If I had a dollar for every time I (figuratively) banged by head against the wall while learning blogging, I would be rich.
It’s no wonder bloggers get stressed out and aren’t always sure how to grow their blog.
In yesterday’s post we learned how addictive we become to spikes in traffic created by social networking sites.
But have you ever done any research on how many social networking resources there are?
I did, and I may have only touched the tip of the iceberg.
Today’s Lesson
Wikepedia has a huge list of social networking websites (approximately 125). They include sites such as Buzznet, Couch Surfing, Linkedin, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and many more.
Of the big shooters, Facebook reports:
* More than 70 million active users
* Facebook is the 6th most-trafficked website in the world (comScore)
* Facebook is the 2nd most-trafficked social media site in the world (comScore)
According to the data on Wikipedia’s site, MySpace claims 110,000,000 registered users, and Windows Live Spaces reports 120,000,000.
I’m not done yet.
Lets jump to another class of social networks.
This list is the result of a link Kaye (NBOTW) shared with me.
On Social Maker.com you can join up to 47 social bookmarking sites. These include Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Propeller and Spurl, just to name a few.
Whew!! That’s exhausting.
And there is more (+/- a duplicate or two), as neither list included MyBlogLog, Blog Catalog, or Squidoo.
Add to that, bloggers who strive to get their blogs listed in Technorati’s “top 100″ blogs.
So the question becomes, what will work best for YOU?
Do you do what others do, or do you venture out on your own, researching each social networking website to determine if you want to be a part of that specific community.
It’s a tough choice, but it’s a choice only YOU can make.
Today’s Assignment
How have you determined which social network works best for you?
Do you allot a specified amount of time for time spent on social networks?
Has it helped get your blog found?
Do you think it’s important to join multiple social networks, or is what you’ve done enough?
Photo Credit: ©aius’ photostream
Hi. I'm Barbara Swafford and I'd like to welcome you to Blogging Without A Blog. Grab a seat, share your thoughts and join in the conversation. 
Have you ever joined a sales company that ended up being a pyramid scheme? I did. The one I joined had something to do with phone cards. I don’t remember the details, but from experience, I learned, if sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Today’s Lesson
Bloggers can gain more traffic by forming pyramids.
How, you ask?
Think about it.
You have a blog.
Someone “finds ” you, and comments.
Blogging etiquette steps in, and you go to their blog, and reciprocate with a comment.
While on “their” blog, you see a comment from another blogger that intrigues you, so you go to their site.
On that site, you may leave a comment, or may find another comment that leads you to yet another blog.
Soon, based on one person’s comment, you venture further into cyberspace, via blogs.
As more people comment on your blog, the process repeats.
You leave comments and other bloggers follow the crumbs, and find their way back to you
If you were to draw it out, it mimics how a pyramid scheme works
In blogging, you don’t hear it being called a pyramid. (Pyramid schemes involve the exchange of money.)
In blogging, it’s called community.
Small communities form and soon intermingle with each other.
You see it in blogs and social networks.
The bigger your pyramid, the higher your traffic.
Today’s Assignment
Have you ever thought how expanding your community forms a pyramid of sorts?
Do you see how important it is to network with other bloggers?
Have you noticed an increase in traffic as your pyramid grows?
How big is your pyramid?
Photo Credit: Wikipedia