How to Get Blog More Publicity / Build Readership Base?

[astrostu]

Hi folks, I started a blog almost 2 months ago and I make pretty regular entries (except when I was out of town at conferences). So far, though, my readership is pretty flat with a median daily read of 13 people.

The purpose of my blog is basically meant to be an educational tool exposing how people screw up astronomy.

If any of you happen to have successful blogs out there with a large readership (that aren't personal diary-type blogs), how did you go about building a sizable readership base?

 

[arn]

if you're even marginally serious about it, get a domain name.

arn

 

[Abstract]

Nudity.

 

[TheAnswer]

Put a link in your signature and in your user profile for starters. Same goes for other forums or social websites you frequent. Try to do as much of this passive marketing as possible. Of course, the more astrology oriented forums that you are a respected member in, the better.

A related hint would be to change up your signature when you update your blog. Put a catchy phrase or question in front of your blog link. Something like:

Han Solo: Ace Pilot, World-Class Physics Moron - PseudoAstronomy

On a design note - your blog is very text heavy. So some pictures or graphics would help keep people's eyes on the page.

You've picked a very niche topic, so keep in that in mind and work on making your observations understandable on some level by laymen. That means using pictures and graphs that give them a relatable understanding. Keep the equations for the serious astronomers that will visit your site; However, understand that, if you want a huge audience, you'll have to provide some equivalent method of understanding for the average person.

 

[chilipie]

Bigger text and/or a fixed width layout would be a start. It hurts my eyes trying to read that.

 

[edesignuk]

To be blunt...

...it looks horrid, and is seemingly about a relatively highly specialised area. Aside from a few friends and online friends from other like minded websites, I don't really see how you could possibly build up much of a user base with this.

Nudity.

This will undoubtedly help ( . )( . )

 

[wordmunger]

Become a part of the wider community blogging about your topic. Join blog carnivals, offer to host carnivals, comment on related blogs, link back to your blog posts.

... oh, and a bit of shameless self-promotion: Join researchblogging.org.