Do you want to see your pageviews quadruple in just a few weeks? If you’re a “baby blogger” – as I like to call the newbies – then these tips will be a gold mine. Or even if you’re a “big girl blogger” – or a guy, not trying to discriminate! – these may just be the extra push you need!
I want to share with you today about what I experienced when I started a linking up to link parties and just watched my blog grow in leaps and bounds. And it hasn’t stopped since!
A little background: I started this blog back in February of 2012 and really just wanted to document how I DIY’d and decorated my new house. It opened up the whole world of DIY blogging to me. And let me tell ya! It’s a fun world, and I spend hours every day working on it and interacting with some of the most wonderful people on the planet. It is truly my creative outlet and a joy!
I didn’t really get serious about blogging and building my reader base until April or May of this year. Before that I’d been blogging for my mom and close friends and family, I guess. And my mom doesn’t even read this blog, so pretty much, I was just blogging for myself. 🙂 Until … I began linking up to link up parties.
I had been linking up to a couple of blog link up (or linky) parties here and there, but not really committed to them.
{Does anybody else hate the word “linky?” It’s like the words “moist” and “panties” … we could just do without those words altogether. So, I choose to call them link up parties. Whew, I feel better now that I shared that with someone. You have no idea… it’s been bottled up for months!}
Funny aha moment … I remember one time Centsational Girl announced she was having a themed link up party and announced the time it would go live. I had never tried to link up to a party as soon as it went live, but I thought I’d give it a twirly whirl. I set a calendar alert on my phone for about 5 minutes before the party started. I remember sitting at my computer hitting refresh, waiting for the party to pop up. And when it did, I realized that … holy smokes! There were other people sitting at their computer waiting too!
It was my first realization that the first spot at a link up party is a coveted spot. Because, let’s face it, you get the MOST traffic if you’re first. Lightbulb.
It was then that I realized how valuable link up parties are to building my blog. So, here’s my secret sauce formula …
1. Find a friend who has a similar niche to your blog and has a link party page and start visiting those parties. Look for parties that are similar to your style and content. For example, if your a big recipe/food blogger, then you’ll want to find a link party that features a lot of recipes. If you mostly focus on DIY wood projects, then you may not be wanting to link up to a recipe link party. Just a suggestion. You can find my link party page HERE.
2. Once you have visited and selected several link parties, figure out when these parties go live each week. If the party post doesn’t have a time stamp, I check out the comments and see when the first commenter left their comment. This will give you a fairly good idea when the party started. Some bloggers start theirs at the same time every time, and some don’t. You’ll get the hang of it over time. {I LOVE the link parties that start at the same time every week. Seriously, smoochity smoochity. Bonus points if you can name that movie. And if so, you probably have a preschool daughter.}
3. Create a calendar of your favorite link parties and when they go live. I type in all of my link parties into my iCal program on my Mac. I program it to send me a pop-up message on my computer and phone whenever it’s time to link up to a new party. That way if I’m sitting at my computer, or hanging out at home and I get a message to link up, I can get on the computer and link up right then. Because the closer you get to the top of the links, the more traffic you will get. Yay!
4. All link up parties use a square image, so you’ll want to create a square image in your post to linking up. Or you can create it and keep it on your computer and just upload the file when linking. If I don’t create a square image, I at least make sure my image will look good cropped as a square. Here’s how I do that in PicMonkey …
5. Create your own Link Party page. I started out by putting every link up party at the bottom of my posts. But now, I just redirect my readers at the end of every post to my link party page. This is less cumbersome on my blog. AND it doesn’t send a bunch of my Google Juice to a lot of other sites. I want to repay my link friends with a link, but I don’t want to send my every reader off to a bunch of sites right after they finished reading my post.
6. Once you’ve been linking up consistently over a few months, look through your analytics and see who is sending you the most traffic. Eliminate the ones who aren’t sending traffic. Your time is money and you don’t want to waste it. Also, I love a consistent party. if a blogger isn’t posting their link party consistently. I tend to make them off the list. I don’t have time to keep checking back all day long to see when they will post. And, like I said before, my favorite link parties are the ones who state their start time and are consistent.
7. And lastly, edit your link party list whenever it changes. You don’t want to recommend link parties to your readers that aren’t there anymore or don’t post their parties in a regular or timely manner. Don’t waste your readers’ time.
{You know, I’m now co-hosting an awesome link party called Work It Wednesday and would LOVE for you to link up your awesomeness each week!! It starts at 8 am CST every Wednesday. Go ahead … I’ll wait right here while you put it into your calendar.}
After I implemented these tips and tricks, my pageviews increased, literally four times. And since then, my pageviews have more than doubled.
And in addition to gaining new readers, I’ve met so many real friends in the process. Seriously. Before I tried systematic linking up, I was blogging in a little turquoise bubble. But once I got out there, started putting my projects out there for others to see … well by gosh, people liked them and turns out they liked me too. Some of my best blogging friends, I met through link parties. So, it’s not all about the numbers. 🙂
And if these tips were helpful, I’d love it if you pinned this post! Thanksomuch!!
Do you link up? A bunch of parties or just a few?
How has your experience been visiting and participating in link parties?
I hope you have a wonderful Friday … and a fabulous weekend!! {Bring on the football!}
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Click HERE to see where I party every week.
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Darcy says
Thanks so much for the advice! I have been blogging awhile and am starting to want to grow it!
Laura says
Link parties are a great way to do that! You put yourself out there, and make friends at the same time! I’d love for you to link up to Work It Wednesday today!!
Kristin says
Ahahaha! I hate the word “Linky” too!!! I don’t know what it is, but you’re right it’s right up there with “moist.” Both make me squirm! I call them “link parties” or “link ups.”
Great tips!
Laura says
Glad I’m not alone. 🙂 Have a great day!!
Jocelyn says
Great tips, thanks!
Corinna Ashley says
Thanks for the wealth of great tips! The blogging niche I’m trying to carve some space out for doesn’t have a loads of link up parties. I find that part frustrating. That and many of my favorites I can’t seem to figure out when they go live. Like, come on. I’m tired of being #467, haha.
Laura says
Maybe you should start your own link party in your niche!! Sounds like it would be a good time to start one. 🙂 Hopefully you can look at the comments in the link parties you want to link up to and figure out when they are going live. #467 is no fun!!
KC @ The Real Thing with the Coake Family says
I do something very similar to you, though I don’t have a reminder in my calendar. I tend to link up first thing in the morning and again in the evening…so I know which ones to check because I have them organized in folders by the day of the link party in my feedly feed. Works for me and I started linking up seriously a year or so ago and it definitely helps with the pageviews. I often forget to check what my picture will look like in the little square…thanks for that tip.
KC
Laura says
Ahhh, folders in feedly. That sounds like a great idea! I use Bloglovin’, and am not too familiar with how that even works. Sounds like you have a great system in place, too!
Deby at Moms Make Money says
I love this post Laura! I am just starting a guest blogger series over on Moms Make Money and would really like you to write a post for me. There’s a link to the post below, do drop over and offer some advice to all the new bloggers I am getting started.
Cindy @ diy beautify says
These are such great tips, thank you. As a new blogger and a non-techie, I have been dipping my feet into the world of link up parties and am making some wonderful blogging friends 🙂 If i may ask, where do I find the gadget that shows who is following my blog? I would like to add that but am not sure what it’s called.
Thanks so much!!
Laura says
Hi Cindy, are you on blogger or WordPress? I’m thinking if you’re on blogger, then it’s called Google Friend Connect. And I think it’s a widget that comes with Blogger. Is that what you’re taking about? Sorry I’m not more help!! 🙂
Denise says
Fantastic article! Thanks so much for the advice. I will be implementing your suggestions ASAP!!
Laura says
Thanks Denise! I hope you get tons of new traffic!! 🙂
Chelsea says
These are aweosme tips, Laura! I so wish they were around when I was brand new and spent hours trying to figure out what times/days parties went live!
Laura says
Ha! Me too!! Took me forever to figure out how to link up effectively. 🙂
Amanda says
Thanks so much for this! I’m new at blogging and would LOVEto build my readers. I have been doing 1-2 link up parties a week and have seen a difference, but this post gives me even more tips. Thanks 🙂
Laura says
Thanks for stopping by, Amanda!
ellie @ creative geekery blog says
FABulous post, girl! Am totally with you for “linky” and “moist.” My husband canNOT stand “pantyhose.” I have started hosting two parties and I have gotten lazy about visiting others. This is a really great reminder. Have an awesome weekend! XO, ellie
Laura says
Thanks so much, Ellie! I hope you have a FABulous weekend, too. 🙂
Jamie says
Awesome tips! I hate the word linky too!! Glad I’m not the only one 😉 Sooo what time does your party go live and do you have an app on your phone for the schedule?
Hugs,
Jamie
Laura says
Glad I’m not the only one too! 🙂 Work It Wednesday goes live at 8 am CST. I just went back and put that in my post – might be a helpful piece if information. HA!! I don’t have an app, just my calendar that syncs with the calendar on my mac. Have a great weekend, friend!
Manda Wolf says
Great tips. I never thought about making sure I was the first and tracking when the parties go live, I just try to hit them on days that I can.
Laura says
I think most people just link up when they can. But it really makes a difference if you can be in the top few. Of course I don’t get them all, and I don’t stress about it. Just when I can link up at the beginning, I do! Have a great weekend, Manda!
The Pinterest Housewife says
Great post! I, too, will now create a pop-up reminder on my phone and/or computer for link up parties! Thank you for the advice!
Laura says
Awesome! Glad I could help, Christina. 🙂
Cindy says
Thank you, Laura! 🙂
Laura says
You’re welcome, Cindy. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Pamela says
These are all fantastic tips!! Hope you do not mind me adding my two cents, I will say that a lot of hosts prefer that you put the link to their party on the same page as the post you are linking up. Most people will not click over to the page with the list of the parties you are at. They will just look at your post and move on. The entire reason to host parties to is to hopefully drive traffic to your own site. That is also as you stated why we join parties. If people do not click over to your party list page then there is no extra traffic for the host of the party you are joining. There are host that will either ask you to add the link to your post or may even delete your link which you never want to happen after going thru the trouble to party at their place. Not all party host require it but a lot do so I say always make sure to double check the party rules as to not insult the host.
Laura says
Hi Pamela, I so welcome your two cents. 🙂 I agree to check the host’s rules when linking up {I should have put that in the post}. I have stopped linking up to a few parties because they require a direct link in the post. I guess it’s a decision for each blogger to make. As a new host of a link party, I’m fine with people just linking up to a link party page. And I think, too, if you’re just linking up to a few parties then it’s probably best to just put the link at the bottom of the post. But when you have so many, it becomes awkward at the end of every post and pulls your Google juice away. It’s a fine line to walk between Google SEO and linking up to every host. :-/
Brandi @ Nest of Bliss says
Thank you for this Laura! I’ve been joining link parties in hopes of sharing my content with others. I will definitely be following your advice. I almost feel like you wrote this especially for me it’s so spot on.
I have a question about your link parties page, is this page accessible through your navigation, or do you just link it at the bottom of posts?
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Laura says
Hi Brandi – you’re too sweet. I’m so glad this helped you! I do have the link page accessible from my navigation bar. You have to hover over the “About” tab, it’ll appear in the drop down. Maybe I should move it so that it’s just on the navigation bar? I may do that!!
[email protected] Impatient Remodelers says
Great ideas! Thanks. As a total newbie I started posting just because I love my house and would love people to see it evolve. But I get disappointed when I spend time doing it an no one sees it.
I see link up parties and never really do anything about it. Once in awhile I post something if I make it on time.
Anyway, thanks again 🙂
Laura says
You’re welcome, Sherry! I hope your able to utilize the world of link up parties. They are such a great way to get yourself out there!!
Ali Burtt says
Yes! HATE the word “linky”. Also “panties” and “moist”. Are we twins?
Laura says
Whew! I thought I was the only one. With all of these linky parties around, I’m glad I’m not the only one who cringes every time I read it. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
May says
Oh, girls! Just wait until your kids are in their early 20s. You will find that your use of the word panties–especially in a store–will send them into a frenzy of sushing and blushing that is so much fun to watch! So, don’t eliminate it from your vocabulary completely. Just put it on the back burner!
Great post!
Laura says
Definitely! I’m sure I’ll pull it back out to embarrass my teens! HA! You’re too funny. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Kate says
How about “maxi” skirts?! Oy! How can something so cute have such a awkward name?
Laura says
For real! It soooo bothered me when maxi skirts and dresses became popular. I think I’ve gotten used to it now because I still see it and hear it a lot. But those other not-linky words just kind of sneak up on me and gross me out! HA! 🙂