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Don’t Be An Insular Blogger

In case you missed it, I submitted a tip to Darren Rowse’s Problogger.net, which became part of his series called “reader quick tips” which he published over the last few weeks of November.

The quick tip was called Don’t Be An Insular Blogger, where I outlined that it is important to always interact with the rest of the blogosphere when blogging if you want to attract incoming links and traffic - and of course make friends of other bloggers too.

Here it is in entirety:

I’ve noticed lately my blog is not growing as rapidly as it did about a year ago. While my posting frequency has dropped a little I don’t think that’s the main reason for the reduction in traffic growth.

I believe the culprit is insular blogging. Insular blogging is when you sit and post content to your blog never linking to or talking about other bloggers, blogs or websites. You need to interact with the blogosphere and other people online in order to grow your traffic rapidly.

You can have success as an insular blogger if what you write is compelling enough that people spread the word. You need exceptional talent to pull this off at a rapid growth pace. Most bloggers can’t do it. They need help, they need to share traffic with other bloggers.

My blog tip is to take action by getting out there and meeting other bloggers via your blog. Link to other blogs, review other blogs, email bloggers, do content exchanges, write an e-book with another blogger and join in with the discussion started by other bloggers. Good luck!

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Comments

  1. December 2nd, 2006 | 7:18 pm

    […] Original post by Yaro […]

  2. December 13th, 2006 | 12:38 am

    […] January 18 — Start at Traffic School. See where that takes you. […]

  3. December 13th, 2006 | 2:56 pm

    I can’t wait for traffic school! Man, doesn’t that sound funny. I enjoyed your post on Darren’s blog…very useful information. Still working on those pillar articles. Thanks for your help.

  4. December 13th, 2006 | 3:35 pm

    Hi Rugjeff - yes it does sound funny, but very good! Keep saying it, you will encourage me to get it launched.

    Seriously though it’s coming up at the start of 2007 but I’ve made a few changes to how things will work. Stay tuned to this blog for details.

    Keep up the good work on those pillars!

    Yaro

  5. December 17th, 2006 | 1:52 pm

    Great post.

    Sometimes I get so caught up in the blogging process I forget there’s a great big blogosphere out there.

  6. December 21st, 2006 | 10:16 am

    Great advice Yaro!

    I found myself doing that a lot. We get so carried away with the posting itself that we forget that it’s important to get involved with the community or rather “blogosphere.”

    Rasheed

  7. December 23rd, 2006 | 10:39 am

    Thanks Rasheed - yes you are right - the problem occurs when you make all these great posts and no one seems to be reading them. That’s a good reason to get out and meet other bloggers.

    Yaro

  8. December 27th, 2006 | 10:58 am

    Thanks Yaro - I’m in the process of growing my blog at www.nationwidenetworking.com.au and the one thing I’ve struggled with is ensuring I take the time to promote my blog and interact with other bloggers. I’ve just logged onto your site and have to say I love your tips. You obviously know what you’re talking about. keep up the great work….

    Ben

  9. December 29th, 2006 | 9:45 am

    I absolutely need traffic school… I have a tendency to focus on the content of my blog and forget that I need to be getting into the game with other bloggers. In some cases, we bloggers are actually making news and the real story is in the blogosphere.

    Here’s to growing blogs as a “team sport”.

    Michael

  10. December 29th, 2006 | 9:53 am

    Hey Guys,

    Thanks for the kudos. The first of my blog traffic resources is coming out at the start of 2007 so stay tuned.

    Cheers,

    Yaro

  11. January 3rd, 2007 | 9:29 pm

    Some useful tips here - thanks. I agree with the utility of having a provocotive title. That certainly has been a major factor in seeing what posts are “sticky” and which ones get passed over.

  12. January 7th, 2007 | 3:58 pm

    […] Insular blogging. […]

  13. January 7th, 2007 | 4:55 pm

    this is widely known in henry jenkin’s book about participatory culture and the fact that the blog community is in fact very small when it comes to writing topical entries. Hence, it is always important to maintain contacts, in order to keep in touch with what is going on, as well as sharing visitors and information around.

    That is one thing I learned when i started blogging 5 months ago to a dedicated audience.

  14. January 9th, 2007 | 5:30 pm

    […] These two articles come from Yaro Starak, who empathetically argues that professional blogging is NOT a sustainable business model, especially for an insular blogger. He is talking from the perspective of building an actual business that can generate passive income without putting in additional effort. […]

  15. January 10th, 2007 | 6:58 am

    An excelent read. I had almost forgot your blog traffic blog Yaro!

    I didn’t get any update (I’ve subscribed to your newsletter months ago).

    I just became on of your regular readers.

  16. January 10th, 2007 | 9:39 pm

    Great blog! Very useful info. Thanks Yaro.

  17. January 12th, 2007 | 2:49 am

    Yaro.

    This post is very clear and I’m reading it just at the right time. I started by blog this week and your tips, especially your advice on the need to write pillar articles has helped me greatly. I’m looking forward to going to traffic school.

  18. January 15th, 2007 | 5:06 pm

    Yaro

    Great idea to have a blog traffic tips programme and I completely agree that blogging in isolation is one of the things that doesn’t help you get found.

    I know I have been guilty of this - writing content that I think will be valuable and hoping that someone will find it useful.

    I’ve recently made a number of design changes to my blog to hopefully make it easier for people to find their way around the content, adding social networking tags, RSS feeds and email sign ups.

    But I know one of the keys to success in building your personal or corporate brand online is connecting and networking just as you would offline.

    I look forward to receiving your blog traffic tips newsletter and will certainly refer my readers to it.

    And just for the record, I found your blog through a thread I followed today on Copy Blogger - just as you mention in your post connecting through writing an ebook with another blogger!

    Anyone up for collaborating and co-writing a short ebook/special report?!

    Best wishes

    Krishna

  19. February 5th, 2007 | 7:36 pm

    This tip is so simple, yet so valuable. I think there are many people out there forgetting about this interaction with other bloggers. I’m looking forward to making new friends this way!

  20. February 7th, 2007 | 3:38 pm

    Hey man, I’m loving this blog so far. I just heard about it through this quick tip article and have already read every other post. Good advice, and good luck with launch.

  21. February 8th, 2007 | 2:00 am

    At some point it takes just as much time to comment as it does to write posts. Not everyone has this much time.

  22. April 10th, 2007 | 4:08 pm
  23. April 14th, 2007 | 10:48 am

    Can’t wait too! I’ll check this website out later *_*

  24. April 17th, 2007 | 4:37 pm

    I guest this one the most powerful way to gain high Google PR links and skyrocket your Google ranking. John Chow has effectively boast his ranking in Google using this method and is a good example to follow.

  25. Jim
    April 18th, 2007 | 12:48 am

    Hi Yaro,

    Being insular is rather like someone working in an office of 50 people everyday and not talking to anyone then going home at night and wondering why they never get to go on the works nights out.

    It’s fun to blog and to get comments about what you’ve written. Equally it’s fun to read insightful and useful posts and to add your 10 pence worth as a comment. Maybe you improve the information for everyone, maybe you don’t.

    And unless you do comment you’ll not make much blogging impact.

    Jim

  26. April 20th, 2007 | 2:35 am

    In short sync your self with the workings of the net. Don’t work against the internet. It’s all about organizing information in linked format.

  27. April 24th, 2007 | 10:41 am

    Hi Yaro,

    I am eager to enroll in your traffic school forums so that I can share my successes and failures with the community. however, whenever I try to register, the system does not send me a validation email. Is there any way to get this sorted?

    Thanks

  28. May 8th, 2007 | 11:40 pm

    […] Recluse: just stop it if you fit into this category.  If you are posting content to your blog daily and never linking or talking about other bloggers or websites you are a loner and you need to start interacting with other people.  Guess what? Interaction equals traffic! Who knows maybe you are an exceptional recluse jet eye blogger and you do not need the help of others. More insight here because I’m not a Hermit! […]

  29. May 20th, 2007 | 2:42 am

    Hello Yaro,

    I just received my first email from you (I just recently signed up for your Traffic Blog Newsletter.) I really liked it and it lead me to your site here.

    Nice work and keep up the great flow of information. I urge everybody that reads this to sign up!

    Thanks,
    Greg Meares
    www.blueskybrothers.com

  30. June 8th, 2007 | 12:40 pm

    Thanks for providing that information. As a teacher I have lots of works to do at school. I haven’t updated yet my blog everyday, and as I read the article I got some ideas of what to do. Thanks.

  31. June 26th, 2007 | 12:54 am

    I try to do that as often as I can, but I still don’t get many readers. I guess a mommy based domain worked better then a normal every day domain name.

  32. June 30th, 2007 | 7:29 pm

    […] I wondered why. And, I did a lot of searching and found out a post written by Yaro of Entrepreneur’s Journey. It was posted in his Blog Traffic School Prelaunch blog. The post is, Don’t Be An Insular Blogger. It was actually a tip that Yaro submitted at Problogger. […]

  33. July 5th, 2007 | 9:50 am

    I am looking for supportive bloggers who would be interested in joining my contest and its a simple contest to join, so why not give yourself a chance and give it a shot at my $100!Vote for the number of days you would want this contest to last!http://profit-line.blogspot.com/2007/07/cash-contest-of-100-to-giveaway.html

  34. Jon
    July 30th, 2007 | 10:32 pm

    Hi Yaro,

    Darren has a blogging gathering in Melbourne. I dont think I met you there. Maybe you would like to catch up with a great bunch of people. Love this site btw.

    http://blog.meetup.com/378/

    Jon

  35. August 7th, 2007 | 6:59 am

  36. August 9th, 2007 | 8:14 am

    Excellent advice that I think we are all guilty of at times. I’ve found that it’s good to set aside some time each morning while I drink my coffee to surf the blogosphere and comment.

  37. August 15th, 2007 | 11:05 pm

    Yaro,

    I do agree with what you said,
    “…join in with the discussion started by other bloggers.”

    This is one of the key factors in driving more traffic to a business site. By interating with other bloggers, you can provide new insights into different subject matter and inturn entice reader interaction in the discussion. This can be a platform to voice your business expertise and become noticed as an authority in a specific niche. But how will this be known by the reader? Quite simple. Your comments are the direct reflection of your expertise.

    And if done correctly, you can have a new visitor to your website and several more to follow as the traffic increases due to the fact that your comments were well introduced in the subject matter.

    I personally like to take my time when commenting. Why?
    Well, good content information is a direct reflection of your business expertise and people will recognize this key element.

    In any event, write good information and the rest will follow.

    Ivan

    For more information on Business issues visit our site.
    We provide Free business advice, and income opportunities
    by working with Wholesale dropshipper companies.

  38. EK
    August 21st, 2007 | 8:00 pm

    Hi Yaro,
    Have been “blogging” for quite sometime; but after reading your articles; guess I am not doing it right.
    Came across your blogs just recently. What can I say………WOw.
    Great stuffs you got here and there……Lots to learn from you.
    Good advices and tips to go by.
    Honest, sincere ………different from the …..rest….
    Online Business Resources For Beginners

  39. Joi
    August 22nd, 2007 | 5:45 am

    The proverbial nail? I think you just whacked it on the head.

    I get so busy researching, writing, and working that I fail to visit other blogs and make other acquaintances. Now I have a name for it! I’m going to work harder to stay out of this trap. Thanks for a post that I’m certain will do me a world of good.

  40. August 26th, 2007 | 3:30 am
  41. September 1st, 2007 | 4:13 am

    I just want to let you know that I have recommended this blog as part of BlogDay 2007.

    Happy BlogDay!!

  42. September 4th, 2007 | 1:30 pm
  43. jack
    September 7th, 2007 | 12:59 pm
  44. September 7th, 2007 | 10:23 pm

    i agree with you interacting with fellow blogger even your competitors is good for your traffic.

  45. September 8th, 2007 | 8:42 pm

    i agree your advice,yaro.no friends,no traffic.many blogger want to gain traffic but usually they forgot or don’t know how to build relationship with others,so they fail at last.

  46. September 12th, 2007 | 7:20 pm
  47. September 13th, 2007 | 8:56 pm
  48. September 14th, 2007 | 5:04 am
  49. September 18th, 2007 | 7:39 pm
  50. September 19th, 2007 | 1:34 pm

    Excellent post. I will be reading your blogs from now on.

    Feel free to stop by and read mine when you have time.

    http://sleeplessanxiety.blogspot.com/2007/08/have-adventure-of-your-life-keeping-up.html

  51. Pat
    September 20th, 2007 | 1:10 am

    Yaro,

    You the KEWLest

    Pat Crosby

    http://DrinkCRAVE.blogspot.com

  52. September 21st, 2007 | 7:36 pm

    Runescape fits into a gaming category called MMORPG which is an acronym for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. The most distinguishing feature about Runescape is that there aren’t many online games like it. Runescape is a browser based game that is played for free by the majority of its players. It was created back in 2001 and was a relatively new entrant on the scene of MMO games. It has a fantasy setting like most other online MMO games that is adventure based with loads of quests to complete and skills to develop.

    http://www.buy-runescape-money.com
    http://www.buy-runescape-money.com/runescape%20gold.html
    http://www.buy-runescape-money.com/runescape%20money.html

  53. October 1st, 2007 | 5:33 pm

    i agree with you interacting with fellow blogger even your competitors is good for your traffic.

  54. October 4th, 2007 | 11:35 pm

    congragulations on your post at problogger hope mine will be the next

  55. October 8th, 2007 | 2:07 am

    Heck everyone is spamming the comments like crazy…runescape money ?? huh …

  56. October 11th, 2007 | 7:17 am

    Interesting article!
    Thanks

  57. October 15th, 2007 | 10:04 pm

    […] And definitely don’t be this kind of blogger. You probably don’t have the pull of an Andrew Sullivan to pull this off. […]

  58. October 18th, 2007 | 9:52 pm

    Great article! Thank You

  59. October 23rd, 2007 | 2:08 pm

    wow, what a good article i loved reading it

  60. October 24th, 2007 | 4:32 pm

    […] Blogging is more than writing and sharing information with the masses. Publishing a post only starts the heartbeat of growing blog. Yaro Starak says Don’t Be An Insular Blogger, never linking to or talking about other bloggers. Mike Sansone can be heard repeating “Link out at least once in every post.” It’s number 4 on his Blog Posting Mantra. […]

  61. October 26th, 2007 | 7:13 pm
  62. October 28th, 2007 | 3:02 am

    Good advice. Too many bloggers do their own thing without spending anytime visiting other blogs.

  63. Codrut Turcanu
    November 2nd, 2007 | 3:34 am

    This is something I started to think about it… and you’re right Yaro :)

    Why blog alone, we know that we can’t make it online all by ourselves, right? So, from now on, I won’t be an insular blogger anymore… LOL.

    If you have any other suggestions
    or comments, let me know :)

    Cheers,
    Codrut Turcanu.
    “How To Succeed Against All Odds!” Break The Ice!

  64. November 13th, 2007 | 10:16 am

    Blog Review Question 1: Monthly Visits, Page Views

    This is the first of 200 posts covering the blog review questions published here last month.Blog Review Question #1: How many visits and page views does the blog receive each month?Why Blog Traffic MattersBlog traffic and ad revenue tend to…

  65. November 28th, 2007 | 8:17 pm

    Seriously an interesting argument. Still you could also call this “Hermit Blogging”, lol.


  66. December 6th, 2007 | 3:56 am

    You should add some anti-spam addon here or else these spammers will be having hell of alot of fun with commenting here.

  67. Jo Dane
    December 11th, 2007 | 12:33 pm

    It’s simple, but it creeps up on you. All of a sudden you realize it’s been days/weeks/months(!) since you commented on anyone else’s blog whether to add something of interest or just to say hey!

    Yaro, you are one of the few who doesn’t become stale and boring so I think you’re probably NOT an insular blogger.

    We’ve all GOT to share if only for the fresh air and viewpoints. Never know when you’ll get an idea just reading someone’s comments.

    Now all you need is a Freedom Business System and you’re good to go.

  68. December 19th, 2007 | 6:23 am

    my traffic is going steady for the past 2 months or so, and i’ve been active in socializing with other bloggers. but it seems Google did something with our PR’s which make me and other colleagues want to believe that they have control over a blog’s statistics. i don’t know but a year ago, a friend-blogger told me that she didn’t even post for 3 months and did nothing with her blogs but she got a PR 4 still.

  69. December 24th, 2007 | 2:57 pm

    People dont want to post on blogs anymore because all the comments are nofollow so what is the point…

  70. December 24th, 2007 | 2:57 pm

    I agree, if people used dofollow comments would go up.

  71. sgf
    January 10th, 2008 | 11:46 pm
  72. January 16th, 2008 | 2:54 pm

    Your tips are useful to me as a newbie. I am new to blogging and still working things out. So glad to meet you and hope you will be sharing more ideas to newbies like me ;D

    Hye

  73. January 18th, 2008 | 4:09 pm

    Thanks for the heads up! Really great post. That’s a must-read I must
    say. :)

  74. February 1st, 2008 | 10:23 am

    Hi Yaro,

    Love your reference to Patsi’s quote:

    I care enough about the topic to write to an audience of 1. Many bloggers give up too soon. - Patsi Krakoff

    Each of us has a dream - and dreams come from our hearts
    (not the mind). When it comes from the heart - its easy to stay in it for the long haul…

    Keep up great work!!!

    : - )

    To Your Dreams And To Your Abundance,

    Paul Bauer
    www.dreamsalive.com

  75. February 5th, 2008 | 1:44 am

    This is the first of 200 posts covering the blog review questions published here last month.Blog Review Question #1: How many visits and page views does the blog receive each month?Why Blog Traffic MattersBlog traffic and ad revenue ten d to…

  76. February 12th, 2008 | 12:30 am

    I’m in the process of growing my blog at www.4uwebcash.com and the one thing I’ve have forgot while try to get this siteoff the ground, is the fact that you need the support of your fellow blogger to help you with ideas and to tell you if things are not rightwith your site in general. Yaro thanks for looking at my site from MyBlogLog
    Have a good one Keep up the good work

  77. February 13th, 2008 | 1:40 pm

    Thanks Yaro. I agree with what you are saying. I try to always include at least one link to another website when writing my blog. I’m actually really enjoying publishing my posts at http://tombushnell.blogspot.com. Keep up the good work. Incidently wher is your name from?

    Cheers

    Tom Bushnell

  78. February 16th, 2008 | 8:13 am

    You are right about getting out there and meeting people in the blogging community. It is the only way to get your blog to grow.
    http://www.seegeorgiarealestate.com is a site we are wanting to grow.

  79. February 16th, 2008 | 12:28 pm

    I think that principle goes for any business that is seeking growth. You have to network and create relationships in order to prosper. In the book Think And Grow Rich that principle is described as the most essential components to success. Steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie coined it to Napoleon Hill.

    By the way, if anyone would like to do some link or post exchange please contact me. I will be glad to help.

    Rob West

  80. February 26th, 2008 | 2:29 am

    hi Yaro and folks, thanks for reminding how important is to make good network in blogosphere, without making connection to the bloggers community, I think our blogs most probably would be such a waisted. Thus, we could share our opinions and comments to make constructive critics and help others blogging. Same as Rob West, I’d love to do some link or post exchange, please contact me.

    Eri H.

  81. jeep1688
    March 13th, 2008 | 11:40 am

    [url=http://www.163.com]11111111111[/url]
    2222222222

  82. March 14th, 2008 | 6:59 am

    Thanks for providing this information. As a student I have lots of school-related work and I haven’t been updating my blog everyday. This article gave me some ideas of what to do. Thanks!

  83. April 9th, 2008 | 9:30 pm

    The tips are great, real gems of information. Shall sign up for the newsletter right away.

  84. Ken
    April 19th, 2008 | 7:06 pm

    Thanks, this was some good info, for a brand new blogger like myself!

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