Making a name for yourself and standing out from the blogging crowd takes a bit of talent, a bit of luck and a ton of hard work. It has been said that over 90% of all blogs that are started are abandoned well before the year mark. That is a shame because it takes at least one year of constant work to get a blog off the ground. Luckily for me, I am on the heals of my one year anniversary and I am starting to feel that I am breaking through and I have enjoyed some modest success that keeps me going. Let’s face it, as humans we all need some positive reinforcement to push us forward. This is the major reason why bloggers fail, they do not get the positive reinforcement and just give up. I have listed below some milestones that you should hopefully obtain within your first couple of years of serious blogging.
Is your blogging stock rising?
- People are approaching you to guest post on your blog – This is a sign that you are starting to viewed as an authority and will be able to help other bloggers by them posting on your site.
- Advertisers are contacting you directly – This usually happens when you start ranking on page 1 or 2 on Google for strong keywords. A strong Alexa ranking, PR, and subscriber count doesn’t hurt either.
- Other bloggers are asking you to co-author or collaborate on projects - When other bloggers take notice and want to associate themselves with you, you are definitely on your way.
- Social Networks are growing – When your twitter, Facebook and other social networking account are growing exponentially this is another sign that your blog is doing well.
- Google starts to notice you. For me it was like a light switch. One day I was lucky to get a couple dozen organic visits, the next day I am getting hundreds.
- Other blog posts are being read – This is partly attributable to Google pulling up your content in search. It is also a good sign that your visitors are sticking around and reading related posts.
- People want to send you free stuff- I have been contacted several times from people wanting to give me books or scripts or themes with the hope that I will write about them.
- Major sites start to take notice you, For example, Technorati might include your post on the front page of your channel. That example is fresh because one of my posts has been one page 1 on the blogging channel for five days.
- Your blog gets nominated for awards- It is nice when you get nominated and even better when other people vote for you.
- You will see it in your analytics. If traffic, page views, time on site is growing and bounce rate is declining, this is a clear objective way to know your blogging popularity is taking off.
I am very happy and fortunate that I can actually write this post from experiences that have happened to me in the past couple of months. I am hoping that you have achieved these milestones as well. If not, the message is not to give up. Keep on blogging!
What do you think are some signs that you are gaining some authority in the blogging world?
Really inspiring,, I'm just a 1 Month old in this blog world and wish to be like yours one day..
I love your writing style and its description, but if possible do add more post for the New Blogger, just like me..
Wish you best of Luck to you and your Lucky Blog..
My recent post Best Friendship SMS- Sweet line to share with your Friend
Blogin take time, but see your blog rising up and people coming makes you proude
Thats right way to judge yourself on your way to successful blogger , we need to check all the prons and cons regularly.
.-= Webamster support´s last blog ..Two best plugin for Mozilla Firefox =-.
You must be really in blogs business to get an idea what is going on.
This is such a useful blog for those people who want to know about their blogging status.
.-= online forex trading´s last blog ..U.S. Retail Sales Today at 12:30 GMT =-.
i prefer to use google page rank.
.-= Inflatable Swimming Pools´s last blog ..Contact Us =-.
Ahh!
Many many congratulations for all these you’ve started to get. Wish you best of luck and expect you’ll be sharing great tips for the beginners like me to make it easy to follow your path.
All the points you mentioned are no doubt the target of each and every words I write in Internet. I’m not hurried and realize it very well that, as Robert Frost said, ”
Long way to Go, before I Sleep; Long way to go Before I Sleep”
.-= Suresh Khanal´s last blog ..How a New Blogger Should Start? David Risley’s Suggestions! =-.
@Suresh Khanal, Thanks for your nice words. That is a great quote you mentioned and I agree, blogging takes a lot of time and patience. Those that stay with it will be rewarded for their perseverance
@dankeller,
Sure! Your words will always inspire me.
Wow! Technorati put one of your posts on your categories home page? That is awesome. I honestly do not have any of those yet, but as my blog is less than a month old, I think I still have a while to wait.
.-= Tom@Free Squeeze Pages´s last blog ..Your Small List Can Equal Big Profits =-.
@Tom@Free Squeeze Pages,
Hi Tom,
I’m been to your blog and loved it. I’m sure, it won’t take long for you to get success.
.-= Suresh Khanal´s last blog ..Sexy Share Plug-in or Widget for Blogger Blogs =-.
Making a name for yourself and standing out from the blogging crowd takes a bit of talent, a bit of luck and a ton of hard work.
I’ve achieved only 3 in that list. Looks like there is lot more work to be done on my part to build a higher status. Great post
.-= TechChunks´s last blog ..Twitter Can Send You to Jail =-.
You have done a good analysis on this domain. The points you’ve mentioned are so true. Thanks for the post. Do post more related articles. Thank you
Wow… I’m noticing I haven’t lived up to ANY of these yet. (Insert self deprecating chuckle here)
The biggest one I crave is for Google to notice we exist… long time coming, and a lot of hard, consistent work to get there, I’m sure. Will keep plugging away.
.-= Gomez@windshield appointment´s last blog ..There’s another windshield monkey? =-.
blogging, laundry, reading my novel, scripture reading, cycle laundry then bed
and maybe… I’d probably think the status is stupid. But I wouldn’t think anything of the person…
If someones facebook status said this (SEE MORE) what would you think ?
.-= self improvement resources´s last blog ..The increasing importance of men’ health and clothing =-.
Congratulations on your success. Keep up the good work!
.-= Matt@North Atlanta Homes´s last blog ..Details on New Tax Credit Extension =-.
Thanks for sharing! I think you have motivated me to continue my effort for my blog. I just start blogging 3 months ago. I am looking forward to see the 10 points that you mentioned above can really happen in my blog in future.
.-= Kok Siong Chen´s last blog ..Angelman Syndrome – Angel-like Genetic Disorder =-.
Awesome Dan, you deserve it; you really have been putting in the time here.
I have 5 outa 8 (6 outa 9 counting comments) going on that I know of…I really don’t know what Google is up to with me…probably the only one not a stat checking freak. lol
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Have You Given To Haitian Relief? =-.
@Dennis Edell, Oops, 10 not 8 lol.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Have You Given To Haitian Relief? =-.
I’m hoping my blog will soon grow to something this big. I’m sure its something to be proud of and I wouldn’t mind feeling that one day
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Creative GigaWorks T40 2.0 Review: The ultimate sound system! =-.
There’s no doubt that Tycoon Blogger is growing day by day! I also often see you on the front page of Twittley, so you must be doing something right
(I also RT’ed this)
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Twitter Mashup: 100 Megapixel Profile Picture =-.
I just love spreading the word of my blog and getting comments. When someone comments I feel great and so I try and provide the same feeling for someone else by commenting on their blogs.
I feel if anything is better today than it was yesterday something is obviously happening.
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Inspiration, Smart Work, Success | The InfoPreneur =-.
I hope my blog will also soon get his own advertisement or affiliates. nice tips thank you very much
Actually all of these are great indicators, one i would like to add is comments, if you are getting comments on every post and they are growing this is a good sign to in my eyes…
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Flexibility Theme =-.
@Keith, Great point Keith! I think I have more comments on this post then I had in my first 3 months of blogging…
Dan,
Good stuff as always. And I can say I knew you before you were famous! Or at least when you were less famous.
.-= itauditsecurity´s last blog ..Why Hate Auditors? =-.
@itauditsecurity, he says tongue in cheek…
Cool!
Since I haven’t even figured out how to interpret Google Analytics yet – it’s nice to know that BLOG with POWER is exhibiting several of the success factors you mentioned here.
So, yah, my blogging stock does indeed seem to be rising!
You made mt day, Tycoon Blogger!
Thanks!
- Don
.-= Don Power – BLOG with POWER´s last blog ..Then They Came For Me – a Cautionary Tale =-.
@Don Power – BLOG with POWER, You are quickly on the rise Don, it is nice to see. Good luck with the Blogger Luv progect!
@dankeller, Hey Dan!
Not sure how you know about the BloggerLuv project but I’m glad you do!
Thanks!
- Don
.-= Don Power – BLOG with POWER´s last blog ..How to Ruin Your Reputation in One Easy Step =-.
That is good fortune for you.I actually starting to feel it now, some people contact me and send me free stuff and I got my first advertising offer at the first month of blogging, I don’t know how but it happened for real
@lose weight fast, That is awesome…feels good, huh? The harder you work the luckier you get.
Hi Dan,
This info is good to know. I had been wondering how I would know my blog was starting to be more successful.
My blog in about a month and half old. How long do you think it would take to see any signs you mentioned to happen to a new site?
.-= element321 @ Evolutionary Designs´s last blog ..165 Free High Quality Wallpaper =-.
@element321 @ Evolutionary Designs, I would say typically 6-9 months out you should see some of these milestones occur. With the strength of your blog and the fact that I have been seeing you everywhere lately, I predict you will get there much sooner..
Interesting list, and very usefull. I do have some points to work on I see…
.-= Bjorn | iCan’t Internet´s last blog ..Best practices of Twitter =-.
@Bjorn | iCan’t Internet, The cool thing about blogging is the more you do it the better you get.
Hi Dan,
8 interesting indicators
4/5 being felt by my blog after 6 months
Don’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed- but do know there’ a long way to go !
Interesting, thanks
Will
.-= Will´s last blog ..Beginner Blogger.com =-.
@Will, I say be pleased..It’s all good!
I’m from Malaysia and my native tongue is Bahasa Malaysia. My question is, how do we promote blog in other ie. non-english language?
.-= Rainbow Story´s last blog ..Rahsia Bulan Kelahiran =-.
@Rainbow Story, I wish I could help you with that but I have no idea.
I knew some of the ways that are discussed here, but learn some new ones . thank you.
@superior discount coins, you are welcome!
Yep, those are some very important metrics of social blogging, getting listed for an award surely tops the list. I have been asked for co-author blogs and other projects in the past and had hit technorati too, but your authority on technorati is inspiring, its 400+ which is very good, You might get into the top 100 in technorati some day,
among other things the respect in social media and the growth of your brand in it a sure indication of a blog becoming big, congrats
.-= Uttoran Sen´s last blog ..10 Gadgets that Changed the World and Life =-.
@Uttoran Sen, Top 100 would be awesome..I have a long way to go to achieve that, but it is definitely something to strive for. I will be stopping by to check out your blog soon. Intriguing post title..
Great post. I’ve started to feel these by the end of last year
Except that Technorati is still examining my blog (checking my claim) for almost 2 months now
.-= Michael Aulia @CravingTech.com´s last blog ..Is 24 GB memory enough for you? =-.
@Michael Aulia @CravingTech.com, Hey Michael ..good to see you. Good luck wuth Technorati, I guess they really do not have any customer service really.
@Michael Aulia @CravingTech.com, Maybe try to resubmit it? I had this problem when I first tried to register my blog. I could never get it to index. Then I tried again in a few weeks, and the process worked immediately.
They never returned any of my emails. If I were you, I woudn’t wait on a response from them. Keep trying, and hopefully, it will work.
.-= Will@laser hair removal´s last blog ..Hairy Celebrity Slip-Up: Guess Who Bared Hairy Legs on the Golden Globes Red Carpet =-.
Actually, Technorati just accepted my blog a few days ago
Finally!
.-= Michael Aulia @CravingTech.com´s last blog ..Canon EOS 500D =-.
It seems that i still need many hard work to achieve your blog state.
.-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..The Right Website Design Company Can Help Your Business =-.
@Dana @ Blogging Update, Keep on blogging..you will get there in no time Dana.
It’s really a courageous content for the boggers who are doing there best efforts but have been failing to get better results.
#Hesham
That is good fortune for you. You work VERY hard at your craft and you are sure to rise to the top.
This is god to know Dan, I actually starting to feel it now, some people contact me and send me free stuff and I got my first advertising offer at the first month of blogging, I don’t know how but it happened for real
.-= Hesham @ FamousBloggers´s last blog ..15 days what Famous Bloggers need to Brake the 50.000 Alexa Rank =-.