Let me relate to you my experience with accepting submissions on my blog.
The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette, my blog, has a tab at the top of the page for submissions. I encourage other people to send me content. Before we get into how this is working out let’s cover a few other things.
In a previous article I relayed how I put up a post on my blog where the first 200 words were new and the following 800 words were an old post from the blog’s archives. I just wanted to make sure that the search engines were picking up the post. Google did. So, you can use old content but the new content has to come first. I like to make sure that the new content is at least 150 words.
Image via Wikipedia
The way I know Google picked up the mixed post is because I Googled the main category of the post. It showed up on the third page of the Google search just where I expected it to be.
Something else happened recently that you may be interested in. There is one title in my Triond profile that was getting good hits. It was averaging 20 hits a day. It’s been averaging that for several months. When I Googled it’s category, it would show up on the third page.
I decided to see if I could improve it’s page ranking. For the pass month I’ve been usually adding a link to the title on any new post on my blog. I’m happy to report that the title is now on the first page of Google for that category and the title is averaging over 40 hits a day. In search engines there’s a big difference between page three and page one. And yes, if it works for one title it will work for another. Now don’t spam. Don’t put several links in one post on your blog to an article in your profile and think that article is going to zip to the top of the first page of a search engine. It doesn’t work that way. The article I’m talking about is now item 10. I’m going to see if I can make it number one. There’s a big difference between 10 and one.
Now, I showcase the content of other people on my blog. It provides me with more content. I reject more submissions than I accept. Too much trash. Too much poor content. But submissions have been a success for the Gazette. Why do people send content to the Gazette? I guess they check out the blog and like what they see. The next time I accept a submission, I’m going to make it the main page of the Gazette for several days or weeks. That will give the contributor time to tell family and friends all about it. Some of them may even click on the links to Triond that are everywhere on the Gazette.
Submissions help to keep me blogging four times a week. They are part of the Gazette’s online marketing campaign. It’s another tool for a blogger to use
Whatever is the niche of your blog, submissions may work for you.
January 20th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Congratulations on your accomplishment with that one triond article you produced. I’m sure it must be difficult to get on the first page of Google. Other than that, good article :]
January 20th, 2010 at 7:07 am
good article…thanks for sharing it….
January 20th, 2010 at 7:08 am
Good tips as always, good article. LB
January 20th, 2010 at 8:05 am
GreenSunshine, it can be difficult getting on the first page. It all depends on your niche. Some subjects are so popular that you can never get on the first page.
January 20th, 2010 at 8:13 am
qasimdharamsy, I think if I relate my experiences blogging it may give someone else an insight into their blogging.
January 20th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Well done, Guy. I always learned a thing or two from you. Godbless and may you have more hits.
January 20th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Your articles teach us a lot. Thanks for sharing
January 20th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Lots to be learned in your article Guy,
great advice.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:35 am
You are proactive, so I am sure you will succeed.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Excellent article!
January 20th, 2010 at 10:24 am
great share^^
January 20th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Nice share…
well done
January 20th, 2010 at 10:53 am
My greatest concern about blogging has always been how do i get viewersto my blog.
http://jamaicdatedoctor.blogspot.com
everytime i search for it in the search engines i cant find it. lol
additionally most of my articles are influence by where i live (Jamaica) and i try to write articles that reflect my nativity since there are not many blogs or websites on relationship with jamaican men.
guy hogan. i would love if you could send me a message with some advice on howi could improve traffic to my blog.
this was very informative and i enjoy reading your articles on Triond
January 20th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I’m sure you can
January 20th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Lord Banks, I’m sure a lot of bloggers are going through what I’m going through so by writing about my adventures in blogging it helps other bloggers.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:58 am
As always Guy, a great article with useful tips on blogging!! I just need to start one..:)
January 20th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
You are one busy blogger…no wonder you’re successful.
January 20th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Great idea Guy. I believe this will be very useful to bloggers of all kinds.
January 20th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
What a great idea!
January 20th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Well done!
January 20th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
i am too new to understand this, hopefully i will in future.
January 20th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Never thought of this one, good tip.
January 20th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I also new to this idea too. I would like to try sometime in the future. Thanks for the tip Lee Ness
January 20th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
I always thought submissions from others were a great marketing tool. Like you said their relatives and friends will click on to see their blog and will find some of your interesting stuff as well. Some of these people will become fans which will increase your views. Keep going Guy!
January 20th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
This is a great way of helping other bloggers to expose their work and at the same time, it also helps you so it’s a success for both
January 20th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Thank you again
January 20th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
Great idea. I have not been updating my blog for several weeks now.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:54 am
Thanks for all your information on blogging. I’m going to visit your blog since I live in the same area as you!
January 21st, 2010 at 1:44 am
When I get more time your tips will definitely help.
January 21st, 2010 at 1:47 am
Thanks for the great information.
January 21st, 2010 at 2:55 am
Very interesting!
January 21st, 2010 at 5:23 am
Good one!
January 21st, 2010 at 6:13 am
great share
January 21st, 2010 at 10:31 am
It all sounds really interesting.
Christine
January 21st, 2010 at 1:19 pm
very helpful suggestion…i must implement it..
January 26th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Veryy helpful information for those who blog. I spend all my spare time on triond otherwise I would try it.