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6 Ways to Improve Navigation and Increase PageViews

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There have been numerous posts written by many people on how to increase traffic to your Blog. This “How To…” is for after you have gone through all of the basic steps such as SEO and Linking etc.

Once you have gotten people to come to your site, how do you get them to stay?

Navigation…

Most Blogging platforms leave a lot to be desired in helping your readers find anything on your site other than the landing page and Archives listed by week or month. Here are some simple steps to help visitors find things that they may be interested in or if they want more information on something you may have written previously.

~~ Use Categories. Not every platform (especially Blogger) has the capability to enable Categories. They give a quick reference to what other Subjects you have written about that may interest your reader. I explained in a post a while back on how I Added a Category List to my Blogger Blog.

~~ Intra-link. There are a lot of times you’ll find that you had written something previously that is relevant to your current topic. If that is the case, provide a link within the text (as I did above) to that information so the reader doesn’t have to go looking for it.

~~ Related Posts. After you have been writing for a while, there is usually something in your archives that you know about that will provide additional information or is related to the subject in some way. Put these links at the bottom of your post as a reference source.

~~ Recent Posts. Not every platform and template provides for a list of your most recent posts, in that case you will want to add some type of Plug-in. Luckily, I didn’t need one but you want a reader to know what had been written recently. Most will allow various amounts of days shown, I set mine for 7 days.

~~ Recent Comments. I found the bdp-comments Plug-in to show comments on different posts and the author in decending order. There are many variations out there. If readers see that other people are commenting, they may be tempted to join in and voice their opinion.

~~ Link to Series’. Most likely you have written at least one series of posts on a particular subject. In that case, you don’t want them to get lost. Put a link to the First post in the sidebar and make sure you have links on each post, one to the next (if you use Blogger). I found the In-Series Plug-in for WordPress that simplifies the process.

These are not the only ways to improve page views and length of time visitors spend reading your material. Can you add to the list?

Related Posts:

How to put a Category List on Blogger Blogs

Installing the In-Series Plug-in

Some Differences Between WordPress and Blogger

This is part of Darren Rowse’s How Too… Group Writing Project.


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    September 18th, 2006 at 03:06pm | Posted by Joe | Basics, Blogging, Community, Organization | 40 reader remarks | Print This Post

    « This Weeks Helpful Reads… Week 23 | | Is Someone Hijacking My E-mail? »

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    40 Reader Remarks

    1. I have found that Group Writing Projects help out alot. I have posted my “How to” at http://www.dipnoi.org/archives/category/salvation/ if you want to take a look

      Input by Scott Howard | September 18, 2006 @ 7:14 pm

    2. Hey Scott,

      Thanks for stopping by. I have participated in the writing projects since Darren started them (I think) and they help in a lot of different ways, not the least of which is getting to meet new people and find new resources.

      I’ll check out your post as soon as I’m through writing this comment.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 18, 2006 @ 7:32 pm

    3. How about tagging posts as well? I found a lot more people stayed longed and navigated around my site by clicking on tags and viewing related entries.

      Nice post BTW :)

      Input by Katy | September 19, 2006 @ 7:50 am

    4. Hello Joe, I like you How To. I have done all the typical SEO stuff and I found your post to be really helpful. I am trying to customize my template to my liking. I also posted a how to. How to Keep Your Relationship Healthy With Your Wife. Have a great day! Again, thanks for the great how to.

      Input by Matt | September 19, 2006 @ 8:33 am

    5. Hey Katy,
      Good thought, I had just used tags as an SEO strategy for people to track certain terms.

      We can make that #7. I’m sure there are more, I’ll keep working on it.

      Thanks,

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 19, 2006 @ 9:03 am

    6. Hey Matt,

      Thanks for the compliment. I think if you customize your site to your liking, I’m sure others will enjoy it as well.

      I’ll have to check out your How to post, if you noticed the series I just started Working Together (Separately), my wife is moving her business into the basement of our house.

      I’ll need all the help I can get. ;-)

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 19, 2006 @ 9:10 am

    7. All great tips. Wordpress has plug-ins to do most of those automatically, which saves on my workload ;). Our list is up as well if you’d like to check it out!!

      Input by MamaDuck | September 19, 2006 @ 10:37 am

    8. Hey MamaDuck,

      I use a few plug-ins here, but I have quite a few links for plug-in downloads on one of my other Blogs. Joe’s Freeware Finds

      I check out your post in a little while.

      Thanks,

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 19, 2006 @ 12:57 pm

    9. Very informative…I’m heading to read the blogger blog list post you did!

      Input by Jersey Girl | September 19, 2006 @ 1:14 pm

    10. Hey Jersey Girl,

      I wrote that after I went through the whole process of creating a Category list on my old Blogger Blog.

      It was a lot of work, but it really did help increase page views even back then.

      Good luck,

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 19, 2006 @ 1:38 pm

    11. Excellent suggestions. I’m going to have to read your Blogger Category post. Thanks!

      (Found you through Problogger)

      Input by Northern Girl | September 19, 2006 @ 1:52 pm

    12. Hey Northern Girl,

      As I mentioned to Jersey Girl, it takes a lot of work to accomplish the objective, but it really is worth it.

      Thanks,

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 19, 2006 @ 2:02 pm

    13. I’m in the process of switching to wordpress. I will definitely incorporate these ideas - thank you!

      Kelly
      Listening to your kids

      Input by Pass the Torch | September 19, 2006 @ 10:55 pm

    14. Good How To. I love the wordpress plugins, too. It makes it so much easier to incorporate advanced and useful features. I’m about to add the related posts plugin. Thanks for the tips!

      P.S. My how to is posted here.

      Input by Ray Dotson | September 20, 2006 @ 7:17 am

    15. Hey Kelly,

      I am sure you won’t regret the move, I know it has only helped me.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 20, 2006 @ 8:58 am

    16. Hey Ray,

      Thanks,ever since I moved from Blogger, the plug-ins have made my life easier.

      That related posts plugin sounds interesting, I intend to look into that one myself.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 20, 2006 @ 9:04 am

    17. I think I’ll get that Link to Series plugin, I have a series of sorts going on in my blog. Thanks!

      Input by TechZ | September 20, 2006 @ 9:21 am

    18. The series plugin rocks! Makes a big difference in how I think about writing my blog now.

      My how to is up.

      Input by Graham English | September 20, 2006 @ 9:46 am

    19. Hey TechZ,

      It isn’t really that hard to use. You may figure out how to make it work right on the first go round. ;-)

      It took me a little adjustment, and I still don’t have it the way I want it.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 20, 2006 @ 10:07 am

    20. Hey Graham,

      I really like it, gave me a little trouble at first, but I think it’s a great addition.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 20, 2006 @ 10:09 am

    21. Hi Joe - fantastic post. I’ll definitely be linking to it in my “review” of the project. It fits in beautifully with my blog’s topics (I’m an SEO/Internet Marketing chick.) ;)

      Here’s my post: Write a Directory Submission That Gets Accepted. Thought you might be interested in it since we have similar targets! :)

      Input by Anubis Marketing / Lara Kulpa | September 20, 2006 @ 12:05 pm

    22. Hey Lara,

      I did see your post, and guess what… I already have it on my list for work at home related post of posts.

      Thanks for the compliment, and hope to see you again.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 20, 2006 @ 3:17 pm

    23. Ditto, Joe! Thank you!
      I’ve subbed to your feed - what a great resource site you have!

      Input by Anubis Marketing / Lara Kulpa | September 20, 2006 @ 3:19 pm

    24. Aw, Pishaw…
      I just try to help out a little. ;-)

      Thanks,

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 20, 2006 @ 3:36 pm

    25. Some very good tips things that I will for sure be using

      Input by Glen | September 23, 2006 @ 9:06 am

    26. Hey Glen,

      Thanks, I found they work well for me, hope they work for you too.

      Joe

      Input by Joe | September 23, 2006 @ 10:05 am

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