How Integrating Social Media And Blogging Can Greatly Enhance Your Online Success!

Are you using social media and blogging to build connections online? If you are not then you are definitely losing out in some good fun!

It is a fact that in the early days, blogging was simply a means for people to talk about their interests and share their hobbies and ideas. Then it was all about self-expression. But those days are gone as blogging has come to serve a bigger purpose than anyone would have ever thought.

Today blogging is not just a powerful marketing platform but it’s also the biggest source of information for the general public.

To better understand the increasing popularity of blogs in recent times, let’s take a look at these insights:

The Statistics

• The top two blogging platforms right now are WordPress and Blogger with 43% and 35% users, respectively. On the other hand, Tumblr, Posterous, and TypePad have 16% each.

• WordPress has approximately 42 million blogs with each one garnering around 329 million viewers. Beyond that, there are about 500,000 new content and 400,000 comments in a day.

• The top three languages used are English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Aren’t these figures incredible?

Now, let us put social media in the picture.

The Growing Connection

By definition, social media refers to mobile and Web-based technologies that intend to make communication more interactive. It allows the production and trade of content, which the users have created themselves (technically known as user-generated content).

Now, please note that blogs are technically part of social media. Though many people tend to look at the two as separate platforms, the truth is that blogs are part of social media. And so instead of working with them as two separate tools, you should find ways of integrating them for your online marketing efforts.

Doing so will greatly help you to both share useful information with your networks without running out of words and also grow your readership.

9 Fundamental Social Media Tactics for Bloggers

Whether you are in the process of designing a platform or you have been publishing several posts already, boost your blogging activities with these ideas.

1. Integrate your site and social pages

There are two main ways of doing this.

1.    Place your top posts with widgets and buttons. This allows users to easily share your work to their network. Plus, it helps them navigate to your fan pages conveniently.

2.    Add your blog article link to your profile messages.

2. Limit your updates

You must note this with every caution. Never flood your followers or fans with nonsense talk. Apart from being annoying and risking removal from users’ list, it hampers engagement on the part of your target audience.

Do you want these things to happen?

If you don’t, never forget to minimise your posts to one or two.

3. Communicate with your readers

Since you wish to widen your network, interact with people. What better way to win their favour than to engage them in an interesting conversation.

Therefore, take time to respond to their feedback or comments. Ask them questions on particular topics and encourage them to send in their own masterpieces (e.g. poems, photos, blogs, etc.).

4. Pay attention to their interests

In line with #3 above, make sure that you listen well to what the users have to say. By doing so, you can learn greatly from them. What is more, you can come up with wonderful ideas for your next post.

5. Portray a consistent image

Batman has a bat logo, Superman has “S”, and McDonalds has “M”. How about you, how do you want your target audience to see you?

Always remember that it will be easier for the people to recognise you if you use the same username and trademark for your blog site and social pages.

6. Interact with other bloggers

In the blogosphere, you don’t have competitors but peers. Those individuals who are in the same niche as you and talk about similar topics are not threats. On the contrary, you can think of them as your guide.

Therefore, participate in bloggers’ groups to help you learn more ideas and gain new readers.

7. Use analytics tools

Never forget that your tactics must not only involve application. It must also include monitoring, so you can determine whether you are using the right strategies or not.

With that said, find online software and applications to help you keep track of unique visits, quality traffic, and user engagement.

8. Remain active

“Out of sight, out of mind”, does it sound familiar? Well, you can hear it almost anywhere. It applies in social media too, specifically those times when you don’t log in to your account for days. If you keep on doing this, the tendency is that the users will forget you.

9. Work with marketers, brands, and sponsors

This strategy is very useful if you wish to make money out from blogging. Do you want to?

Well then, one of the best means is to search for affiliate programmes or sponsorship on top of networking sites and then, become a fan. Afterwards, express your interest in joining them. Once they welcome you, you can start creating content about the products or services you are marketing. You may also need to advertise on your social pages.

Conclusion

As you can see, the last technique is quite specific. If you really hope to generate income, you must dedicate time and effort on your blog and in finding niche markets. If you won’t, then you can’t earn a penny.

On the other hand, it does not mean that you can slack off if you do not want to become an affiliate blogger. You need commitment to become successful too.

What do you think? Are these strategies easy to carry out? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or own tips on blogging and social media.