How to build traffic on your blog

Building traffic and increasing your "hits", require consistency -- just like everything else in blogging.

In the blogosphere "traffic" is the end-all-be-all. You should get very comfortable with Google Analytics. It'll give you a running play-by-play of site visitations. Wordpressers have this built into the dashboard.

It's important to become involved in the conversation. Participate in other bloggers' posts. Make constructive, worthwhile comments, and your hits are going to go up.

Bloggers generally observe quid pro quo. So, at the very least, the bloggers themselves will probably check out your posts. I don't exactly love Green Girl in Wisconsin, but her readers like to comment.

If you're proficient at No. 1, you could rope yourself a few back links. You want these. They're links to your blog via other Web sites. I got some back links by e-mailing the authors of other relevant blogs, complimenting their blogs, and asking them if it was Ok to add them to my blogroll. Don't ask to be put on theirs. Give them a chance to willingly reciprocate.

I got a back link from Atlanta Running. I'm Meep Meep in case you forgot.

Submit your blog to a directory. This is something I'm just getting around to. I can't swear by the results yet, but I don't really see any downside. Master New Media is where you should start.

In the last post I noted the importance of social media networks like Facebook. They provide you with built-in audiences. I forgot to mention the importance of participating in said network. Don't just post blog links and split, keep up appearances: post pics and talk about your day.

It is very important to post frequently. You might take a vacation, but your blog can't. Remember what happened to TV after the writers' strike. People will tune out and find something else to read. Musings is a trusty poster.