Contests:
Everyone loves the chance to win at something. Blog contests have been the latest in a series of crazes to sweep the blogosphere lately. BlueFur.com even made a post about the trend of contests as a way to gain traffic not too long ago. While contests allow a reader a chance to win something, they also offer the writer(s) of the blog a chance to get a large amount of promotion for their blog, oh and also backlinks!
Derrich from Derrich.com did a few “blogger tournaments” during the month of March to parallel the March Madness NCAA Basketball Tournament. Somehow I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part. While I did end up coming in second, I know I made a few plugs for myself, and Derrich.com likewise. Now I may have been promoting people to vote for me, but everyone I wanted to vote for me also headed over to Derrich’s site.
So even if I didn’t end up winning, and the traffic may have not stayed around, but it still give Derrich quite the boost in traffic. Now Derrich’s first tournament helped him so much that he held a second tournament. I haven’t asked for numbers, but I think these tournaments helped solidify Derrich’s position as a credible and entertaining blogger.
Aside from Derrich, several other bloggers such as Darren Rowse, and John Chow also employ the use of the contest as a means for drawing traffic. (Not like the pros need to “draw traffic”.)
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Thanks for the mention. The 2008 Bloggers Tournament is already in the making. I can’t wait!