I am a big proponent of running a debt-free business. I haven’t always practiced what I preached though, and in the past started a couple home-based businesses with credit cards. Big mistake. The businesses eventually flopped while the credit card debt lingered. Nothing worse than continuing to pay for a dream that burned out a long time ago.

When I started blogging I vowed to run a debt free business. That meant my marketing budget was zero, and my operating budget consisted of the $50 or so I had available for logo design, hosting, domain registration, etc. As you can see, it was going to be tight. Still, I was a big believer in guerrilla marketing, and finding ways to promote my blog without spending a lot of money.

Here are a six strategies I used with some success at building FrugalDad.com without spending a penny on marketing.

1.  Comment on relevant blogs in your niche. This suggestion is probably overused in “how to blog” articles, but it really is the cheapest way to get your name out there fast. As a blogger, I can tell you that nothing is more fulfilling than reading a well thought-out comment left by a fellow blogger. “Great article!” just doesn’t cut it. Most blogging software allows commenters to add their name and URL, which is then clickable by other readers. It is a good idea not to include links within the comment text itself, unless it is relevant to the discussion.

Task: Leave relevant comments on at least 10 blogs every single day

2.  Write a weekly roundup post, and include links to medium-sized blogs. One of the best ways to get noticed by other bloggers is to include them in your link roundups. Pick five or six articles from your favorite medium-sized (not the largest in your niche, but bigger blogs than your own) blogs, and write a weekly roundup promoting their posts. Bloggers receive a pingback letting them know when someone has posted an article about them, and they will likely come to your blog to check out what you had to say. Eventually, a few of them will begin to reciprocate with links to your site and that will lead to more visits to your site.

Task: Write a round-up post each week with at least five links to fellow bloggers

3.  Participate in forums, but careful not to spam. I was a member of several forums before I even got into blogging. A couple of them were related to my niche (the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover forums, for example), and a few were not (college football). When I began blogging I updated the signature line of my profile to include a simple link to FrugalDad.com. Then I simply continued to participate in the forums. If you present yourself as professional, and helpful, people will want to click through to check out your blog.

Task: Join two forums in your niche and update your signature/profile to include your blog

4.  Form your own network with other new bloggers. In the early days of blogging at FrugalDad.com, I virtually bumped into Ron at TheWisdomJournal.com and through him met Jeff at MySuperChargedLife.com. They had an idea to start up a blogging network and I was eager to join. Today, the Life Skills Network has grown to seven member blogs, and all of us have grown together through promoting each others work and sharing tips learned along the way.

Later, I also joined The Money Writers, a seasoned group of veteran bloggers who have really taught me a lot about the ins and out of blogging, particularly some of the more technical tips. I attribute most of my success to these two networks and their find members.

Task: Join forces with fellow bloggers who started around the same time you did.

5.  Yahoo Answers can drive traffic. I am by no means an expert at personal finances, but I’ve learned a lot of lessons over the years. One way I attracted new subscribers was by creating a Yahoo account and answering questions related to my niche (frugal living, credit cards, paying off debt, etc.). I used relevant posts at my site to link in the “Reference” area when answering questions. On a couple occasions mine was voted the “best answer” and people looking for the answer to a similar question found mine on top, and then clicked over to FrugalDad.com.

Task: Sign up for a Yahoo Answers account and answer 10-20 questions a day

6.  Participate in blogging carnivals.  Carnivals abound for nearly every topic imaginable.  Find a few carnivals in your niche and submit what you feel is the best article for that particular category.  Often times editors will select your post as an “editor’s pick” and place your article at the top of the carnival post.

Task:  Check out blogcarnival.com and find two or three carnivals to participate in on a regular basis.

As you can see, the old addage, “It takes money to make money” doesn’t necessarily apply to blogging. Sure, had I had a few thousand dollars I could have done things like hire virtual assistants, a PR person, had a custom theme designed, etc. But I found more frugal ways to get my side hustle off the ground.

Photo courtesy of PopTopRanks.com: Subscriber growth at FrugalDad.com (Jan. 2008 – December 2008)

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When selecting a domain name, remember the “K.I.S.S.” principle – Keep It Simple! Many shorter domain names based on common themes are taken, so you may have to get creative to come up with a unique domain name. Just don’t get too creative. Something that is easily memorable for you may not be for someone looking to return to your blog. In my case, I knew I wanted to write about frugality and money, but many related URLs were taken.

I brainstormed ten names and bounced them off friends and family to see which ones were catchy, which ones were thoroughly forgettable (about half my list), and which ones were brandable – meaning I could develop an entire theme around the name. “Frugal Dad” was the winner, in large part because it was short, easy to remember, and easy to create a theme around. From my site’s name visitors instantly know the type of content they will likely find – frugality, parenting, finances, etc.

There are many options when selecting a registrar to reserve your name. I decided to go with GoDaddy.com, mostly because I was familiar with their service, and because I had a few other domains registered there from past blogging attempts. I realize there are probably cheaper alternatives, but in some instances you get what you pay for. Be sure to check ICANN’s extensive list of accredited registrars before signing up.

Register your domain for two years, instead of just the first one. Many times registrars give a price break if you select a period of two years or longer. That was the case at GoDaddy.com, so I registered Frugal Dad for two years. Also, consider an automatic renewal option to be sure your domain doesn’t get dropped and snapped up before you can re-register. Most registrars offer this service, and will automatically renew your domain and charge the credit card (or debit card) on file.

Consider private registration. I could write an entire post on whether or not you should blog anonymously, but for now I’ll just recommend private registration if you have concerns about people identifying who you are, where you live, etc. ICANN requires a name and address to register a domain name, but many proxy services will allow you to register with them and have their name listed on the public lookups. Look for “private registration” or “domain by proxy” options when registering if you are interested in this service.

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