“I Don’t Know Where to Begin”
Many new bloggers get a bit confused when it comes to getting traffic to their blogs.
Should I use massive SEO efforts?
Should I post to Facebook and Twitter?
Should I guest post?
Should I comment on blogs?
I am here to tell you, yes. Do all of these and more.
Good Mom, Bad Blogger
(The back story, bear with me.)
As you know I am a “work at home mom” (WAHM) which means my kids are off school during the summer. This can really wreak havoc of a WAHM’s schedule. There is no set time they are gone in order for me to get work done. They want to go out and do activities. They sleep in then they don’t. Just the simple fact that they are home can sometimes distract me from working. I mean, I stayed home partially to be with them. (And to be my own boss.) So naturally I am going to be more active with them while they are off school.
During these last few summer months I eased back from SEO and social media efforts I was implementing before on a weekly basis. I managed to still post to my blog and get some research done but, frankly, I didn’t ever put in a full days work.
Two weeks ago I came back in full swing again once they started school. I expected my traffic to have taken a dump.
To my surprise, my blog survived my SEO and social media break!!
I compared my traffic before and after my absence for 4 week spans each.
Traffic Before: (April and May 2012)
Traffic After: (July and August)
As you can see my search traffic, which is traffic directly from search engines, aka, SEO efforts I implemented, went up during the times I was cutting back. It jumped up 12%. It is good to know my SEO efforts paid off.
But as you can also see my referral traffic, which comes mostly from guest posting and commenting, dropped about 9%. This was to be expected since I only came online to post and do a bit of research, barely any socializing.
But I can say, what I feel is my greatest accomplishment over the whole span of those 8 weeks was my direct traffic, these are my regular readers, the people who come directly to my blog via bookmarks and just simply typing in my site’s name. This number didn’t change much. They stuck with me! And I am very grateful for that.
*I don’t have campaigns set up so I have no idea why that is in the graph.
With my type of blogging, in which I do want to know my readers and gain new ones everyday, a healthy dose of all three types of traffic is great.
AND…
Something Strange Happen
The 4 weeks while I had a reduction in work hours and in extra efforts to bring traffic in, I had an increase in traffic.
My traffic was up 12%.
Now how can this be?
I’m going to tell you.
Effort and Time Pay Off
Back in December 2011 I bought a great eBook called “Mom Blog SEO” and I began to implement what was in that book.
I used it as a reference…often.
Here’s a chart from those 8 weeks I referred to above. I followed the advise in Mom Blog SEO and did a few guest posts, some social media and commenting. (Notice how a guest posting to Comluv, a rather large, well known blog, back in February 2012 and is still bringing residual traffic to my blog. And the back links within the post are great for SEO on my blog.)
I wasn’t sure if the techniques I was using would pay off- until now.
Don’t Be Fooled by the Title
Mom Blog SEO covers a lot more than just SEO, it teaches you how to integrate Social Media and guest blogging into your SEO efforts.
And let me clarify, it is for “moms who blog” about anything, not just “mom blogs”. Because like Kelby states: “We moms don’t have time to mess around.” And that is the truth. She gets right into it and shows you the basics of SEO.
Moral of This Story
- Learn SEO and optimize your blog for search engines
- Get to know Facebook, Twitter and Google +, they will bring people to your blog
- Guest post
- Grab Mom Blog SEO to help you with so much more than what I discussed here.
Have you ever had a similar experience?
Latest posts by Allie (see all)
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Welcome! I'm Allie. I help WAHMs get their businesses noticed online. Feel free to look around. New here? Check out 
So every thing good happened when you were gone? I am so happy for you!
I don’t bother much about SEO, I know I should but somehow I really don’t. I do guest post on a few blogs regularly and I like that they still bring me traffic. I am grateful for that.
Sometimes, you just need to find out what works for you and focus on it rather than have everyone tell you what to do!
So, kids are off to school now… we see more of your work now?
Hajra created this awesome post: I Scratch Your Blog… You Scratch Mine
Hajra,
I don’t really do much for it either any more. Every so often I will make sure a post is optimized but I find it so boring. I would rather be on social media, forums or other blogs.
Yes, more work. I am revamping my newsletter that I have neglected for months now. I am hoping to find some great affiliates to work with. I am excited!
How did the contest go?
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: WAHM Support and Networking Opportunity!
Looks like I was confused about the dates. The date for submission ends 31st! The results will be out on the 15th of September! My memory always deceives me!
Hajra created this awesome post: I Scratch Your Blog… You Scratch Mine
Mom Blog SEO is such an easy-to-understand resource for new bloggers. It is one I recommend often.
I’m glad to hear things went so well, Allie. Welcome back!
Angie Nelson created this awesome post: How to Become a Virtual Assistant
Thanks Angie.
And I am looking forward to WAHM weekend!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: WAHM Support and Networking Opportunity!
Hey girl, I figured you were on a break and sometimes we just need that. Life happens and you deal with it. Welcome back and thank you for the information about that ebook. I will have to check it out.
Sonia created this awesome post: How To Get Past Your Fears and Reach Your Goals
That is so great your traffic went up even in the summer! I think I want to get that book now too.
Julie created this awesome post: How long have you been online?
Well done! I have often suspected that taking a break from SEO will maintain – if not improve – your readers, traffic, followers, etc…
Glad you’re back from your break
Glad to hear that Allie!
I can so well relate to what happens when kids are home, having been in the same boat. But I’m so relieved that they are now back to school and I have my schedule back in shape.
But yes, because they are a little grown up now they do manage to take care of things, though did want their vacations out of station, which is what we exactly did – went off. However, the comments etc do go down because we aren’t really able to devote as much time going on other places to comment nor have the time to read their post.
Nice to know about Mom Blog Seo – would surely be checking it out and yes, I know I need to start soon with guest posts too. :
Thanks for sharing and letting us know about how we can still manage to make a difference even when we have our hands full – specifically moms who work.
Harleena Singh created this awesome post: Why Fuss About a Good Habit
Harleena,
Next break I will be ready for to spend time with my kids and put my blog on auto more. They get a break in October, we will see how I do. :-0
That is where I lack also, is getting to comment on other blogs or get onto social media. I just did the bare minimum, that is post. I’m going to try and write ahead of time then I can spend the time commenting and socializing online.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: WAHM Support and Networking Opportunity!
That is awesome Allie!
I’ve had that happen to one of my retail sites- all of sudden traffic came and sales made. I looked at webmaster tools and we started ranking on page #1 for a lot of keywords. Took 2 years! It’s amazing what SEO can do to a website or blog. We just have to keep up with all the updates that Google is now doing.
Lisa created this awesome post: Rafflecopter Is So Easy – Why Haven’t You Used It?
Wow! 2 years! It is funny how Google and search engines work at times. Honestly, I only “get” about 1/4 of the info that is put out there about Google updates and SEO. That is why I bought that book. I’m glad I did my optimizing.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: WAHM Support and Networking Opportunity!
Hi Allie.
It’s been a while but it’s great to be back and to land on a post that’s right up my street is a bonus.
I wrote a few weeks ago about a similar experience. I have just been so busy lately that I neglected my blog and things got slighty better.
I have always said that a basic SEO framework is an important part of building long term sustainable traffic.
Your stats show that you have a nice strong base that doesn’t rely on traffic from one source. It’s a credit to you
Steve,
Glad to know that others are having the same results. I was so worried that I would come back (it was just a couple of weeks) and see barely any traffic and now comments. But it is nice to see that my efforts paid off.
Yes, as much as I hate doing SEO work, you are right, that basic framework came in handy.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: WAHM Support and Networking Opportunity!
Glad to see that there are some successful moms blogging out there. I’ll grab the book and learn or unlearn accordingly. Keep it up!
Your traffic was up because everybody likes going through your ‘stuff’ when you aren’t there. You must have put the granny drawers away…:)
I want to be a mom blogger when I grow up.
I didn’t work a full day this summer either; that doesn’t sound like any fun……..
Dodgers made a big move, can San Fran keep pace?
Bill Dorman created this awesome post: The mother of all lists; the list of One
Bill,
First things first- Giants WILL take the division. Their big move is not paying off (10-0 Rockies v Dodgers!)
Now that we got that out of the way.
You make me laugh!! They do like going through my stuff when I’m not around!! I’m glad I hid the chocolate and the dirty mags. LOL!
I have to warn you, things will take a turn around her, I need to start pandering, er, writing for my WAHM readers more. (Im just kidding ladies!) But I hope you stick around and still joke and make us all laugh. Moms need that tension release.
And as for my share buttons, they weren’t working so I had to switch. They were down for a few hours. thanks for sharing!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: WAHM Support and Networking Opportunity!
Ruh roh; where are your share buttons?
Bill Dorman created this awesome post: The mother of all lists; the list of One
Hey Allie,
You have good timing with your posts. I’m actually considering taking a small blogging break. I’m burnt out and stressed out from school. It’s probably a good time for me to take some time out and get on a regular schedule before I get back into the writing and blogging habit again.
I haven’t decided what exactly I’m going to do, but your figures are encouraging. It gives me something to consider while I think about it.
Steve created this awesome post: 5 Things You Should Be Able to Say Before You Die
I’ve looked just about everywhere for an answer for you, and the best I can tell is, there is no code for it – it has to be built into the actual software you’re using.
You are such an inspiration. I’ve been implementing SEO into my new site like crazy over the last month and I have felt like it will never come to fruition. It’s nice to know it will probably all pay off in the end. I’m struggling to know what other WAHM Blogs to follow though. If only there was a nice master list of something like that. All the blogs I find are inactive from folks who seem to quit.
Renae created this awesome post: 5 Ways to Combat Business Burnout – Mompreneurs
it really a helpful & inspiring post,i am not regular visitor of your blog but after reading this post i defiantly visit you blog daily…!!!
Bhavesh created this awesome post: Facebook Twitter linkedin – Update Status Together
Hi Allie,
A lovely post!! The way in which you have framed this post is mind blowing. This is a well researched post as each and every query which a blogger can have while reading this post is answered in the following passages. Thanks for sharing this valuable insight.
It’s tough to have to juggle home stuff and work stuff at the same time. I’m a work from home Dad that does the laundry, dishes, and feeds the kids, etc…you know what I’m talking about!
When you can successfully balance all of these together and STILL create a great blog that people want to come to, then you have exceeded all of the standards! I commend your efforts!
Wade created this awesome post: The Road To Blogging Success
This is very interesting. All the points you made on how to get some traffic are now clear to me. Good to know that the efforts pay off even when you make a blogging break. I am a beginner and will not be discouraged by the fact that I have to make breaks sometimes. Thank you for sharing this information!
I don’t really agree that you should just right for your readers alone, specially if your site is new and it doesn’t much have subscribers. I think writing killer content for your readers as well as optimizing it for your search engines is the way to go.
Jeff created this awesome post: WP Engine Review: The Truth Behind WP Engine Managed Hosting