If you're into content marketing, you probably already know the struggle of link building. While you may have tried this and that, you still can’t seem to get the number of links you want.
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This is where blog hopping comes in. Blog hopping is an innovative way to build community around your blog, attract new readers, and collaborate with other bloggers.
A blog hop is an event where multiple bloggers write posts on a common theme and link to each other's blogs, creating a loop for readers to follow from one blog to the next. And if you can host one of these events, your backlinking game can change for the better.
But if you don’t understand the concept and what to consider before creating a blog hop, this blog is for you. We’ll talk about blog hopping, how it works, and how you can host one.
What is a Blog Hop?
Blog hops are events where multiple bloggers write posts on the same theme and link to each other's blogs, creating a continuous loop for readers to follow from one blog to the next. As all the bloggers work as a community, this process benefits all participants.
This collaborative effort helps increase visibility and engagement for all participating blogs and exposes each participating blogger to other audiences. But that’s not the only reason everyone joins a blog hop.
There are various objectives of a blog hop. To name a few:
- Attract new readers by tapping into the audiences of participating blogs.
- Foster a sense of community among bloggers and readers.
- Showcase diverse perspectives on a specific theme or topic.
- Improve search engine optimization through increased backlinks.
If you can fulfill these objectives properly, you will enjoy a number of benefits. Here are some:
- Expanded audience reach and increased blog traffic.
- Enhanced engagement with readers through comments and shares.
- Strengthened relationships and networks within the blogging community.
- Improved SEO with additional backlinks from participating blogs.
- Opportunity to showcase your expertise and establish authority in your niche.
- Potential for collaborative opportunities and future partnerships with other bloggers.
How Does a Blog Hop Work?
Even though the concept of blog hop sounds easy, it involves a number of key steps. First thing first, you’ll have to choose a theme over which your website has great authority. Then you’ll have to recruit bloggers who are interested in the same topic as well for your event.
Then, each blogger will write a blog based on that theme and link to the other participants. To make the most of this process, everyone can promote the blogs through social media, email newsletters, etc.
Still not really clear about how it works?
Well, imagine you're hosting a blog hop on the “Healthy Summer Recipes” theme. You've done your research, reached out to 10 or 15 bloggers in this niche, and they agreed to join your blog hop.
Now, each writer will write a post featuring their favorite healthy summer recipe and include links to other bloggers' blogs in the event. A reader starts at one blog, reads the recipe, and follows the link to the next blog, continuing through the loop until they’ve visited all the blogs.
This increases traffic and engagement for each blog while providing readers with a variety of new recipes to try.
How to Host a Blog Hop: Step-by-Step Process
Hosting a blog hop is as beneficial as it is challenging. There are various steps that you’ll have to perform in order to execute a successful blog hop event. Now, don't be afraid if you don’t know which step to perform after what, or where to begin.
We have done the research and compiled a list of steps you need to follow. By following these steps, you can host a successful blog hop event.
Step 1: Planning Everything
Organizing a blog hop event requires a lot of planning and research. You have to find a topic in which you've established authority, then find the right bloggers to invite to your event. We can divide the planning into three categories:
- Choosing a Theme: Select a theme that aligns with your blog’s niche and your audience's interest. This will help you to host a blog hop full of content that might be beneficial for your users.
- Setting Objectives: Knowing the objective of your event will help many bloggers decide to participate. Objectives include increasing blog traffic, fostering community engagement, or showcasing diverse perspectives on a specific topic.
- Timeline Creation: Develop a schedule that outlines key milestones, such as participant recruitment, promotion periods, and the event date. Allow enough time for each phase to ensure smooth execution.
Step 2: Recruit the Right Bloggers/Brands
Once you've prepared your plan, it’s time to find the right bloggers for your event. You can do this by looking at the bloggers' audience, geography, age, etc. If you find any bloggers with a similar audience, you can reach out to them with your proposal.
Here are the only two jobs you need to perform in order to find the best bloggers for your event:
- Select Your Participants: Choose bloggers who align with your theme and have an engaged audience. Reach out to them with a clear explanation of the blog hop’s theme, objectives, and timeline.
- Communicate and Coordinate: Use email or social media groups to keep participants informed and coordinated. Provide guidelines on content creation, link sharing, and publishing schedules.
Step 3: Promote Your Blog Hop Event As Many Ways As You Can
As soon as you decide to host a blog hop, start creating buzz about it on social media, your website, and other platforms. The more you can promote your event, the better quality of bloggers you’ll be able to attract.
Here are some tips on how you can promote your blog hop event:
- Marketing Strategies: Use blog posts, social media, and email newsletters to create buzz around your blog hop. Share teasers, participant announcements, and reminders to keep your audience engaged.
- Social Media and Email Campaigning: To build anticipation, create a series of posts and emails leading up to the event. Use engaging visuals and compelling copy to attract attention.
- Host a Giveaway: Use the RafflePress plugin to host a giveaway. This encourages shares and likes, increasing engagement and reach. Offer attractive prizes that are relevant to your theme to entice participation.
Step 4: Executing The Event
Now that you've created the hype and the bloggers are ready to participate, it’s time to execute the event. Ensure all participants publish their posts simultaneously and the links work correctly.
Once everything is up and running, monitor the event closely to address any technical issues.
Step 5: Follow-up with The Participants
Once you've successfully hosted your event, track various metrics to determine which bloggers had the most traffic. Look for metrics like page views, shares, comments, etc.
As a result, you’ll have an idea of whom to invite to your next blog hop. You’ll also understand whose blog hop events are worth joining. Keep up the bond by connecting on various social media platforms and through follow-up emails.
Monetizing Your Blog with WishList Member
Once you've hosted the blog hop event, you'll likely see increased engagement on your blog posts and website. Why not leverage this success by monetizing your blog further?
While some of your blog posts can remain accessible to all visitors, you can restrict access to certain pages for members only. You might also consider implementing a pay-per-post policy, where users pay a fee to view specific content. Or how about creating an ad-free version of your site for regular visitors who want an undisrupted experience?
You can achieve all of this with WishList Member, a WordPress plugin designed for managing memberships and subscriptions. Here’s what you can do with WishList Member.
Create Content that Only Paid Members Can Access
Once you've gained popularity, you’ll have more and more traffic coming to your website. This is your chance to make money from the blogs you have on your website. Using the WishList Member content protection feature, you can set up rules about who can view your certain posts.
You can create various membership levels and, based on those, set up who can view your certain posts, pages, etc.
Or, you can make any page a pay-per-post page.
Multiple Ways to Accept Payments
Now, how are you going to accept the payments?
Well, WishList Member lets you accept payments in multiple ways.
You can integrate this plugin with popular payment providers like Stripe, PayPal, and more. In fact, WishList Member boasts the most payment integrations of all membership plugins. This means you can accept payments from around the world more easily.
80+ Integrations to Make Your Job Easy
And the integration options don't end there. WishList Member supports 80+ integrations with apps and other plugins that can help your blog thrive.
- Email service providers like Active Campaign to help you automate communication with your new members
- SEO tools like All in One SEO (AIOSEO)
- Easy analytics tracking tools like MonsterInsights
- Page builders like Elementor
And how's about this for monetizing your blog even further:
- Affiliate link optimizing tools like Pretty Links and ThirstyAffiliates, packed with features to help boost conversions from your affiliate links.
Start Planning Your Blog Hop Event Today!
Blog hops can be the ultimate solution for you if you're struggling with acquiring new users, low traffic, low backlinks, etc. We hope this blog was helpful in familiarizing you with blog hops and how you can host one.
Remember to implement the steps we mentioned while hosting your blog hop. Be careful about whom you invite to your blog hop, and keep regular communication with them. You can always take advantage of WishList Members later if you decide to make money from your blogs.
Have you ever hosted or joined any blog hop before? Share your experience in the comments. And if you liked the blog, don’t forget to Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Plus, get notified about feature updates, upgrades, and more when you subscribe to our newsletter!
