More than 50% of the traffic that comes to The Muslim Blogger is from search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.  While it is critical to have a readership that follows yours blog, it is equally important to get the attention of search engines.  For your blog, this means making sure you place the right keywords.  The question then is – how do you find the right keywords that will bring in traffic from online searches?

Google Keyword Tool (here)
Place in a certain keyword that is related to your blog and Google will generate related words people use when searching for something online.

Keywordfinder (here)
This site generates a shorter list of related terms.  However, it also lets you select the country to get even more relevant results

WordStream (here)
Another keyword tool site that allows you to find related terms.  In addition to that, they also offer some additional services that may interest you.

Do you have any other keyword tools that you use to get your blog noticed by search engined?  If so, share them below and Insha’Allah you will receive reward for any help you provide.

(Photo: kenleyneufeld)

Google Buzz is out there and spreading fast.  In the first 2 days, there were over 9 million buzzes. Participating in Google Buzz hasn’t really become much of an option for many of us – unless you turn it off (you can do this at the bottom of the Gmail page).

If nothing else, we can use Buzz to bring in more traffic to our blogs and  get the word out about our latest blog posts.  Here are 10 plugins and addons to get your WordPress blog buzzing:

Share your latest Google Buzz Feeds/Streams

Google Buzz ER
Google Buzz
Simple Buzz

Place a Buzz button in your posts

Simple Buzz Link
Google Buzz Button For WordPress
Google buzz this Button
WP Google-buzz
Buzz This
Google Buzz It
WPBuzzer

Follow Me Button

This is a picture that you can save to use on your blog (Right Click and Save As).  Edit it however you want and then upload it using either FTP or use this link to directly connect to it:  http://www.themuslimblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Buzz2.png

If you want it in your sidebar, copy and paste this code into sidebar.php wherever you want it to appear.  Make sure you replace the profile link with yours.

<a href=”http://www.google.com/profiles/YOURPROFILEHERE”><img src=”http://www.themuslimblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Buzz2.png” alt=”" title=”Buzz” width=”302″ height=”42″ /></a>

2 Extra Buttons

If you want to customize the Buzz It button yourself for whatever reason and just need a ready to use Buzz image, here are 2 that you are free to save and use on your own blog:

In any case, here’s a question for you – do you use Buzz and has it been helpful tool for you?

There are three stages that a blog goes through: The Spike, The Downfall, and The Plateau.

Just like you guys, I have a lot to learn about blogging and its dynamics.  One thing I do know though is that we cannot be naive in our approach and understanding of blogs.

Blogs are like everything else in life when it comes to growing and maturing: it takes time.

For me, and I assume for many of you, we get really excited about a blog for a few days.  Then, if no comes or if we don’t get flooded with comments – we give up and decide that the blog won’t work or was a bad idea to begin with.

Needless to say, that mentality is the wrong – plain and simple.  So I wanted to take a few moments of your time to explain how a blog works, the trends you’ll see when it comes to visitors, and clear up some misconceptions that exist.

The Spike

If you have a blog then almost all of you can relate to this.  Day one, you launch your blog and, so far, you are the only person who has visited it.  Before you even write your first post (except for the “My New Blog!” post) you are telling everyone about your new blog.  You use your Google/AIM away message, send out mass e-mails, and bring it up in your conversations.

All of a sudden your blog goes from having 0 visitors to have “x” amount of visitors per day.  Sometimes we sit there and refresh the page over and over hoping the counter goes up or that someone left a comment so we can respond to it.  This is the spike and it doesn’t last.

Initially, people come to your blog because it’s a new link to click.   These same people though probably have different interests than you and simply have no reason to return to become a returning reader.  This is normal and is not in any way an indication that your blog sucks or your writing is boring.

This spike and initial enthusiasm usually lasts 2-4 weeks.

The Downfall

This is where most bloggers give up.  Most people you sent the e-mail out to have stopped coming and almost everyone on your buddy list clicked the link at least once.

When you are left with only a small handful of visitors, do not give up!!!

Despite the numbers giving only what seems like bad news, I have good news for you:  This is the lowest point your blog will ever be at.  From here, it’s only growth with an occasional dip.  The readers who have stuck around or begin to come will be there because you both share similar interests.

How long this stage lasts depends on the type of blog you run.  A personal blog make take longer to rise from this stage when compared to something about technology or politics.

The Plateau

Congratulations!  If you’ve made it this far then you held on, remained patient, and will Insha’Allah become a successful blogger.  Most likely you will reach this stage within 9-12 months after starting your blog.  This means that only the truly dedicated will have made it.

By this point, any visitors that start coming regularly seem like a blessing.  Of course, Allah (swt) is the reason we have any success  After Allah (swt) comes your efforts and your writing. Feel good that you made it here because you earned it.

Your blog has now passed the dramatic ups and downs and this period is like a “rebirth” of sorts.  From this time forward you will see a much more steady pace of growth for you blog.

___

The key is to remember that everything takes time and that time means patience.  I ask Allah (swt) to give us all patience and make us successful at whatever we do in life.  Ameen.

Have you ever had an experience where you started a blog and gave it up?  Did you ever meet The Downfall and decide not to give up anyway?  If you’ve already reached The Plateau, what advice can you offer those who are struggling to get to this point?

(Photo: harry harris)

Here are the top 8 blog posts that guarantee traffic:

1.  Resource Lists

It’s no secret that people love lists – especially a list of stuff that will help them.  Put together a list of resources and you’ll find that this post will become a long-term favorite that keeps pulling in the hits.

2.  List of Tips

Chances are that you clicked this post or reached it because it provided tips for the exact thing you wanted.  You can write a list of tips on almost anything and you’ll find someone that can benefit from it.

3.  Best-of Lists

This is perhaps the most popular type.  People always seem to have an interest in a list of the “Top 10…”.  Write a Top 10 list, post a link to it in the comments area in this post, and I guarantee you that you’ll get traffic from this site.

4.  Good Advice

Sometimes people just want sincere advice.  Alhmadullilah, Allah (swt) has blessed each of us with different life experiences.  YOUR life story and what you have learned along the way can help others.  Write something of benefit and perhaps it will be what saves you on the Day of Judgment.

5.  Argue a Popular Point of View

Let me start of by saying this: I do not mean argue against the shari’ah.  What I mean when I say to argue a popular point of view is something like this post for example.  Perhaps you feel that most (or all) of these points are wrong.  Argue it by commenting below or writing your own blog post.

6.  QA’s with High Profile People

If your blog could pull off an interview with someone like Sheikh Yasir Qadhi or Sheikh Yasir Birjas, then it’ll get hits.  Masha’Allah, both of them are very popular right now because of, first Allah (swt), and then programs such as Al-Maghrib Institute.  Next time there is a class, go to it and see if you can get an interview.

7.  Anything with a Killer Headline

Sometimes it isn’t even the writing itself that attracts readers.  Sometimes a post gets traffic just because your title rocks.  For example, let’s say you wrote a post about dealing with depression.  If you title the post “Depression”, it won’t get nearly as many views as something that says “Coping with Depression by Using the Qur’an and Sunnah”.

8.  How-To’s

Lots of times, people are wondering how to do something.  Put together a small online tutorial, a video, or something that helps someone go from A to B.

________

There you go – those are 8 blog posts that guarantee you traffic.  I’d be interested in hearing ideas from you the type of posts you’ve written that have worked for your blog.

A blogger’s dream is to get web traffic.  We want people to read what we write.  We want others to share their thoughts in the comments section.  All of that is good and dandy, but as we all know, it’s not very easy to get traffic…or is it?

The biggest problem we have when it comes to getting traffic is our understanding of the whole thing.  In another post, I’ll talk to you about how traffic works.  For now, let’s just worry about how to get people to come to your site.

Write Original Content

Content is the heart of your blog.  Writing your own posts is crucial to getting traffic.  Biting content off of other people’s blogs simply won’t work.  Sure, you might get some visitors here or there.  But, if you want real traffic then you need to write your own content.

Of course the use of Ayat and Hadith is completely different, but outside of that – people do not want to read the same stuff over and over and over and over…you get the idea.

Be Useful

This goes hand in hand with the writing original content.  When you write, be useful.  Write something that people can use and care about.  Remember, blogging is not about you.  You can include yourself to a certain extent, but your posts need to be written for your readers.

Give your readers practical advice or something that they can truly benefit from.  No one will come to a blog if it doesn’t add anything to his or her life.

Comment on Other Blogs

Blogs are a social creation.  If you read a post you like, then leave a comment there.

Traditional newspapers are one way – the author talks to at you.  Blogs, on the other hand, are meant to be interactive and a continuous, reciprocating relationship between author/reader and reader/reader.

Whenever you comment on any blog, a link is placed back to your site.  The more you comment, the more links there are for people to click.  But remember, people will not be interested to go to your blog if you leave non-sense comments or something like “Great Post”.

Write meaningful comments that contribute to the blog and discussion that is happening.

___________

I’m curious to know what type of tricks you have used to get traffic.  Which blog posts have gotten you the most traffic?  Are there any topics that you cover that always seem to get feedback and comments from your visitors?

(Photo: gorgeoux)