Let me start with a nice fat check… I mean fact: This book made me $1.000. Yes, you read that correct, one thousand US dollars and I am not talking about affiliate sales.
Blog Post Promotion Guide – works!
Of course the fact that it was written by Kristi Hines is a proof itself, but there is more to it.
Kristi won more blogging contests than I knew there was and she is revealing all of her secrets on how to do it.
Note: You are reading an edited book review that I posted when Kristi first published this book, now updated with info from the 2nd edition.
The awesome book I am talking about here is Kristi’s master piece - Blog Post Promotion: The Ultimate Guide.
Why do I recommend Blog Post Promotion book?
In March 2011. I entered a big traffic generation blogging contest and the post promotion lasted for pretty much two months. I had the luck to get this book as a gift from my husband as soon as it was published and it made all the difference in winning the contest.
I was pretty much a beginner with not many connections in the blogging world, but applying the tips from the book got me to the first place and I won the contest. Along with $1.000.
I know how valuable this book is for situations like those. So, before you decide to enter a contest, do yourself a favor and get the book.
Kristi won 5 out of 6 contests she entered (she came 2nd in one) and who is more qualified to tell you how to promote your blog posts than her?
Well, the book is perfect for contests because you need to promote those posts like crazy. It is also great for promoting your own articles or guest posts.
Let’s avoid the misunderstandings
Let’s make some things clear before we go any further.
This book is not for promoting your blog in general. Some tactics are really specific and the point of the book, as the title says, is Blog Post Promotion. Sure, you can apply the strategies to every post you write, but that would definitely be too time consuming. You should use this one on those special posts you want everyone to know about!
Also, this book is not for complete newbies. It will not explain in details how to set up your social media profiles or how to connect with people. It shows you great, unique and advanced strategies you can use to create crazy amounts of traffic and engagement on your posts.
Does it really work?
It sure does. I wish I read it a month or two before the traffic generation contest.
That would give me more than enough time to prepare for my post promotion. The main thing being – connecting with more people and creating my own network. Still, I was catching up with some of the tips and saw results as soon as I implemented them.
I haven’t even used all the tips at the time since I was not using some of the stuff you need to implement them, but the ones I was using were bringing results.
My favorite 3 things
#1 One of my favorite tips is related to Blogger outreach, as Kristi calls it. It is related to the round ups many of us make.
You know that the blogosphere is very big and that no blogger can catch up with all the great blogs out there. Well, if you wrote a great post you think deserves to be in a round up, contact the blogger.
I tried this by contacting Kristi herself about my SEO 101 post and, guess what – it worked. She included my post in her Fetching Friday and it was the first time ever.
If I hadn’t told her about my post, who knows when and if she would ever link to me. She probably had no idea about my blog all together. She linked to more of my posts since, so the outreach definitely opened the door for me on her blog.
If you have great posts that need promotion, you can always contact me and tell me about them. As you know I have a bi-weekly round up and I am always searching for great posts to put in it.
#2 Another thing I like is how Kristi is explaining how to include the link to your guest post via Comment Luv. I have built hundreds of links to my contest post at the time, using this strategy. In this 2nd addition Kristi just published, you will find updated information about using the new CommentLuv plugin.
#3 Using Livefyre to build links. Livefyre commenting system attaches your last post in the comment if the blog you are commenting on has it enabled (similar to CommentLuv). But to be able to use it, your blog has to be using the same system. Unless you know the trick.
The trick she uses to build links with Livefyre, even though her blog isn’t Livefyre enabled, just shocked me. The creativity Kristi uses to build links and promote her posts is amazing.
There are many more things I like about Kristi’s book, but I will let you discover them while reading it.
Post bullseye
Blog posts need specific strategies when it comes to promotion. Guest and contest posts require special attention.
Popular guest posts usually mean that more people will ask you to write for them. And popular contest posts mean you can win some money.
So instead of thinking “How to do it?”, just make it easy on yourself and get this Ultimate Guide to Blog Post Promotion.
Hi Brankica!
I’ve been catching you around the blogosphere everywhere I turn, it seems! It’s been nice. =)
I must say, Kristi over a Kikolani has become one of my personal heroes. Happy as I am to say, I have a copy of her amazing ebook and it’s already been such a miracle-worker for me. It’s helped me to do quite a hardcore evaluation of my blog, and it’s been an inspiration for me to see new ways I can take my blog posts and maximize them. Not only that, but new directions I can take my entire blog that I never would have thought of if not for the things I learned in her book.
It’s awesome! I send her thanks every day. Well, in my mind. Not the creepy cyber-stalker kind of thing. =)
Delena
I told Kristi I am becoming her stalker
I think, although the book is written on a specific topic that, as you just said, can be used in many different ways and you can get so many ideas from it.
I am glad you already read it cause it really is a great piece of blogging art
Hey Brankica!
Thanks for this review. I expected a quality product from Kristi, but I haven’t had time to see what her new book is all about. I’m so glad you highlighted the things you liked most because they sound like very valuable portions of the book to me. I’ll be sure to check it out.
Thanks again!
I do have to say there are many more things I like. Heck I like the whole book. But I wanted to highlight my favorite parts because I am using them now to promote my contest posts.
I am at the moment also working on setting up all the things I haven’t had to start with (certain types on connections) so I can use them next time I have a post to promote.
+1 to what you said Brankica. I purchased the ebook and though I’m not trying to promote a single blog post, I know even more about how to do it. I also agree with you that it’s not for beginners – you have to be putting out awesome content already. Without the awesome content you can promote all you want and you won’t get any love. It always starts and ends with that.
So to anyone reading this comment definitely take Brankica’s advice and buy a copy. If you don’t get at least one awesome idea from it read it again, and this time don’t skip anything.
I think if I didn’t have this contest going on (which I am using the tips for now) I would pick a post on my blog and run a campaign on it.
I plan to write more detailed “pillar” articles in the future and this book is the perfect guide how to get them out there.
Glad you liked it as well
Thanks so much for your awesome review!
I actually do know about your blog, and one of the things I used to do was subscribe to my readers blogs. I’ve just been super swamped and not keeping up with that like I should (so many blogs, so little time kind of thing) – but I just took care of it on yours.
Just visited your post on FB – looks like you’re rocking that contest right now! Good luck!
Thanks for the comment over there and here
I try to follow my readers’ blogs as well, but the more people you have (and I bet you have several times more than I do) it just becomes more difficult to keep up.
I guess we will have to invent a 30 hrs day soon, lol.
More like impossible Bran!
There are few better out there than Kristi Hines. Love that you shined the light on her here Bran.
I knew I had to get this ebook, I just hadn’t done it yet. Time to correct that oversight it seems.
I guess I’ll find out how much of a newb I am once I get my hands on it
Now watch I’ll get it and the whole thing will be written in greek to me, then I’ll just bug you for help Brankica, so there’s something for everyone to look forward to, lol…
OK, John, if you find Greek words in the book, I promise you can bug me as much as you want
Is that a deal?
You know, I knew almost all the stuff/tools Kristi mentioned in the book BUT the main thing, that is new to most people (and sure was new to me), is How to use it. There are some great strategies there I would never think of.
It is like someone telling you you can make money with Twitter. You know about Twitter, but how the heck do you make money with it, lol.
Also, love what you did in your sidebar for promoting your contest post. The last time I entered a contest, I even added some custom code for a Twitter button (using Topsy) and Facebook like button for that post under the graphic. I knew the Topsy button worked because I used a specific bit.ly link and modified title so I could tell when people used that button.
I was wondering if it would work, just came up with the idea cause what best way to put it in front of people, right?
I will have to look into that idea, I hate playing with code cause I usually mess things up, but that is worth a try!
Thanks for both comments and tips!
Kristi is one blogger that I’ve been following since very near the beginning of my own blogging adventure. I’ve watched her grow into what she has become today and it’s been amazing. She’s talented and a very good writer that seems to find those topics that are missing out there and need to be said.
I purchased this ebook day one and have not finished trying to soak up all the information. I’ve started putting a few things into action though.
I made sure to add your Traffic post to all the social circles I participate in. It’s THAT good…well done!
Hey Wayne John,
thanks for the comment. I agree about all that about Kristi with addition that she is really nice in connecting with people.
I read the whole book so I can start implementing those tips, but I saw many things I need to do as I go, like create some of the connections she mentions.
So I plan to go through it many more times and drain all the tips I can drain from it
Also, thanks so much for helping me promote that post, I would love to be one of the winners, it is my first contest.
Hi Brankica
You must really be impressed with Kristi’s book cos I know you don’t just promote for the sake of promoting. Sounds like you have picked up some useful tips too
Also, I like how you do honest reviews and say it is not for newbies and what it doesn’t do as well as what it does. Maybe I’ll wait awhile then cos although I’m not a newbie, I feel I am with a lot of things you all can do and I’m still in learning mode about
As a friend of mine often says: Slow and steady wins the race. I sure come into that category and am slowly grasping the many things I need to know to take my blog and my business to the next level.
Thanks for your review Brankica.. Appreciated.
Patricia Perth Australia
Hey Patricia,
I told you about the book the other day and realized after thinking about it how it can help everyone that are reading this blog.
It is definitely not for newbies in sense that although you can easily follow instructions on how to do stuff, you have to have a “support group”. Groups of people that are ready to help and promote your post, for example.
After you are done with your project, we will talk about this book. I know exactly when will be the right moment for you to read it, lol.
Thanks for the comment!
Brankica, aloha. The book is amazing. It is so packed with information and resources that it is a must have resource.
Interesting that you commented on reaching out to other bloggers and telling them about appropriate posts you have. When I was reading the book I thought how much sense that made.
You said it so well, no need for me to keep repeating. I agree with you, everyone needs to buy it. Great review. Aloha. Janet
You know, I knew about that reaching but never really thought of doing that. I always thought how I don’t want to be rejected or something.
But then I realized it has to be easier than I thought cause Kristi made it sound so easy. I decided to write a long, detailed post and asked her to include it. And she did.
I do know round ups are really great cause Ingrid included my posts several times and I got great people coming from Nitty Griddy, but I was not confident enough to ask for it myself.
That is why I told my readers on more than one occasion to suggest good posts to me.
Like you said, the book is great and there is nothing more to say about it
kikolani knows how to make most from the least and this book teaches about how to get maximum exposure and get instant traffic. thanks for the review of this great book
More than welcome, I loved it so much and found it extremely useful!
Hey Brankica,
Thanks for sharing a great review. I couldn’t agree with you more, Kristi is sharing golden nuggets. I find the ebook very helpful.
Just like you, I wish I had it a while before the contest to be well prepared. We’ll know exactly what to do next time.
You have done really well, promoting your contest entry. It goes without a saying, that you have won the contest – congrats!
All the best,
Mavis
Oh well, I’m too late… I already have Kristi’s ebook and she really excelled on this one. So, now I understand why your contest entry is getting all that attention, lol. And BTW, if you ever decide to guest post on my humble blog, I will appreciate the “tons of traffic” you can bring
Word.
Kikolani is INCREDIBLE. I mean, Kristi (I thought her name was Kikolani for the longest!) –> loser
She taught me about ComLuv, and that ONE tip (her HubPage on it is priceless) “invented” my own blog.
I just bought hosting this weekend for 6 mo’s and had to buy some other off-line thangs, so I can’t get it just yet, but I’m drooling after your review…
Darn it…maybe I can ask Hostgator for a $37 refund?…I hate waiting for something this good…
Lol, I am with you. Hey it’s always like that when you start, and the blog just asks for more and more money. But I am pretty sure you will be reading this book in no time.
You are not a loser as far as the name goes, cause I think there are many of us who thought her name was Kikolani
Thanks for the awesome comment, James.
Okay…you convinced me. Just purchased.
I’ve always been a strong supporter of Kristi and she has always supported me in the same manor. I’ve been working with her now for about 5 months with the Blog Engage RSS Services Specifically the Business plus Membership and so far I think she’s been enjoying it. It’s been such a pleasure having her as a Blog Engage members, guest blogging on our community blog and joining our contests. She’s the real deal in the blogosphere and I’m sure this is only the start of hearing her name everywhere.
You know Brankica perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to see you doing an article about blog engage and our rss services? Crossing fingers and wishing for the best.