Ratified.org Blog

October 20th, 2008

5ThirtyOne – Philippines Top 100 Blogs for 2008

One of the blogs that got included in this year’s Philippines Top 100 Blogs for 2008 is 5ThirtyOne. Derek Punsalan shares his blog secret.

Janette: What have you done this year for your blog that contributed to its growth?

Derek: This year has been extremely busy for me [professionally]. As a result, the blog has suffered a bit of a dry spell concerning new original content. Surprisingly, search engine traffic has continued to maintain and or increase my daily readership. The key has been ensuring that I manage and maintain any dead-links, ensure that markup and content is easily indexed by search engines, and continuing to offer related content for readers (concerning the currently visited page).

Janette: What marketing strategy works best for your blog?

Derek: Organic search engine traffic coupled with my membership in the 9rules network has ensured a regular stream of new eyes. The marketing strategy is simple: a) maintain visibility, b) exercise transparency with readers concerning content whenever possible, and c) leveraging the value of external social network services like Twitter or Friendfeed to keep content circulated.

Janette: How much % of your annual income do you attribute to your blog as the source?

Derek: Prior to the current month, total profit contributions from 5thirtyone.com to my annual income was < 2%. Google Adsense and some contextual links provided enough to cover any hosting needed emergency fixes.

Janette: What tips can you give to bloggers who would like to achieve blog growth?

Derek: Continue reaching out to fellow bloggers, contribute to discussions (with some links back to your own site), and find a niche to focus on.