Using Outbrain and Outloud to Drive Blog Traffic

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You may have noticed the widget that I have at the end of each blog post that allows you to rate the blog content and provides recommendations for other blogs and articles on that topic. It is offered from a company called Outbrain and does a good job providing author feedback, relevant links to readers, and promoting traffic to your blog.

How does it work?

First you install the Outbrain widget on your blog.  They offer a variety of options and support for WordPress, Blogger, Drupal, TypePad and Javascript.  Once you set up an account, claim your blog, and manage your settings, you are good to go.  You can choose whether to have recommendations just from your blog or from others as well.  If you choose to accept sponsored recommendations, you can even make some money off of it (or donate it to charity, that is what I do!)

Outbrain Thumbnail Widget from Outbrain on Vimeo.

Using Outloud Sponsored Recommendations

If you have a really great post that you want to attract more attention to, the Outloud service will include your link in relevant recommendations across their publisher network (including Venturebeat, Slate, Tribune, USA Today, Discovery, and others.)  It costs $10 per link per month and you receive full reporting on the number of impressions and clicks.  I’ve used this for a client and it has shown up in the Top 5 referring sites in driving traffic.

This is a great, inexpensive way to provide some value to readers and generate some more traffic.  What are your thoughts? Have you used Outbrain or Outloud? Anything similar? Check it out below and let me know what you think.

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