I’m not sure what I would do without social media, especially when it comes to promoting my blog. Although I had a Facebook and Twitter account years before starting this blog, using those two channels, along with Intstagram, Google Plus and Pinterest have really helped with getting people to notice me and my little space on the internet. Which is why I thought I’d share with you all some tips on getting the most of out of these platforms and using social media to promote your blog.
Make it easy for people to find you
This might be pretty obvious but you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t use the same handles across their social media platforms. You want people to be able to find you so it makes sense to use something like your blog name across all the channels. For me, my blog is Merry Musing, you can type this into Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Google Plus and find me and my blog.
Schedule your Tweets
Most of us schedule our blog posts. We’re all leading busy lives and it’s just easier. So why don’t more of us schedule our Facebook posts or Tweets? I don’t know about everyone else, but my days can be pretty manic and I don’t always have time to tweet my new post five times a day across the different platforms. But by using something like Tweetdeck or Hootsuite, it doesn’t matter – they do the hard work for you. All you need to do is send time planning what Tweets or posts you want to go out and when. If I’m feeling super organised, I’ll spend about an hour on a Sunday scheduling all my Tweets and Facebook posts for the whole week. If I’m not that organised, then I’ll spend a few minutes each night scheduling posts for the following day.
Instagram your content
Instagram is one of the fastest growing social media networks around, and it’s where I get a lot of traffic to my blog. So I make it a priority to use it. When I’m taking my blog pictures on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I make sure that I have my phone handy to take pictures for Instagram. It’s really easy to do and doesn’t take long, as you’ve already set the picture up. Then I can upload the picture the day the post goes live and even link it to my Facebook and Twitter account, and that’s half the job done – I’ve promoted the post and put something pretty on Instagram.
Be social
By this I mean take the time to join in Twitter chats, Follow Fridays, comment and share what great work other people are doing. It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers, read great content and possibly gain new followers as well.
Be professional and nice
This follows on from the one above but so many brands and PR agencies will find bloggers through Twitter, so keep your content fun and professional. After all, if you’re not taking yourself seriously, why should anyone else? Try to avoid continuously posting your links, and instead interact with other bloggers. If someone asks you a question on Twitter, then reply. If someone pays you a compliment, thank them, or favourite their Tweet. Also remember that when it comes to blogging, you’re only in competition with yourself. So support other bloggers don’t slate them. After all we’re all in this together so let’s just be nice to each other.
At the end of the day, Twitter, Instagram and the rest of the social gang are ways to express yourself and your interests, so have fun with it.
These have been my tips on using social media to promote your blog, what other tips do you have?
Social media is such a good way to promote yourself, I find Twitter and Instagram amazing for meeting new people and for new people finding me.
alice x
I agree, a lot of my traffic comes through from Twitter and Instagram x
Great tips. I don’t really use Instagram that much, I should really try to get my head around it though again though.
I do find that Pinterest works really well for me. Ensuring that there’s a good ‘Pinterest friendly’ photo (i.e. Portrait), makes a huge difference.
I get a surprisingly decent amount of click throughs, it’s my 2nd highest driver of traffic after Twitter, for relatively little time spent in comparison.
The Twitter Chats are generally a lot of fun (though can be fast moving), I try to do a couple a week of those.
Thank you, I’m glad you found the post useful x
I wish I could instagram more. Most of my friends use it and I know it would be ideal to use. Some great tips here. I think I’m going to start doing more with twitter. Thanks for this post 🙂 xx
No problem, I’m glad you found the post useful x
Great tips. I find it frustrating that you can only have one clickable link in your instagram profile but I guess it makes you a bit more creative in getting your message out there.
I find that annoying as well, it would be easier to have more, but as you say, it means you have to be a bit more creative in getting your message out there x
I’m a big Instagrammer, but I know my Twitter lets me down! I just don’t have the time!
Maybe try scheduling some Tweets? x
Some fantastic tips here, thank you for sharing. 🙂
No problem, glad you found the post useful x
Great tips. Promoting yourself on social media really does help
Thank you x
Annoyingly I have a different handle for Twitter than everywhere else (only ever so slightly different!) because the name I wanted was taken 🙁 I do agree with you though!
That is annoying but sometimes there is nothing you can do about it x
Some great advice there, I am a social media addict. Love connecting with other bloggers xx
Thank you x
There are some fantastic tips here! I make sure to use my same handle across all platforms, but I’m terrible with scheduling. I ought to use it more.
Thank you, I’m glad you found the post useful x
great tips. I really need to start scheduling tweets and posts. I put myself under pressure to do as much social media as possible but should make it easier on myself!
Scheduling does make things a little easier x