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5 ways to grow your blog without breaking the bank

26 September, 2014 by Giselle Rochford 70 Comments

This post contains affiliate links however, all opinions are my own.

Hey Friends! How’s it goin?

I’ve been getting a bit more traffic to the blog recently and at first I thought it was because I’d started posting more often – 3 times a week vs. once a week. But, after thinking about it, I realised there were a lot of small things I did here an there that – together – made a big difference. So today, I wanted to share a few of them with you.

5 Tips to Grow your blog without breaking the bank via @ExSloth | ExSloth.com

 

1. Join communities

The first big increase in my blog stats came when I joined online communities for bloggers. Health and fitness groups like SweatPink and Girls Gone Sporty were my first introduction to the online blogging community. Then came the SITS Girls’ #SITSBlogging twitter chat (formerly #SITSShareFest) and content sharing communities like this one.

Spend some time looking at what’s available and then try to join a couple that fit you. And remember, these groups aren’t about forcing your content down everyone’s throats. Meet people, make connections and little by little your presence in the blog world will grow.

2. Pin. Pin. Pin. (and other social media)

I held off on joining Pinterest for a really long time because I was sure it would just snowball into one big distraction. But I’m so glad I eventually took the plunge. Pinterest is consistently in my top 5 referral sources and I would have missed out on tons of traffic if I hadn’t joined. These days I schedule my pins using a service called Tailwind App, but it isn’t absolutely necessary to schedule pins. It just makes it easier (more on that in #5).

Quick tip: The images in your posts are a huge deal for Pinterest so take time to create good great ones. PicMonkey and Canva are two popular (and free) online tools for good blog graphics if you don’t have access to more sophisticated software, like Photoshop, or are pressed for time.

3. Comment on and share other blogs

I’m a pretty reserved person in new situations, including online. So when I first started blogging and reading other blogs, I barely commented. HUGE mistake.

Commenting on other blogs not only gets a link back to your site (sometimes), it also helps build invaluable connections with other bloggers. I’ve made a lot of blogging friends just from consistently reading and commenting on their posts and then sharing them. They, in turn, comment on my posts and share them, sending new visitors my way. The blogging community is just that – a community – so don’t forget to do your part.

4. Participatie in Link-Ups

Participating in link-ups is a great way to get your content out there, but it can also be time consuming if you try to link up to too many. Link-up etiquette usually requires a link back to the blog in your post and you NEED to socialize. Scan through the other links and find some that interest you and then comment and/or share. Doing a ‘link and run’ may be tempting but it isn’t worth it, trust me. You’ll see much more engagement from other bloggers if you play nice.

5. Schedule

This isn’t a direct way to increase traffic but it’s definitely a factor. Pre-scheduling reduces the stress of trying to stay on top of everything at once and frees up time for other blogging related activities. 

I don’t know about you, but I do most of my online reading in the middle of the night which isn’t always the ideal time to share. Being able to schedule social media posts for a time when they’ll be more relevant is great. Scheduling my blog posts has also been a life saver since I started posting multiple times a week because it makes it much easier to stay organized and produce quality content consistently, which is arguably the most important part of blogging.

BONUS: Attend the Blog Well Summit 

blog well summit
I’ve always wanted to go to a blogging conference because it’s a great way to learn more, meet other bloggers, connect with brands and get your name out there. BUT, most are pretty expensive. So when I found out about the Blog Well Summit I was pretty stoked.

The Blog Well Summit is a virtual conference series for health and wellness bloggers that gives you all the perks of a regular blogging conference, without the travelling and expenses. The first Blog Well Summit is happening on October 17-19, 2014 and covers Blog Design, Development & Branding. You can find out more and sign up to join the mailing list here. Attendance is free and the sessions sure to be insanely informative so I highly suggest you checkout the Blog Well Summit!

Looking for more posts about blogging? Try these:

Blog To-Do-List | @ExSloth
5 Things on my Blogging to-do list
My 5 Favourite Healthy Living Blogs
Blogging changed my life | ExSloth.com
5 Ways Blogging Changed my Life

What about you?

What free or less costly tips do you have for growing a blog? Have you heard of the Blog Well Summit? Are you planning to attend?

Share in the comments below!
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This post was included in the following linkups: Friday Favorites, #FFavorites, Fitness Friday, Friday Five, Weekly Wrap Up, FYI Friday

Filed Under: Blogging

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Comments

  1. Jamaica | rarax3.com says

    26 September, 2014 at 10:10 am

    Thanks for the tips! I’ve been looking for ways to increase traffic to my blog. I’ll definitely try these out (:

    <3 jamaica
    http://www.rarax3.com
    Jamaica | rarax3.com recently posted…Singapore Photoblog Part 1

    Reply
  2. Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says

    26 September, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Great tips! I know I need to get more active on Twitter. I hear time and time again how its a huge driver of traffic. I am also very excited for the Blog Well Summit, I know I’m going to learn a ton.
    Thanks for linking up with me today!
    Jen @ Pretty Little Grub recently posted…FYI Friday – Fats…what’s the deal?

    Reply
  3. Skye says

    26 September, 2014 at 10:27 am

    Communities are so crucial! Good reminders.

    Reply
  4. Mary Beth Jackson says

    26 September, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Great tips! Oct 17-19 are pretty busy days for me but I am gonna check it out! Thanks for the info!
    Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Join me in Active Nation Day!

    Reply
  5. Erica says

    26 September, 2014 at 11:20 am

    I agree with everything you said 🙂
    Erica recently posted…You can never go wrong with Marvel Super Heroes in my house. #InfinityHeroes

    Reply
  6. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    26 September, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Great tips! Ugh…linkups are so tedious, but they do help if you’re a food blogger. Have you attended this blog conference before?
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Easy Antioxidant Trail Mix

    Reply
  7. Fi says

    26 September, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    Great tips Giselle! I do all these things but find I never get traffic from Pinterest, maybe someday I will 🙂

    Reply
  8. Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club says

    26 September, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    These are great tips!! I have found joining these communities has really been fun. I love networking with other bloggers. Everyone is so full of knowledge.
    Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…POPSUGAR Select Blogger – Kayla of Variety by Vashti

    Reply
  9. Nicole @ Fitful Focus says

    26 September, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    All great tips! Rita Barry is reviewing my blog at the summit! I’m so excited for that! Meet ya (virtually) there!
    Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Life In Pictures Link Up #4

    Reply
  10. Heather @ Housewife Glamour says

    26 September, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Great tips!! Those are certainly suggestions I have passed on and strongly encourage for any blogger to do as well. Love it. Thank you so much for linking up and I hope you have a great weekend! xo
    Heather @ Housewife Glamour recently posted…Friday Favorites #56: Week of 9/26

    Reply
  11. Tricia's Mostly Healthy Life says

    26 September, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    These are great tips! I have found that working ahead reduces the stress of posting right away just to be sure content is up. I cannot say that I have been the best at it but when I do it, it works.

    I need to become more involved in Pinterest. I find it difficult to stay on top with a full time job and blogging, marketing and regular life stuff. I think I may ditch Facebook for Pinterest.

    Reply
  12. Natalie says

    26 September, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    Great tips! I’ve been trying out several of these recently as well (including the Blog Love group, which is totally awesome!!), and I can definitely see an increase in comments, blog readership, and social media following. I still need to figure out the best way to use Pinterest–I have a tendency to just pin randomly whenever I feel like it!
    Natalie recently posted…A Short History of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel

    Reply
  13. Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says

    26 September, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    We enjoying linking up with other bloggers to hear what others have to say about the same topic. Great way to connect with each other.
    Lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…5 Favorites you’ll want to make this fall

    Reply
  14. Erin @ The Almond Eater says

    26 September, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    These are all great tips– I totally agree about Pinterest. It’s huge and such a great way to spread your content around. Thanks for the heads up about the conference.. I may have to check that out!
    Erin @ The Almond Eater recently posted…White Chocolate Pumpkin Mug Cake

    Reply
  15. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says

    27 September, 2014 at 6:19 am

    Great ideas! When I first started blogging, I was too shy to bring too much attention to my blog! I wanted everything to look perfect before I started getting the word out there. Then, I realized I would never get everything as perfect as I wanted it! I’ve started commenting a lot more, and it makes the experience so much more fun!

    I’ve been loving reading your posts since I found your blog last month!
    Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine recently posted…Double Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Muffins {Gluten Free, Sugar Free}

    Reply
  16. Jennifer says

    27 September, 2014 at 9:07 am

    Great simple tips! I have found joining lots of sharing groups on facebook to be helpful.
    Jennifer recently posted…Peppercorn Pork Grinders

    Reply
  17. Ree says

    27 September, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Excellent tips! I always use PicMonkey, but have never tried Canva. I’ve added it to my bookmarks to check it out. Thanks!
    Ree recently posted…paleo butternut squash lasagna

    Reply
  18. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says

    27 September, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Hi Giselle, I found your blog via the SPA group. I completely agree with all of your advice, and had actually never used Canva before, so thanks for that tip. I mostly rely on PicMonkey. The other advice I would add is to find out if there are blogging groups in your city or town. I’ve just started meeting some fellow San Francisco bloggers and it’s been a great way to make connections IRL. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
    Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Friday Favorites: A bunch of fun stuff

    Reply
  19. Anne says

    27 September, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Great post and great tips, thank you. It is intimidating at first if you are on the quiet side!

    Reply
  20. Sarah Fuller says

    27 September, 2014 at 4:31 pm

    These are great tips to remember. Also, I have seen my search engine traffic increase through use of G+.

    Reply
  21. jill conyers says

    27 September, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    I’m on the panel for Blog Well Summit! So many great things planned.
    jill conyers recently posted…Saturday Shares: Fitness, Fashion, Food and More

    Reply
  22. Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader says

    27 September, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    I’m just getting started with the communities, and will absolutely be taking your suggestion of looking for more to join. Although, I might want to take it slow with the joining, I don’t want to sign up for more than I can manage.
    In the past I’ve found that a large portion of my viewers have come from Link Parties and commenting on other blogs. I made a rule several months ago that if something is worth commenting on, it’s worth sharing.
    Consistency for me is a big thing. I found that I had more traffic when I was posting regularly than not.

    Thanks for the great tips.
    Ricki @ The Questionable Homesteader recently posted…Stuffed Enchilada Shells

    Reply
  23. Cassie says

    28 September, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Great tips… definitely agree with all of these! Learning about SEO and using an SEO plug-in are super helpful as well.
    Cassie recently posted…Now Trending – Best Links Week of 9.22

    Reply
  24. Elizabeth says

    28 September, 2014 at 11:14 am

    Giselle, I so agree with these. I had to learn the hard way. The first several months of blogging I wasn’t commenting at all on other blogs. I realized that I was missing the boat. Thank you for sharing. The blog conference looks great!
    Elizabeth recently posted…Five Things Coach Gelwix Taught Me about Being Forever Strong

    Reply
  25. Sam @ PancakeWarriors says

    28 September, 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Love this. These are all so valuable. Love these groups to join. That’s my next step and I love your suggestions! Thanks for the Pinterest sites I’ve been trying to find a good resource to get my pictures more pinable. Hope you have a great day thanks again for sharing your tips!
    Sam @ PancakeWarriors recently posted…Stuffed Peppers, Two Ways!

    Reply
  26. Jamie G says

    30 September, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Thanks for the info about the Summit, I just signed up! Pinterest rocks for me too, I’m always amazed at how far my posts can reach!
    Jamie G recently posted…Makeup under $20: BH Cosmetics + Sbucks Giveaway!

    Reply
  27. Rebecca | LettersFromSunnybrook.com says

    3 October, 2014 at 7:30 am

    Great tips, especially for us introverts! Saw this on Friday Favorites. Pinned! 🙂
    Rebecca | LettersFromSunnybrook.com recently posted…October Meal Plan

    Reply
  28. Debbie Rodrigues says

    14 October, 2014 at 3:37 am

    Awesome blog Giselle. Thank you so much for sharing!
    I’ll be attending the virtual conference as well. I live in Europe and traveling to the US for such events is an added cost that I cannot afford. I am really exciting to learn from others on how to improve my blogging.
    Debbie Rodrigues recently posted…Socia Media Sunday: What If Time Is Not On Your Side?

    Reply
  29. Joanne T Ferguson says

    19 October, 2014 at 2:02 am

    G’day! Great tips and thanks for sharing at our #SayGdayParty
    Please make sure to revisit if you haven’t already to Say G’day to the hosts and another person at the party!
    Cheers! Joanne @ What’s On The List Pinned

    Reply
  30. Natasha in Oz says

    24 October, 2014 at 5:29 am

    Great tips!I just pinned this and am sharing at my Friday Favorites post. Thanks for joining the Say G’Day Saturday Linky Party!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz
    Natasha in Oz recently posted…A new James Blunt Tune and loving Words of Wisdom

    Reply
  31. Kaz @ Melting Moments says

    9 May, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    Fabulous tips! I am so glad to have found some great blogging groups too.
    Kaz @ Melting Moments recently posted…WWU – Mum

    Reply
  32. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    15 May, 2015 at 3:48 pm

    All great tips! I do all of the above but need to get better about Pinterest!

    Reply
  33. Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says

    15 May, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    I need to do more on Pinterest than just pin things. I have yet to figure it out–do you pin your blog posts?
    Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Taking the Long Way Home Book Club Book Review: Tales From Another Mother Runner

    Reply
  34. jill conyers says

    16 May, 2015 at 4:46 am

    Blogwell Summit is on my to-attend bucket list. Maybe this year 🙂

    I wish everyone would follow link up etiquette.
    jill conyers recently posted…Benefits of Strength Training

    Reply
  35. Toni says

    16 May, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    Great tis! I kind of just do whatever I want and hope it brings traffic.

    Reply
  36. Toni says

    16 May, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Great tips! I kind of do what I want and hope for traffic.
    Toni recently posted…Tips On How To Regain Your Motivation When It Dwindles

    Reply
  37. Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says

    17 May, 2015 at 9:08 am

    All great tips! I do all of these things, and notice that they have made a huge difference in bringing more consistent traffic to my blog.
    Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Friday Five – May 15th – Top Keyword Searches for From Dancing to Running

    Reply
  38. Sandra Laflamme says

    17 May, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    Such great tips! Wish I had known to spend more time commenting earlier on!
    Sandra Laflamme recently posted…Motivation. The hardest challenge is to support one another.

    Reply
  39. Safari @ Tri-ing To Run Boston says

    18 May, 2015 at 7:44 am

    great tips. I’ve been looking for some linkups to join but I agree they are time consuming. I don’t have any tips, as I’m still learning and trying to become more consistent with posting.
    Safari @ Tri-ing To Run Boston recently posted…Feature Friday…featuring yours truly

    Reply
  40. Dave says

    26 February, 2018 at 8:14 am

    Thank you for these great tips. They seem like they will be easy to get started.

    Reply
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    9 May, 2018 at 11:12 pm

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  43. Carla Corelli says

    10 June, 2022 at 5:52 am

    I could not agree more about the value of sharing on social media and also commenting on blogs 🙂 It helps get traffic moving in that difficult period where your Google rankings have still not gained traction.
    Carla Corelli recently posted…Narcissist Meme Gallery – because they hate being laughed at 🙂

    Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. Sunday Funday 9/28/14 & Happiness Is - Skinny Fitalicious says:
    28 September, 2014 at 7:32 am

    […] 5 Free Tips for Growing Your Blog Without Breaking the Bank via Diary of Ex Sloth – Some great tips for growing your followers. […]

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