Don't be a weenie

By Jonathan Dalton

Last night, someone trying to generate links and traffic for a new website suggested the idea of a blogging Kangaroo Court, where we could light-heartedly critique each other’s blogs and point out violations and omissions. It sounded like a really cute idea (so did Pandora’s Box, actually) but it doesn’t make sense for most of us. We’re not writing to be chummy, even if we tend to comment on each other’s blogs. We’re generally writing to generate business. If you’re self-employed and dedicating time talking about your business without trying to gain business, you’re probably doing something wrong.

I ended up pointing him toward Active Rain. Someone else did the same thing. That seems to be the best place for something like this, and it’s not too far different from the weekly weeks in review and Active Rain carnivals and “hey let’s get some points” contests that take place over there all the time as it is. Some may get hurt feelings over being the target of the Kangaroo Court, but that’s part of the cost of playing. Don’t think the public isn’t doing the same mental gymnastics when they read your blog.

So how do you get traffic and links and all that good stuff when you’re a new blog? Write something compelling. Comment on other people’s blogs; maybe they’ll come read yours and link to you at some stage. If it’s compelling then they probably will. Find local blogs and do the same there, unless you’re in Phoenix and the only bloggers are real estate agents.

There’s no shortcut to getting some readership. And readership’s not even the real goal most of the time. It’s actual closed business.