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I'm in the process of changing from Tumblr. It was a good start-up medium, but now I am looking for a place to express my thoughts, concerns, etc. My blog is about culture, fashion, history, politics, religion and how it affects out society specifically relating to Africa. Has this been done? I've been on for only a couple days and I don't seem to be getting much traffic if any at all.
The blog I need help with is deeplyrootedsolidlyplanted.wordpress.com.
You have to be patient. Post the links onto your Facebook and other social networking sites. It doesn't matter if 'it has been done' because there is so much out there it's highly likely that yes many other people have already been there done that. But you've gotta aim to make it your own and put your own twist on it. Even if it is similar, it's very unlikely to be exactly the same.
Ask family and friends to post the link to your blog too. :)
TimeThief has some wonderful hints for increasing traffic - it takes time to build a readership. If you look through some threads in this forum I am sure you will find some of her posts! One is here: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/i-want-friends?replies=8
Reading other blogs that interest you and commenting are always good networking.
Social networking has helped my traffic stats. I enjoy reading others blogs and linking, liking etc. Be patient.
As the others pointed out, EVERYTHING'S been done before, so don't worry about that.
I don't do the social network thing at all. I merely try my best to write like no one else. I basically have all the traffic I want. If I had thousands of readers, or dozens of comments to deal with each day I would just get anxious.
It all comes down to why you are blogging. It seems to me many people do it with no clear understanding of what they wish to achieve by it, no focused viewpoint, and no plan for where they want it to go over time.
@invisiblemikey ... good point, you have to ask yourself most importantly 'why are you blogging?' I blog because I like to write, and I like people to read what I write, and the places I see.
Find a focal point and stick with it. And be patient.
@ deeplyrootedsolidlyplanted - whatever you write is going to be in your own voice, so don't worry about whether or not it's been done before. As for getting traffic, a few days of existence for a new blog isn't long enough to get any traffic really. It takes time. I've got a lot of subscribers but have been blogging here for just over two years (and have been blogging - but not on WordPress) since 2003) and it took a good few months for me to get much traffic at all to my blog.
The most important thing is to make connections with other bloggers, which means finding other blogs to read and to comment in, and to make connections with whoever comments in your own blog: reply to comments, it's important even if you don't think it is.
Also Timethief who is a brilliant blogger here on WordPress has some great posts in her own blog One Cool Site and here in the forums that will help you. Here's a recent thread that's got info in it from her that should help you: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/how-can-i-encourage-comments-and-discussion-on-my-blog?replies=16
Everyone's advice is definitely appreciated and surely useful. I feel more confident about my topics and I also know that I should be patient. I'm blogging to learn things for myself, but I also want to show people the things I have learned and give an outsiders take on the big picture.
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