Some choices: StatCounter or Google Analytics. Each measure traffic in a completely different way.

Also, do you want to know who is looking at you through a feed. Check out a feed burner."

{just so yous know-- we are over my head at this point, but at least I'm taking notes and I can continue to learn. even if you don't care at all-- I'm here to make eggbeater better.}

A question from the audience: "What do I do with all this  information that you're telling me"

EB: "The traffic, seeing and understanding my traffic, helps me to understand my readers.

Looking for blogging technical tips? Go here, Problogger."

--------------------------

VF:

"I'm speaking about SEO.

Write useful, relevant information.

Make sure your site is getting indexed by Google/search engines. If your site is only music/video/flash, basically no text, the search engine is going to see a blank box or have to deal only with uploading, uploading, uploading. Search engines deal with words, so sites needs to have words in them.

Also, think about the words you're using. 'Keyword Research.' As in, using the words people use to describe what they're looking for. Imbed images with code = keywords so that when someone searches for that they will find your image.

[*" " I'm using quotes but these are not exact quotes. I am live-blogging, but I do not know how to type.]

 

Comments

[Elise]

Shuna - Nothing is better than having your very own Shuna-Fish cheering section! Thanks for your wildly enthusiastic support at the session. Mega-hugs, Elise

[barbara]

Thanks for bringing this to those of us who can't make it there. Very useful.

[shuna fish lydon]

Elise,

Part of being a perfect gentleman is also knowing how to wear a flauncy skirt in my actions.

And Barbara,

Can I tell you how much this comment means to me? I was a little worried it was too boring/technical, but it's what's happening, what's inspiring for me right now, so I am happy to share it!

[Lydia]

Shuna, wish I had been able to be at BlogHer, but having you there "translating" and searching out the good stuff is the next best thing.

[Gemma]

Great write up Shuna, thank you. This has proved more useful than my notes. I'm glad you were able to make it out to the food blog dinner with us. Take care,
Gemma