How to increase traffic to your blog

Lately I have been hanging out a lot on the Etsy forums and I have seen a common trend starting to form. Online shop owners have heard that having a blog can lead to more sales,
and lets be honest that is what we all want. Lots and lots of sales.

I'm just not sure if everyone realises how much work and time needs to go into a blog.

Content, persistence, regular posting and time generate traffic. Owning a successful blog, in my opinion, does not happen overnight. It is a lengthy process but if you find your niche and have good content then I do believe that your blog can bring you more sales and ultimately success.

My sister, Sarah-Jane (owner of the label Babazeka) sent me a wonderful and inspirational blog post a few weeks ago by a lady called Tina.
Tina started a little blog called Think Simple Now on September 27th, 2007 with zero experience in blogging, internet marketing or writing. By the time Christmas came, 3 months later, she had 2135 subscribers.

Tina was new to blogging like so many of us are and she had not read any blogs on blogging, except for a couple of articles from doshdosh and problogger very early on.

Tina was often asked how she did it, and so she decided to compile this article as a record of her experience with the hope that others might benefit from what she has learnt. Tina says,

I want to show you that it is possible to achieve your blogging goals starting
from scratch, using my case as a live example. I’ve learned that there are no
real secrets to blogging success, all it really takes is a deep desire to do so,
along with an urge to action.

In her article, Tina goes on to ask these questions:

• Why are you writing?
• Who are you writing for?
• What topic areas will you cover?

I have written these out and pinned them to a board so I can refer to them whenever I feel it necessary. Then I pinned the answer to these questions on the board. I go back to this board whenever I feel I am loosing focus and believe me this can happen a lot when blogging.

Tina also tells us to set specific attainable goals, with dates. She speaks of your content being the most important aspect of your blog. Do you have your reader’s best interests in mind? Are you fulfilling a need with your articles?

Lastly, she gives some great practical advice on how to spread the word about your blog - through emailing, word of mouth, social networks, media networks and by networking with other bloggers.

Tina feels that anyone can achieve this form of success when desire is mixed with faith backed by massive action, the probable becomes possible, every time with no exceptions.

I think we all need to start focusing on what we want, instead of what we think we lack. Have a clear goal and go after it with your whole being! Focus on your readers and their experience when reading your blog. Read other people's blogs and learn from them. Be persistent. Be constant. And do yourself a HUGE favour, read Tina's article.