If you are a regular visitor of DatMoney.com, you know I have been emphasizing the potentials of how forums and guest posting can help out your site in more ways than one. But which one truly brings in more traffic?
I am a member of various blogging forums and I have also taken the time to guest post on a few sites; both have helped me out a lot. And although I have yet to guest post on A-list blogger sites that get 10K+ readers each day, I have guest posted for smaller ones with around 1K+ readers a day.
Based on my tracking statistics, forums have brought in a LOT more traffic than from guest posting.
So, how did I determine which one brought in more traffic?
Well, it wouldn’t have been logical to compare the total stats against each other because I have spent a lot more time on forums than I have guest posting on other blogs. Instead, I decided to write one post on a popular forum such as Digital Point and put a simple backlink to my site. I compared the stats I got in one day to the stats I got from one day of guest posting.
Don’t worry, I took the highest totals within one given day. And yes, forums brought in almost four times more traffic in one day than guest posting. Matter of fact, in that one day posting in a forum, I’ve gotten more than the total amount I received from guest posting in general.
I know what you’re thinking, “Well, you’re posting at Digital Point so you should be comparing that to guest posting for Problogger.”
That may be true. Matter of fact, you’re probably right. So, I’m going to compare my guest posting at TylerCruz.com to another forum I use regularly, Bloggeries.
To make it fair, their Alexa ratings are very close to each other (29,244 against 24,511) so that’s a better comparison.
So, instead I took the highest totals from guest posting at TylerCruz.com and compared it to the highest totals in one day from Bloggeries. Still, the forum wins.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve gotten pretty good traffic from guest posting but it wasn’t as much as the traffic from forums. But here are a few things you have to keep in mind:
- Guest posting takes less hands-on work. You simply write a great article, submit it for approval and watch your traffic increase with your reputation.
- Forums are a good way to communicate with other bloggers, but if they sense you are a link dropper (someone who posts a backlink to their site and never comes back) then more than likely you will not get good traffic, if any, to your site.
- Essentially, you have to take your time and post quite a few times before you are trusted enough that you are/will be a regular member. Matter of fact, most forums have a minimum post requirement before testing out certain areas of the forum.
So, when it comes down to it, forums will bring in more traffic… but it will also take a little more time and dedication to get that traffic.
Make sense? Well, I hope so!
Bloggers
Guest Posting
Forums
Traffic
Motive Network...
Alritey…I’ll start posting at the forums mentioned.
Great Post Jay!
I’ve always found forums to be one of my major sources of traffic as well. I’m glad that Bloggeries beat out TylerCruz; who would of thought!?. That’s really interesting and I enjoyed the post thoroughly.
Key to getting LOT’s of traffic from forums is a) making good posts and b) posting in all the different areas of the forum so you gain exposure to everyone.
You think you get decent traffic now Jay - Wait until you break the few thousand post mark which at your average of ~6 posts per day shouldn’t take too long.
You should mention that you must be active. Don’t make 1 post and expect traffic. By being active in forums though there are LOT’s of other benefits. For example I’m sure some of his 313$ in banner design came through connections Jay met in a forum.
Nice way to wake up on a Tuesday and hopefully we’ll see some of you at the forums mentioned.
Trying to linkbait on most forums is a problem because they don’t have a specific sub-forum for you to promote a particular blog post. Instead, some let you display your feed or your latest post in your signature, in this case you leave your post to the mercy of forum visitors and cannot properly promote it.
Guest posting, cannot really trust the feed subsribers number, not sure if even 10% of that number will visit your blog unless your post is really excellent and out of the world…
Just my 2 cents
I personally like guest posting… Never really got into the forums things!!
Heres The Template You Wanted:
http://www.eblogtemplates.com/wp-polaroid-blogger/
- Brad
Wile I won’t argue with the stats aspect of the question, I would like to add that the value of guest posting is more than just raw traffic. There is also the backlink question. As I am not an avid forum user, I can only speak for my personal experience, but many forums that I have visited have the no-follow attribute on all links that I could see, whereas in a guest post, this is often not the case, providing you with a little PR love for your blog.
Thoughts?
Hani - See you there!
Bloggeries - I think a lot of people overlook the importance of forums and how they can help you NOT only with traffic.
But I’m working my way up in the thousand mark, you’ll see soon enough man!
Bobby - Besides the signature and feed link, you have to know how to work it right WITHOUT being all spammy. Once you are considered SPAMMY, then it will hurt you in more ways than one. But the true tips of forums… wait, I think Rob is still here!
Brad - you’re definitely missing out man. If you post like 5-10 times a day, I guarantee you that your traffic while make a good increase DAILY!
Marc - First, thanks for commenting. I have never seen you here, so thank you for visiting.
I think your point can go either way. For instance, Bloggeries forum that I mentioned, it gives you a backlink which I have noticed more and more in my Technorati authorities. Plus, you’ll start seeing your blog in search engines through them.
Honestly, I think the PR is overrated. People take that number WAY to seriously and when it comes down to it, it’s whatever Google wants to do with that number. Plus, the more you expose yourself to a bigger readership, the more you expose your content which usually leads to automatic backlink from sites that liked your article.
Did I make sense? Lol… I hope so.
Jay
DatMoney.com
I’m a newbie and would not expect to be guest posting anywhere soon but I do sent my articles to ezine and blog carnivals. Forums now I do becasse I get good advice. I’m checking out bloggeries now.
Hi, not sure if I’m too late but could u link me too?
I need to try guest posting, and I need to interview some other bloggers. My problem is that I am starting to run out of time. Maintaining a blog is time consuming. I think it’s easier when it’s a personal blog, but when you take on a theme, then you set yourself up for more work.
What are your Alexa rankings?
Dee - Don’t underestimate yourself. There’s a reason you got into blogging, so I’m sure your writing is good enough to guest post… you just need to find the right blog to do that on.
Joker - Link you? As in my “Free Link Love for EVERYONE?” Yes, I’m still doing that but you need to comment on that particular “link love” post so I can keep it organized and add you.
Mrsgrapevine - Hey Buddy!!! Nice to see you dropping by here. But I agree with you, blogs are time consuming, if you’ve been to DatCurious recently, it only gets updated like once or twice a week now.
But my Alexa rating is 139,000ish but it hasn’t updated for the past two weeks so I’m pretty sure it’s lower than that now.
Jay
DatMoney.com
DatCurious.com
Great post! I haven’t yet got into posting on forums. I’m trying to find one I can consistently contribute to, and still reap the benefits from.
Thanks!
Interesting article. I’ve been working forums for some time. I notice a consistent amount of traffic each time I post at a forum, even if it is simply commenting on someone else’s post.
My first guest article on another blog hits Monday. I’m anxious to see the results.
I noticed someone said that so many of the forums have a no-follow policy. I’ve read several interesting articles lately that identified some research that there is still great benefit to posting on locations that have a no-follow policy. That the search engines still count the link into a site.
yes Forums win