Who is old enough to remember Richard Dawson on Family Feud? That dude was smooth. I didn’t know what to expect with my Survey Post a couple weeks back. It ended up being one of my most popular in terms of page views and by FAR my most popular post in terms of comments – which is exactly what I wanted. You can’t get an accurate survey with just a few responses so I am very happy to have received 49 comments on that post. Wow… and thank you!
I finally found some time to compile the info over the last couple days. While some of it comes as no surprise, it is still interesting. I think it could help us become better bloggers – at least in terms of how we get our content out to our readers… and for those that care, it may help us to gain a few more followers. After all, there is that whole “if a tree falls in the forest / people hearing it” thing to consider. If no one is reading your blog – couldn’t you save yourself the trouble and keep an offline journal?
Thanks to all of you.. Here is what I found:
1. How many times per week (average) do you post on your blog?
The range of answers here was typical with the smallest being once per week and the highest being about 10 times per week. The average was 4.1 times per week – which ironically is exactly what I do. You should see my .1 post, it’s amazing.
2. Do you tweet to promote each post? If so, how many times (average) per post?
I was surprised by both the Twitter & Facebook answers. Only 39% of responders use Twitter to promote their blog posts. And of those people (myself included) we tweet an average of 1.25 times per post. Most people said one to this answer, with a few saying they tweet each post a couple times.
3. Do you promote using Facebook updates? If so, how many times per post?
Facebook seems to be a little more popular then Twitter, but just barely. 43% of those who responded use Facebook to promote their posts and EVERY single respondent (including me) said they only hit FB once per post.
4. How long have you been blogging? Just your current blog if you have had others.
Another wide variety of answers here, but averaging them out came to just over 11 months.
5. What have you found is the best way to gain interest, followers, pageviews to your blog?
This was the most interesting set of answers. Some people flatly said “I have no idea” (love the honesty!) so hopefully this will help. I split the most popular answers up and ranked them by percentage:
55% said by following and commenting on other blogs. No surprise here, it’s my number one answer too.
12% said through various social media (facebook, twitter)
11% said word of mouth.. but isn’t that tough to gauge online??
8% claimed one of my favorite methods.. through pimping. Whether it’s pimping some love out to another blog with the hope of getting it return or just by getting lucky and having people blindly pimp your blog for you. I have been one lucky son of a bitch in this area.
A few people mentioned blogging forums such as 20 Something Bloggers or Studio 30 Plus (I am a member) for bloggers over 30. One surprise.. only two people claimed that their content has gained them followers.
6. Do you, or have you ever had ads on your blog?
83% said no they do not and have not ever had ads. 17% said they do. I’d say close to half the people that said they do not use ads, said the presence of them does not bother them. A few said they would or are considering them.
My Two Cents:
I’ve had the most success getting people to visit my blog simply by commenting on other blogs. If the content you are putting out there appeals to those visitors, they will become followers.
I know many of us are using Blogger and our followers come through Blogger and/or the Google Reader system. But not everyone uses Blogger or wants to bother with a Google account. That is why social media such as Facebook and Twitter are important – it gives you another way to let people know you put up a new post.
Using my blog as an example. I tweet each post at least once, sometimes twice and obviously it’s working since Twitter is my #1 referring site. After that there are a few blogs mixed in, with Facebook being the #5 site for referrals. If you don’t give a fat flippin’ fart about followers, and you use your blog strictly to hone your writing skills… blogging can be a great way to do that. Write, Write Write. Like anything else, practice makes perfect.
But if you are looking to gain followers in addition to working on your writing, I’d suggest trying out Twitter and/or Facebook for those that haven’t. I am sure those who use these outlets would concur that they are gaining at least some traffic flow… otherwise why would they do it? Just a thought.
Thanks to all that participated! I’m thinking about changing some of my methods after doing this… for instance doing a little Big Pimpin’ Series to help my fellow bloggers. Anyone want to be pimped?
SD
Oh please, please, please be my pimp! I promise to give you 60% of my profits in return for protection and your recomendation to my "clients".
Love the statistics. I did end up opening a twitter account just to promote my blog…problem is I have no followers on twitter. haha. I did put a "follow me on twitter" link on my blog…but no luck so far. Turns out I really need a pimp because I suck at doing it for myself.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@12:50 am
At the moment I don't want to mix my eFriends here with my eFriends on Facebook. Just two different sets of humors to have to manage.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@12:58 am
I would so love to be your whor…I MEAN, for you to pimp me out! (oh gawd, it still sounds nasty!)
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:00 am
well done…the simpletons are impressed…or at least this simpleton…
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:03 am
I am a total blog whore when it comes to pimping. And happy to return the bloggy love.
I blog seperate from my real life so facebook and blogging never meet.
You are so right about your .1 posts. Totally awesome Cheerio Hero
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:05 am
I should mention that my Facebook page for this blog is separate from my personal page. They don't mix AT ALL. Literally NONE of my FB friends on my personal FB page know about the blog or it's page. As of now I have just the one Twitter account, but am thinking about creating a personal one.
It's very possible to keep your blog and personal stuff separate and still take advantage of all that social media has to offer.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:12 am
Oh I'm with Mynx. I've been looking for a new pimp so I think you'd be perfect. And Jewels, I didn't have any followers either when I first joined Twitter. Let your friends know you're on there and keep yourself open to the public. That's the best way to do it. I love that you got 49 comments to help with the survey results. That is impressive. And I get most of my readers from FB which works for me. Also, Google Buzz is another. It kind of is a science isn't it? But a fun one!
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:12 am
Pimp me, baby. That huge purple feathered hat looks fantastic on you.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:28 am
Good job with all the responses and for taking time to analyze the data for us. Interesting stuff! Also, blog pimping is a great thing. It feels good when it is done both ways. And thank you for being my #1 blog pimp!
http://rantersbox.blogspot.com
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:32 am
WTH? I couldn't find your .1 post anywhere.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:37 am
omg, dickie dawson is the smoothest cat EVER. i LOVE watching old episodes of family feud and match game. love him. love the survey. the end.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:48 am
What, all that that information just ripe for graphic representation and you have no pie charts in this post? People love pie charts!
I should get more into twitter. I just ordered my first shmancy phone…twitter seems to be more of an on-the-go social media, so maybe when I can do that I'll understand it better. But I feel like an Irish Grudge facebook page (separate from my personal page, which I don't post my blog on) is pointless until I have more people visiting my site. People will follow anyone on twitter but you have to earn your way into their newsfeeds.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@1:57 am
*laugh* i totally can't separate my online me from y non-online me. i tried once, but it didn't work out! so kudos to you for being able to do that! : )
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@2:01 am
I'm too shy to ask to be pimped… but my alter ego… GREEDY GIRL is not… so perhaps you could go with greedy girl!
Thanks for doing that survey… it does help..
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@2:01 am
Thanks for the data man! Scientists like me love that stuff
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@2:31 am
*raises hand* ooh ooh pick me pick meeeee! I would love some blog whoring! This was a great post, and I do have a facebook and twitter,, need to start tweeting it more often…
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@3:05 am
Thanks for the survey results SD!
And yea, my redheaded sassy self would completely be open to pimping. Rawr.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@3:16 am
I've been waiting for you to offer to be my pimp since you gave me the ass kicking beer drinking award and I told you all about my lacey push up bra, stilettos & penchant for Jager, jello shots & college guys….
'Bout frickin time!!!
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@3:25 am
Me! Me! I remember Richard Dawson on Family Feud! He was classy! lol I used to love how he managed to kiss all the ladies! hahaha Thanks for the pointers Big Pimp!
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@3:54 am
Thanks for going through that effort. I was excited to see the results! It's interesting info to take in.
If you want to pimp me, you can. But I wouldn't pimp someone unless I had visited their site and genuinely liked or at least appreciated their work, so I won't ask you to do it unless you like what you see.
I suppose sounding dirty is in keeping with the "pimping" spirit of this request…
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@4:41 am
I'm literally just starting to blog (this is my first month). I put that I had a blog on facebook one day and my daily hits jumped from like, 5 to thirty three. I didn't put it on facebook and it dropped back down to around seven, then I started "sharing" on facebook and I probably average twenty five to twenty eight hits a day. Granted, it's really small, but it makes a difference. I just found your blog today or I would have participated in your study.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@4:52 am
Oh wise one, you may pimp my blog all you like. LOL
And is your .1 post the weekend post? LOL
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@5:39 am
I joined Studio 30 Plus yesterday…so if you see me as an add friend, it's not because I'm a stalker, I promise. You're just kick-ass is all, okay?
hed http://www.hedabovewater.com
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@9:28 am
Awesome survey. Very interesting answers! I may have to start tweeting more.
I pimp out blogs every Thursday! I would love for someone to pimp me out! I also made my own award to show my love and SD, you may have been a winner
Come see.
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@2:05 pm
maybe you could just be my pimp anyhow… in a non-blog relater manner? It always sounded like a fun idea to me…
I have a quick 3 questions posted on my blog; maybe you could take a second to go answer them? I'd love another male POV.
http://dirtymartinisandabottleofwine.blogspot.com/2010/11/question.html
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@2:24 pm
I agree with what you said about using facebook or something else, other than blogger as well. I have more fans on facebook than I do followers on blogger. This was pretty interesting. Glad I participated. : )
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@3:35 pm
To be honest SD, I didn't sign off on my comments like this :
CBG
canadianbloggergirl.blogspot.com
until you commented on my post and it stuck out to me. So any followers via comments I've left from that point on, I owe all to you my beloved SD.
I'd love to be pimped out for sure!
Another note that I might add is you should come up with a button, cause I'd totally post your shit!
your Canadian admirer
CBG
canadianbloggergirl.blogspot.com
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@6:44 pm
loved your survey and thanks for updated us with the results
Posted on: Nov/23/2010@10:58 pm
HEY YOU! YEAH YOU! SD! Get your butt over to my blog and check out the post Ode to Simple Dude!
CBG
canadianbloggergirl.blogspot.com
Posted on: Nov/24/2010@2:30 am
i am here from CBG's blog, she sent me over. glad i came, now come follow my ass over to my place, ok? http://poetsnewoldplace.blogspot.com poet
Posted on: Nov/24/2010@3:29 am
Just saw the blog love CBG gave you and i think it's awesome! you should be proud of your blog… I am having a giveaway, check it out!
amberlashell.com
Posted on: Nov/24/2010@6:28 am
Survey was great!
I'm impressed at your ability to keep separate your public and private personas, I have a hard time with that.
Everyone wants their blog to be pimped, its the best way to get new followers for sure. If only you had time to pimp everyone's blog…
Posted on: Nov/24/2010@8:36 am
Thanks for doing that. It's great information for people like me who are semi blogging virgins. Wait.. Is that even possible? I haven't really used Twitter, but that definitely motivated me to put an account up there for my blog.
Of course, we would all loved to be pimped. And imagine how much a pimp could make off of a semi-virgin. Just sayin'…
http://talkativetaurus.blogspot.com/
Posted on: Nov/24/2010@6:25 pm
I just strating and it's a lot more difficult then I thought waking up everyday and seeing that you STILL only have 2 followers!
Posted on: Jan/10/2011@9:42 pm
thanks for the tips! very helpful! i just started my own blog here: http://spacebelly.blogspot.com
Posted on: Jan/10/2011@10:11 pm
I just started a blog and figured I'd research ways to start promoting and lo and behold this is the first thing I found. Got some good info and since the gist seems to be commenting on other people's blogs, here I am!
Posted on: Jan/11/2011@3:15 am
This is great info! Thanks!
Posted on: Jan/11/2011@3:28 am
You're like the Fonze of blogging I see. But don't worry, I wont ask you to pimp me out. I'm gonna put on my big girl pants and figure this sh*t out myself lol. (Is it not cool to say "lol" while blogging? I'm just venturing out from FB)
Posted on: Jan/11/2011@3:43 am
Good advice! I'm still working on creating my blog, only one week in, but I'm ready for some followers!!
Posted on: Jan/11/2011@4:08 am
I don't think i've got much to say, only you are good at what you do… thumbs up
Posted on: Jan/11/2011@9:34 pm
I'm always up for whoring (read that as you will), but lately I feel like I am lacking in the funny.
I need to get back to shorter posts with more snarkiness.
Seriously??… Reeeally?….. Seriously?
My BF's sister found out about the blog and now I feel like I really need to censor myself. Except for that exposed genitalia post.
Posted on: Jan/11/2011@9:47 pm
Excellent post! very informative.
Posted on: Jan/12/2011@10:59 pm
this is fantastic! love your blogs and such a clever thing to carry out. why the hell didn't i think of that. possibly because i might not have got many reponses! Almost at 5000 views through purely facebook and google!
take a look at mine, its not all sarcasm, but there's a hell of a lot of it to do with fashion, news and style!
itsaldnthing.blogspot.com
Posted on: Jan/13/2011@9:27 pm
Thanks for the research, these are some interesting results!
Posted on: Jan/14/2011@6:57 pm
Thanks for the tips. I'll let you know how it goes.
http://homestylefixins.blogspot.com/
Posted on: Jan/14/2011@10:55 pm
Thanks! This was acctually pretty usful:)
Posted on: Jan/17/2011@3:48 am
Following the guidelines. lol
Posted on: Jan/17/2011@7:20 pm
Well, as far as blogging goes, there is nothing like having a place to write (type) down your innermost thoughts and experiences, and having others relate to them! I find it rather disturbing that a man would pimp another man, so I'll fend for myself. I recently broke 150 blog views, one of which was from the Philippines!
http://boldremarks.blogspot.com/
Posted on: Jan/20/2011@3:23 pm
I started my blog over a year ago now and the only way I put it out there was linking each update to Facebook but not many people were biting. This blog is great advice though to be honest all the pimping and whoring is new to me.
Posted on: Feb/15/2011@11:18 am
Thank you SD for posting this–I just started a blog and am extremely interested on putting my words out there. I joined the 20 Somethings Bloggers after reading this!! =D
Posted on: Mar/6/2011@8:33 pm