How to Promote Your WordPress Blog for Free

There are so many ways to promote your WordPress blog, but one of the most overlooked free strategies is by using something called “update services” from within WordPress. It’s easy to do, and I’ll walk you through it step-by-step in this article. I’ve also included 219 useful links that will help you do it.

But, first let’s backtrack for a moment. Imagine yourself slaving away at writing and formatting a new post on your WordPress blog. It takes a long time, and when you’re done all you want is to see it pop up on search engine results, right? So you start letting people know via social media, hoping they’ll spread the word. But, when you go to search for your posts on Google, they’re nowhere to be found. It’s a disappointing situation to face.

Now the good part: What you may not know is that WordPress has a means of automatically notifying search engines about your new posts (and blog site updates) on your behalf. It does this by sending pings (they’re like messages) to ping networks, which in turn notify search engines about your amazing new additions.

Yet, as automated as that sounds, it only works if you first tell WordPress exactly what to do. Read on for detailed instructions and a long list of links you will want to add to your site.

How you can work pings to your advantage, to promote your WordPress blog

In order to take full advantage of this feature, you need to understand how WordPress does this. First, it checks the ping networks that you have listed in the Ping Services area of your WordPress site. WordPress automatically comes with one service listed, called Ping O Matic (http://rpc.pingomatic.com). But, there are sooooooooo many others, which you can manually add by typing them in. In other words, if you don’t go in and add the URLs (web addresses) for those other pink networks, they may never discover you.

But, exactly how do you do this?

1. Where do you type these URLS in your WordPress site? Follow these steps:
2. First, click on the Settings menu button, which you will find at the bottom of the sidebar on the left side of your screen when you’re in Dashboard mode.
3. Then, click on the button for “Writing.”
4. Scroll down until you get to the section called “Update Services”
5. Copy the list I have below, or narrow it down if you want, and paste it into the text box for “Update Services”
6. Don’t forget to save by scrolling down and clicking the “save changes” button!
7. And you’re done. Phew. Congrats.

>>Jump To My Master Ping List!

My sources for these links

I compiled my master list of links from the WordPress Codex page about Update Services, which is worth reading for its additional information; Valdimir Prelovac’s WordPress Ping List; Dessky’s Word Press Ping List ; and Index WP’s list. Thanks, guys, for taking the time to check these out for us!

Words of caution

• Keep in mind that like living beings, web links can die. So, if you add more, make sure you’re getting them from reliable, updated sources.
• According to the WordPress Codex, “Certain web hosts – particularly free ones – disable the PHP functions used to alert update services. If your web host prevents pings, you should stop WordPress from attempting to ping and consider using the Feedburner Pingshot service.” Here’s a link on Google with more information about this service.

Another source to consider

Feed Shark by Brain Bliss is a free online tool that will ping more than 60 services, and it allows you to choose which ones.

My Master Ping List, in alphabetical order

These are the 219 URLS that you might want to add, following my instructions above:

http://1470.net/api/ping

http://api.feedster.com/ping

http://api.moreover.com/ping

http://api.moreover.com/RPC2

http://api.my.yahoo.com/ping

http://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2

http://api.my.yahoo.com/rss/ping

http://audiorpc.weblogs.com/RPC2

http://bblog.com/ping.php

http://bing.com/webmaster/ping.aspx

http://blo.gs/ping.php

http://blog.with2.net/ping.php

http://blog.youdao.com/ping/RPC2

http://blogmatcher.com/

http://blogpeople.net/ping

http://blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates

http://blogping.unidatum.com/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.ae/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.at/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.be/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.bg/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.ca/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.ch/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.cl/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.cr/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.hu/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.id/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.il/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.in/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.it/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.jp/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.ma/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.nz/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.th/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.uk/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.ve/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.co.za/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.ar/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.au/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.br/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.co/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.do/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.mx/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.my/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.pe/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.sa/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.sg/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.tr/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.tw/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.ua/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.uy/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com.vn/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.com/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.de/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.es/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.fi/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.fr/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.gr/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.hr/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.ie/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.in/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.it/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.jp/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.lt/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.nl/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.pl/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.pt/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.ro/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.ru/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.se/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.sk/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.tw/ping/RPC2

http://blogsearch.google.us/ping/RPC2

http://bulkfeeds.net

http://bulkfeeds.net/rpc

http://catapings.com/ping.php

http://coreblog.org/ping/

http://effbot.org/rpc/ping.cgi

http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/pingSubmit?bloglink=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourdomain.com/

http://feedsky.com/api/RPC2

http://geourl.org/ping

http://geourl.org/ping/

http://hamo-search.com/ping.php

http://holycowdude.com/rpc/ping

http://ipings.com

http://mapufacture.com/georss/ping/api

http://mod-pubsub.org

http://mod-pubsub.org/kn_apps/blogchatt

http://news2paper.com/ping

http://newsblog.jungleboots.org/ping.php

http://ping.amagle.com/

http://ping.bitacoras.com

http://ping.blo.gs

http://ping.bloggers.jp/rpc

http://ping.blogoon.net

http://ping.blogs.yandex.ru/RPC2

http://ping.cocolog-nifty.com/xmlrpc

http://ping.exblog.jp/xmlrpc

http://ping.fakapster.com/rpc

http://ping.fc2.com

http://ping.feedburner.com

http://ping.groove-cast.com/ping.php

http://ping.kutsulog.net

http://ping.myblog.jp

http://ping.namaan.net/rpc

http://ping.pubsub.com/ping

http://ping.rootblog.com/rpc.php

http://ping.rss.drecom.jp

http://ping.snap.com/ping/RPC2

http://ping.speenee.com/xmlrpc

http://ping.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php

http://ping.weblogalot.com

http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php

http://ping.weblogs.se/

http://ping.wordblog.de

http://pinger.blogflux.com/rpc

http://pingoat.com/goat/RPC2

http://pingqueue.com/rpc/

http://r.hatena.ne.jp/rpc

http://rcs.datashed.net

http://rcs.datashed.net/RPC2

http://rcs.salon.com/RPC2

http://rpc.blogbuzzmachine.com/RPC2

http://rpc.bloggerei.de/ping/

http://rpc.blogrolling.com

http://rpc.blogrolling.com/pinger/

http://rpc.britblog.com

http://rpc.icerocket.com:10080

http://rpc.newsgator.com/

http://rpc.pingomatic.com

http://rpc.reader.livedoor.com/ping

http://rpc.tailrank.com

http://rpc.tailrank.com/feedburner/RPC2

http://rpc.technorati.com/ping

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

http://rpc.technorati.jp/rpc/ping

http://rpc.twingly.com

http://rpc.weblogs.com

http://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2

http://rpc.wpkeys.com

http://serenebach.net/rep.cgi

http://services.newsgator.com/ngws/xmlrpcping.aspx

http://submitblogs.com/

http://thingamablog.sourceforge.net/ping.php

http://topicexchange.com

http://topicexchange.com/RPC2

http://topicexchange.com/RPC2eping.php

http://wasalive.com/ping/

http://www.2bet.com/

http://www.2rss.com

http://www.a2b.cc

http://www.a2b.cc/setloc/bp.a2b

http://www.bitacoles.net/ping.php

http://www.blogarama.com/

http://www.blogbits.com/

http://www.blogcatalog.com/

http://www.blogdex.net/

http://www.blogdigger.com

http://www.blogdigger.com/RPC2

http://www.blogexplosion.com

http://www.bloggernity.com/

http://www.bloglines.com/ping

http://www.blogoole.com/ping/

http://www.blogoon.net/ping/

http://www.blogpeople.net

http://www.blogpeople.net/ping

http://www.blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates

http://www.blogpulse.com/submit.html

http://www.blogroots.com

http://www.blogroots.com/tb_populi.blog?id=1

http://www.blogsdominicanos.com/ping

http://www.blogshares.com

http://www.blogshares.com/rpc.php

http://www.blogsnow.com/ping

http://www.blogstreet.com

http://www.blogstreet.com/xrbin/xmlrpc.cgi

http://www.blogwise.com/

http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?XmlPing

http://www.feedsky.com/api/RPC2

http://www.feedster.com/

http://www.feedsubmitter.com

http://www.globeofblogs.com/

http://www.hoes.com/

http://www.holycowdude.com/rpc/ping/

http://www.lasermemory.com

http://www.lasermemory.com/lsrpc/

http://www.linksboy.com/

http://www.lsblogs.com/

http://www.mod-pubsub.org/kn_apps/blogchatter/ping.php

http://www.mod-pubsub.org/ping.php

http://www.mod-pubsub.orgping.php

http://www.newsisfree.com

http://www.newsisfree.com/RPC

http://www.newsisfree.com/RPCCloud

http://www.newsisfree.com/xmlrpctest.php

http://www.octora.com/add_rss.php

http://www.ohlinks.com

http://www.pingerati.net

http://www.pingmyblog.com

http://www.popdex.com

http://www.popdex.com/addsite.php

http://www.readablog.com/

http://www.rogerlinks.com/linker/index.shtml

http://www.sexblogslist.com

http://www.snipsnap.org

http://www.snipsnap.org/RPC2

http://www.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php

http://www.wasalive.com/ping/

http://www.weblogalot.com/ping

http://www.weblogs.com/RPC2

http://www.weblogues.com

http://www.weblogues.com/RPC/

http://www.xianguo.com/xmlrpc/ping.php

http://xianguo.com/xmlrpc/ping.php

http://xmlrpc.blogg.de/

http://xmlrpc.bloggernetz.de/RPC2

http://xping.pubsub.com/ping

http://xping.pubsub.comping/

http://zhuaxia.com/rpc/server.php

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Do you know about other great ping services to promote your WordPress blog? Please leave a comment.