Focus on blog content first, traffic second. This is the advice I read in a recent post by Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers. While I largely agree with his five recommendations for producing posts, a content-only focus—even in a blog’s earliest phases—is short sighted. 

Of course your blog needs solid content. But leaving traffic worries for another day is like opening a restaurant without considering publicity, location, decor, service, or neighborhood tastes. You’ll either fail, or work your bum off making up for lost time. 

Great, even superb, blog content is pointless if it exists in a vacuum (unless you’re writing for writing’s sake, but don’t fool yourself). You have to simultaneously compose and promote your blog.

You need more than good content. You gotta have good blog bones if you’re serious about attracting readers. 

Assuming you have chosen a blogging format and topic, here’s a game plan that will build those bones and instill traffic-friendly habits into your daily blogging routine. Continue reading →