When you first launch your blog it will most likely require some external marketing efforts to kick start some traffic your way. Remember that a blog is just a website so it will be important to treat it like a business in order to drive traffic and keep people reading. Here are some ways to start generating some links to your blog so you can start creating some pathways for others to find you.
1. Directories: Yes directory submissions have been beaten into the ground quite a bit but they still add value. Out of the thousands of directories out there only a fraction of those require your presence. There are many older established directories like DMOZ that everyone should be in.
2. Blog Directories: Research all the various blog directories like Blogged.com and BlogCatalog.com and get your blog visible in those. Those blog directories are highly trafficked blogs with people looking for what your talking about.
3. Online PR: Write some press releases and distribute them online announcing the launch of your new blog. This can be done right through various free online PR distribution sites. Some actually allow you to have direct links embedded into the release helping you with your link building.
4. Social Profiles: Launch social profiles for your blog. If you start to develop traffic chances are you will build loyalty and social profiles will allow your loyal readers a place to meet and converse creating a business directory around your business.
5. Social Bookmarking: Tag your best or most popular posts into the social bookmarking websites like Mixx and Digg. This will allow them a bit further of a reach in order to start climbing in search results. Many times the link will start to float around in search results before the actual post will.
