Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
After reaching 1000 visitors per month, it’s time to set your sights a bit higher. The next milestone for many is to get more than 5000 visitors per month. And in reality, it’s not overly difficult. But, it is somewhat time-consuming.
Today, I’ll break down the things I did to reach this mark on two of my blogs with the other two closely following suit.
And no, this isn’t some magical strategy that will instantly bump your traffic.
9 Ways to Reach 5000 Visitors per Month
First, let’s change how we view “month.” Some will attribute the idea of the month depending on the current date. So, January would be a complete month, right?
Not really.
There are 31 days in January, but what about February? There are 28 days with a 29th every four years. So, pitting January’s numbers against February’s would be a mistake. You’ll be missing three days worth of data.
So, let’s view “month” as a 30-day stretch regardless of what the actual date is on the calendar.
With that out of way, here are the methods I used to get this blog and the gaming site over 5000 visitors per month.
1. Set the Right Goals
Goals can do wonders for motivation and progress. But, a lot of bloggers will set the wrong type of objectives. For example, setting a goal to reach a certain number of visits per month isn’t the best way to go about getting traffic.
This is because you’re putting the success or failure of the goal in someone else’s hands. You can’t force people to visit your site.
Instead, implement goals you have absolute control over. For example, set a goal for writing X number of words this week, or perhaps publishing a certain number of articles each month.
2. Maintain a Regular Publishing Schedule
Keep up with a regular publishing schedule. Out of all of the things I do for my blogs, this is perhaps one of the most prominent.
Not only does a regular schedule keep visitors coming back to read new posts, but Google seems to prioritize blogs that are active. A routine of publishing essentially makes the algorithm happy.
I also found that dedicating yourself to a routine schedule helps boost motivation. There is more of an urgency to have something up and ready, which is great for those who work from home.
In other words, it promotes self-accountability.
3. Research What Your Audience Wants to Read
Content is the primary driving force of any amount of traffic. Without delivering what people want to read, your blog will go nowhere.
It’s the same element that drives YouTube channels, Twitch streams, and even getting followers on social media accounts. It all comes down to the content you provide.
Spend some time researching what people want to consume and provide answers to those questions. Don’t assume that every post you create will draw in an audience.
4. Double Down on Marketing that Works
By now, you should have a good idea about what marketing methods work for your blog. This could be sharing posts on social media, using forums to help others answer questions, or even doing a bit of guest blogging.
Find the methods that work best for getting your blog out there and double down on them.
The more often you get content in front of people, the more likely you’ll generate traffic. You could also go so far as to try a few new methods to see if perhaps you’re missing an avenue for attracting your audience.
5. Spend Time Revamping Old Content
One method that has greatly helped me surpass 5000 visitors per month for both myself and my clients is by reworking older content. Depending on the article, it may not even take much effort to spruce up the materials.
For example, I ran the numbers this morning for an article we did for a client. The only changes made were increasing the article by 400 words by answering some questions about the topic and turning the article “Green” in Yoast SEO.
Over a six-month span, the article generated more than 217% traffic, which put it over 3,000 total visits within that timeframe. And it only took less than an hour to revamp.
6. Obey the Almighty Google Algorithm
Google absolutely controls how your content appears in the search engine. If you don’t address the issues Google identifies, you could wind up having a website drop 80% of its traffic literally overnight.
I’ve seen it happen with one of my blogs, actually.
Keep your thumb on the pulse of what Google is doing and research ways to adapt. There are a lot of SEO experts out there who can guide your path after algorithm updates.
I suggest subscribing to a few of the more popular SEO websites. That way, you can stay apprised of any changes Google makes.
7. Fix Issues that Appear in Search Console
Speaking of Google, never underestimate the value of Search Console. This is the system that governs how your content is seen in the most popular search engine on the Internet.
Search Console will let you know when there are issues to address. Unfortunately, you’ll have to research a lot in order to fix some of the more vague issues.
For example, the Cumulative Layout Shift problem can be quite difficult to address without spending hours trying to figure out where the problem lies.
However, addressing these issues can keep your blog in good graces with Google. So, it’s worth the time and effort to keep your site running smoothly.
8. Find Trending Topics
Trends can quickly boost your visitor rates, especially if you can jump on something at the very beginning. In fact, I was lucky enough to write about a few things in the beginning, and they still bring in thousands of visits per month.
The downside is that a lot of trends go with the ebb and flow of news. This means that a lot of these topics are only going to be popular for a specific amount of time.
But if you can keep up with those trends, breaking news related to your niche, or finding other topics in their infancy, you could become a well-known source.
9. Be Patient
Lastly, be patient. It’s incredibly rare that you’ll create that one piece of content that goes instantly viral. In reality, it could take months to go from 1000 to 5000 visitors per month.
As long as you see consistent growth, then you’re moving in the right direction. Take what your target audience is reading and try to give them more of that.
But don’t get discouraged if something you believe is awesome isn’t getting any attention. Keep in mind that blogging is extremely competitive on the Internet. You may be up against some major websites.
How Long Will it Take to Reach 5000 Visitors per Month?
There is no real answer as to how long it’ll take you to reach 5000 visitors per month. This is because every blog is different, and every niche will have a unique base audience.
I’ve seen blogs go from hundreds to thousands in a matter of two to three months. But, I’ve also seen some sites take several years to break the 5,000-visitor threshold.
Take ColoradoPlays, for example. That site grew exponentially within a very short amount of time. This was due to the type of articles that are available on the blog.
Mostly, it’s the tutorials that help visitors learn how to use specific pieces of software.
For WriterSanctuary, it took nearly five years to reach the same amount of traffic. And ColoradoPlays has one-fifth the total content.
In the end, reaching 5000 visitors per months really comes down to:
- The niche of your website
- How much content you can create
- How impactful the topics are for your audience
- The sheer amount of competing websites
- How well you can keep a reader’s interest
Just don’t get discouraged if your site is slow to grow. Depending on the topic and how you market the blog, it might take some time.
Every Creator Will Have a Unique Experience
Anyone guaranteeing that you can have instant traffic is often trying to sell you something. The truth is, it’s almost impossible to guarantee anyone will have a specific experience when it comes to blogging.
Some people will fall ass-backward into success while others will have to work exceptionally hard.
But there is one thing I can promise you. The amount of effort you put into your website will directly affect how successful it is to attract 5000 visitors per month.
Keep putting out content people want to read and they will eventually find you.
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