Comments on: The secret underbelly of blogging; why I'm done with linkbait

By: 15 Seconds Of Minor Internet Celebrity | The Definitive Dmbosstone

15 Seconds Of Minor Internet Celebrity | The Definitive Dmbosstone — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:44:38 +0000

[...] site, it gives me some renewed energy and excitement to continue writing. As Penelope Trunk says, you never know what people are going to read and like- so just write whatever you want. Never have truer words been [...]

By: Utah Tech Jobs » Blogging Tips?

Utah Tech Jobs » Blogging Tips? — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:03:46 +0000

[...] Robin Good's Microblogging and LifeStreaming beginner's guide, Penelope Trunk's Why NOT to write for traffic (and Tiffany Monhollon's continuation of that thread with the seven sacred tips to beat blog [...]

By: brip blap » weekend roundup, odd sign edition

brip blap » weekend roundup, odd sign edition — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:46:46 +0000

[...] The secret underbelly of blogging; why I’m done with linkbait » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trun… [...]

By: The Windows Vista 3D Task Switcher | Learn Technology Online

The Windows Vista 3D Task Switcher | Learn Technology Online — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:18:04 +0000

[...] Why I'm Done With Linkbait [...]

By: 27 Secrets to Linking Like a Master Networker at Personal PR

27 Secrets to Linking Like a Master Networker at Personal PR — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:08:19 +0000

[...] 7. Hat tip bloggers you’ve borrowed links or ideas from. If you don’t play nice by giving credit online, it can really mess up your Personal PR. Especially if someone writes a nasty post about it. (Hat Tip: Penelope) [...]

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:01:39 +0000

You said, "I have found that not all traffic is equal." I, too, have found this to be true. The best kind of traffic includes people that are invested and connected to not only the content of the site, but also the author/blogger behind it.

10,000 hits might be impressive…or it might not be. There's much more to consider beyond "raw data" alone.

By: Daniel Dessinger

Daniel Dessinger — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 14:44:13 +0000

Excellent topic! I have wondered what you think about topics relating to SEO and linkbait and such. Based on previous articles, I thought perhaps you just didn't feel the need to really pay much attention.

As the director of SEO for a small interactive agency, I find that it's nearly always easier to optimize and draw traffic for a big name. You, for example. You already draw readers because of your Yahoo Finance and newspaper columns. That's guaranteed, built-in traffic to this blog. It's nice to hear that it hasn't gone to your head. ;)

I've found that it's always a mystery what will draw people to your site, but the title of each piece obviously plays the biggest role. If you ever want to test the real drawing power of your linkbaiting abilities, I'd love to have you write a guest post on CultureFeast.com and then we'll see how many people it draws.

Then again, I'd just like a guest post regardless.

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:27:21 +0000

This is a ridiculous discussion. Blogging is not about your individual posts, it's about you. Individual posts won't get read without a lot of repeat visitors, and unless you're writing about a really tight niche, like wireless trends in Southern Arizona, you've got to make people interested in you, not your subject.

I'm a geek who doesn't really care about HR or career management, but I read this blog because it's written by someone who talks about her marriage, her own job challenges, and is quick to show vulnerability. This makes her likable, makes me receptive to her opinions, and it also makes me want to know what's going on in her life.

I like a lot of what Penelope says, but if she gave the same advice, and said she was the Queen of Human Resources, and plastered links to past TV appearances all over the page, her traffic would be closer to the levels of those thinly-read journalist blogs.

By: Dina

Dina — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:12:34 +0000

I see it for myself,that you never know which post is going to catch the attention of the blogers and bring traffic to the site.

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:13:51 +0000

Great post Penelope. It's both inspiring and practical. Blogs are like stocks. You never know which ones are going to take off. It's decided by the people who are beyond our control.

So write to the best of your abilities, and write what your gut tells you to.

I suggest, for those looking to become professional bloggers, to write several blogs, if they can, and see which one is the most popular.

for instance,
I write
http://daphnespears.blogspot.com

and

http://careerpeople.blogspot.com

two radically different blogs, both with their own niche.