I just read a great post today on increasing your blog traffic over at Dad's Corner here at HSB. While he has a great list of good suggestions (check them out!) I thought I'd comment on #6, using signature lines in your personal email.

As Steve comments, "If your friends don't know about it, they won't tell others about it!" So true!

I've found making use of signature lines to be extremely effective, and not just in emails but in any forums you may visit as well. I've been a long-time member of the Sonlight forums and, though I don't post too frequently, I'm recognized as a "regular". We receive a good deal of sales from Sonlight forum members checking out our business in my signature line and then posting about their positive results with our product. As a warm and encouraging community they are eager to support their own members. And I am grateful!

I don't know how many blogs I've checked out here at HSB because Sonlight members have posted a link to their blog in their signature line. My blog link is included in my signature line as well. Trust me, it's worth it!

And, if you're like me, your friends are sometimes the last to know what you're up to with your business. I often feel they might find that information boring or that I might appear "bragging" and so don't mention certain specifics. Through linking to my blog and website my friends can check in on my business and personal life easily, without me feeling like I'm burdening them.

In fact, just Friday I was blessed by a friend reading my blog. I've had a terrible allergic reaction to my daughter's new Guinea Pig and was looking for an air purifier. I'd looked on ebay and made requests on Freecycle to no avail. I hadn't yet mentioned to my friends that I was looking for one. Friday, a friend I was meeting for a Bible study, emailed and said, "I have an air purifier I'm not using if you'd like me to bring it over." She'd read my blog. See! Great way to get the word out.

If you don't currently use a signature line with a link to your blog, website or business it's well worth a few minutes of your time to put one together.

Dena Wood

Research Consultant, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Comments

I've been afraid to do this on message boards

5:20 AM, Jan. 30, 2006, posted by iluvtheland

because I had a very bad experience doing so on one. Is there anyway to know before you break a rule that is buried in fine print somewhere or not in any obvious place, which boards do and don't allow this? As a small business owner, I worry terribly about being banned from the various chat boards and message boards after having this nearly happen. I'd love to hear more about other people's experience doing this, and what boards they have done this on with no problems.
I do know that I have had lots of people just drop by to visit my blog and my business site from sig lines in emails and more casual boards that I am on. Lots of those people have become regular visitors and also customers. So I know that this works. I just don't want to upset any "powers that be" on some of the bigger boards.
Would love feedback. TIA,
Kathy

Hi Iluvtheland!

8:39 AM, Jan. 30, 2006, posted by julie

Most message boards don't like you advertising your business with your sig line...but with a sig line that says"Come peek in on my life!" or "Visit my Blog!", you're not necessarily advertising your business (even though you might get a click-through from your blog to your business web site).

The majority of people on these lists WANT good information shared with them!

Actually...

9:09 AM, Jan. 30, 2006, posted by redmom

I had that very same concern so had NOT used links to my websites or blog in my message board signature. However, one of the board moderators actually suggested it and assured me that it was OK.

Now, I don't have any advertising, just the links to my website & blog. And, even if you were afraid to link to your business website, blogs aren't generally seen as advertising. (Let folks get to your website from your blog)

Dena Wood

Oops!

9:12 AM, Jan. 30, 2006, posted by redmom

I'm seeing that I didn't necessarily answer your question. There are two things I would do. First, check out other folks' signatures. Do they have links? If you don't find many, as a board moderator what is acceptable. Hope that helps!

Dena Wood