Do Directories Help Traffic?
When I first started this blog back on Blogger last summer, I somehow got the idea that listing my blog in as many directories as possible was the way to go. I don’t think I read this anywhere but I think my theory was that as many links I could get to my website as possible would be good. I eventually amassed a very large collection of directory listings in my sidebar. The 80×15 banner was my attribution of choice, which I displayed proudly like a badge of honor.
When I made the switch over to WordPress, I kept the directory listings for awhile but I realized that I didn’t really see any traffic from any of these directories. Most of my traffic comes from various social networks & direct visitors, as it did then as well. So I decided the space was too valuable to clutter up with 20+ little directory buttons. I also felt like the only people benefiting from these buttons and reciprocated links on my blog were the directories – not me.
It’s been a month now that I’ve been on this new home of mine and I’m starting to wonder if I did the right thing. I wonder if that “every little bit helps” method I had before was correct, and I got too full of myself in thinking that I didn’t need these links anymore.
So what have you found with directories? If anyone reading has any experience with listing themselves in the many blog directories there are around there on the net I’d love to hear it – please share!
Read MoreSocial Media Marketing: Wave of the Future?
I figured out a really nifty thing to do on LinkedIn a few months ago… creating an HTML email signature with a link to this blog, to the PsPrint website, and to my LinkedIn profile. I was, sadly, highly amused by this function and emailed a colleague to show it off.
Colleague: Oh that is cool…I am still not 100% comfortable with online communication websites but Linked In seems cool because it’s business connections.
Me: But it’s the waaaave of the futurrrrre. And we’re going to start social media marketing, so get used to it :p
Back in August we decided to do a full frontal attack on social media! I can’t say much yet since we’re still fleshing out the procedures and nitty gritty details, but I’ll be taking the lead on it. That was decided back in August and we still haven’t made any progress on it, other than my blogging efforts here.
It was exciting to get some new responsibilities and start working on a new project. Our mailing services is pretty automated and our affiliate program was starting to go places. I couldn’t wait to talk more about it, but mum was the word at the time.
So I got to thinking about it… is social media and online networking really the wave of the future? What are your thoughts?
Read MoreCribbed Content for January 25th
As promised last week, here’s my look around the web for interesting business, marketing, web 2.0, etc. stuff.
- Digg changed their algorithm. No one cared except Digg diehards.
- After two+ weeks, PrintSalesPro finally publishes a reprint of my All For One, One For All Printers post.
- LaTease Rikard, one of my StumbleUpon friends, took some advice after my post about our launch of the affiliate program (officially) and joined up and wrote about it.
- ProBlogger just today published Dropping The F-Bomb: Blogging with Naughty Words. I don’t see a whole lot of repeated topics on my jaunts through the blogosphere, but this is the second article on using the F-bomb since September. The first was Scott Jangro back in September. I wonder if this is really a wide spread phenomenon?
It’s been a slow week, so there you have it. Not much going on, really.
Read MoreMany Hats
Things I’m In Charge Of Today
the Print Green initiative
Social Media Marketing
Mailing Services
Affiliate Program
Reseller Program (TBA)
E-Mail Marketing
Tracking IT fixes
Tracking website version changes
Tracking Opt-Outs for emails and snail mails
Answering Marketing Email
Things I Assist With
Advertising
Trade Shows
Donations
Partnerships
Does this seem like too much or just enough?
Read MoreBlogWorld – Las Vegas – Worth Going?
I’ve picked up that there will be a conference in LV next month just for bloggers, but I’m wondering if it would be worth it for a starting pro blogger like me to go.
If I do go, that makes the tally 4 times in 6 months going to Las Vegas. Three of which for work and one was my vacation this year. Had I known about all the conventions and such I’d be attending there for work, I think my friend and I might have decided on another destination for our vacation.
I digress… BlogWorld Expo seems like it would be an incredibly beneficial event for me to attend. Lots of great networking opportunities and a TON of useful information for me to get things off the ground here at PsPrint with our Social Media Marketing project that we want to get started on. I’d love to go, but realistic obstacles prevent me!
- It’s not local so it requires a plane ride and hotel.
- Being at the end of the year we probably don’t have the money in the budget.
- We’re already going to Las Vegas in November a week or so afterward for the National Association of REALTORS® Conference and Expo.
- Aside from my modest attempts here and another coworkers blog on ActiveRain, we haven’t officially launched a company blog yet.
So what to do? I’d hate to pass up such an awesome learning opportunity, but unfortunately I don’t have the money to go on my own… I’d have to ask the company to foot it. The price of attendance isn’t all that bad in comparison to other shows I’ve seen attendee pricing for, but it’d be the airfare and hotel that would be the major cost.
I’d love to hear from some people who’ve gone in the past to see if they enjoyed it or not. Maybe enjoyed isn’t the correct term since, well, how could you NOT enjoy yourself in Las Vegas? So, did you find it as beneficial as it seems and is there a great case to be made for going?
Read MoreYet Another Blog Experiment
I’ve signed up with BlogRush to try to drive some traffic over here. I read about it on MarketingPilgrim.com, Andy Beal’s blog. He doesn’t seem all that impressed with it, but I’m going to give it a go for myself. As long as it’s free, why not?
So check out my BlogShelf (over on the right down there) and take a look.
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