You worked hard starting your blog. It’s been your baby project. You’ve started, created, and launched. A victory right? A big yes!
The truth is many people set up a blog. Go through the process of developing their blogs. Then discover readers just aren’t showing up! Time passes, and more time passes. You still aren’t getting the desired traffic to your blog.
Create a blog with your readers and site visitors in mind. Doing this is essential to your blogging success. Your readers appreciate and notice when you take the time to show you care. Your blog needs to be a place they love to visit often.
I’ve seen many blogs that show just the opposite. A large number of blogs lack qualities that attract readers to return. These bloggers are left to wonder why their blogs are not getting much traffic or loyal readers.
We can’t expect to create blogs that are an instant success. They take time to grow.
For your readers to enjoy coming to your blog there are a few things you need to do.
Create a blog that your readers will love and want to return to often.
Make it about them not you.
Readers visiting love a website that is easy to navigate.
Make it easy for your reader to find everything you offer.
I visit many websites that are cluttered with unnecessary features.
It isn’t necessary to have too much content on the homepage.
If their first impression offers too much at a glance they’ll leave.
They won’t go on a content hunt for what they want.
Most of your readers will not make it to the bottom of the homepage.
Keeping your homepage to a shorter scroll helps them go right to your content.
Many blogs these days are over designed.
This is problematic for not only your reader but you too.
Your blog readers and followers should see your content stand out!
I visit many blogs that are heavy in design but not content.
Or it’s filled with a ton of posts and other content but there is no organization.
Leaving the visitor to get lost in all the content.
A simple and attractive blog design is inviting.
It’s filled with content rich flow and encourages the reader to come back.
In contrast, a blog that is over designed is a cluttered blog.
This is not a pleasant user experience.
Focus on produces more content and less design.
Creating a place that your readers can enjoy.
You will have a better time managing a simple but effective blog.
Doing this allows you time to focus on creating more rich content!
Readers love it when they can rely on your consistent habits of posting and connecting.
They trust you more when you produce content often. Consistent bloggers show up often.
Develop a consistent blog posting routine that you can keep up with regularly.
Stick to a posting habit you can manage rather than posting 1 week but not the next.
Or posting every other day for a few weeks and then not post for a month.
When you care about someone you show them you care.
You show not just tell. Love is demonstrative.
If you don’t show your reader you care they won’t stay.
Rather they’ll find a blogger who demonstrates they matter.
When you blog for yourself that is how you write.
If you are blogging for your readers it is about them not you.
Readers love posts laced with stories from you.
It helps them see you understand the problem their having.
Make it personal and effective.
Show them you genuinely care for them.
Give attention to the quality of your posts.
Readers will search for something they need.
A problem they need to solve and are seeking solutions.
The quality of your content will keep them coming back for more.
If you write with your reader in mind they will notice that.
Some of these visitors to your blog will become loyal readers.
Do you want to make your website irresistible to your reader? Solve a problem and provide solutions for your readers. They won’t be able to resist coming back.
Your readers will love to connect with you often.
It’s important for them to meet the person behind the message.
You can do this by responding to their post comments.
It’s beneficial to connect your blog to a few social media networks.
I love Facebook and Twitter as a means of engaging often with my readers.
Ensure a pleasant experience when readers visit your blog and they’ll keep coming back. Your blog will be a place that you and your readers connect often. Give of yourself generously to your readers. Do this and you’ll establish a trust with them.
Let’s hear from you – What is one thing you do to help your readers enjoy coming back to your blog?
The idea of starting a new blog is exciting! This initial enthusiasm quickly turns to frustration when we realize the many details involved. Designing and customizing a blog is often a challenge for many beginner bloggers.
In this post I share how you can quickly start, create, and launch a blog that looks pleasing to your readers. One that is easier for you to manage when completed. Using a simple start design that works. You can easily build on it over time. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
I remember starting my first blog. As a writer all I wanted to do was write. I didn’t know the first thing about how to begin designing my blog. Visitors would see my site disaster then quickly run for the hills! All I’d seemed to accomplish was a ton of mounting frustration, overdoses of discouragement, a site that looked awful, and nothing was working right!
In this post I provide tips starting a blog with a simple clean design.
Creating a simple design is the best way to start. In the beginning less is more. Nothing fancy. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing yet.
Of course we all want great looking blogs. It’s easy to look at the big picture. When we do this we fail to understand the importance of the small steps that lead us where we need to be.
We have to simplify our mindset. If we don’t do this then we can’t enjoy the process of starting a blog. Instead of enjoying the process of starting a blog we can become overwhelmed and stressed.
First impressions count. Have you ever heard the saying, ” You never get a second chance to make a first impression?”When someone visits your blog for the first time they will formulate what they think at first glance.
This is another great reason for a creating a simple start design. By making your blog pleasing for everyone you will be sure your visitors will appreciate it. You’ll have succeeded at making a great first impression!
If you want to design a header it is best to keep this simple also.
Do you find it difficult to write and publish posts to your blog regularly? Many bloggers complain they simply struggle to find the time to write. For these bloggers they face feeling stuck and discouraged. The great news is you can develop a blog posting routine easier than you may think!
You don’t have to write extra long posts of a few thousand or more words. It’s better to practice writing well and produce shorter posts starting out. Posts of 600 words are a great exercise. Doing this will help you to become a skilled writer. Helping you to write with brevity and create quality content.
It takes time to develop the skill of writing and publishing regularly. We can’t get better at anything unless we learn to enjoy the process. The most important thing is to start writing daily. Consistently publish content to your blog!
Set aside time to write daily.Do you wait for the inspiration to write? If you wait you may be stuck for quite a long time! Writing doesn’t flow freely unless you take the first step!
You have to show up and be committed to the act of writing everyday. Professional bloggers write daily even if they don’t want to.
Decide on a time and place that works best for you to write. Doing this helps you to take your writing seriously. Write intentionally and with purpose. It won’t take long to get into the correct mindset. In time you will develop a daily writing habit.
What has helped me is using a kitchen timer for 15 – 30 minutes. I’d refuse to stop writing until the timer goes off. By that time the words are flowing freely. I can continue writing until the post is done! I still do this when I see I’m distracted by many things going on around me.
[bctt tweet=”The more you write the easier it becomes. Soon writing daily will become a habit. Your thoughts will flow like running water!” username=”https://twitter.com/CoriWriterBWP”]
If you don’t develop and adhere to a blog posting routine then you’ll struggle as a blogger. Remember why you started your blog in the first place. We have a blog to write for the reader. To help them solve a problem based on the area you write about.
Developing practices that enable you to create quality blog content is essential to your growth and success in blogging.
To succeed at this you have to fill your blog with quality content. To do this you have to write and publish regularly. In a routine your readers can rely on. Writing your posts is not a one step process.
I’m a part of Jeff Goins Tribe Writers community.
What helped me to improve how I wrote my blog posts is by Jeff’s 3 bucket system.
It`s simple and effective!
The 3 bucket system is comprised of 3 steps. Ideas, drafts and edits.
Using a blog post template.A few years ago I started using a blog post template. Doing this helps me to quickly create my post foundation. Comprised of a few simple steps to start.
Michael Hyatt shares here how to
Use a Blogging Template to Write Posts Faster
I start my posts by quickly laying the foundation. Once I’ve done this the rest is easy!
It helps the close of your post when you generate a conversation around your post with a call to action question.
Many writers and bloggers struggle with taking too long to write and publish a post. I used to be one of those bloggers who would take way too long!
What causes us to take too long crafting a blog post? A fear based mindset will hold your blog post writing back. Awareness is the key to dealing with the fears that lead to perfectionism.
These fears are guaranteed to generate writer’s doubt making it difficult to hit publish! When you calm your blogging fears you’ll kick perfectionism to the curb!
With practice and the right blogging mindset you’ll be well on your way to writing and publishing your posts quicker and more regularly.
They are guaranteed to generate writer’s doubt making it difficult to hit publish! When you calm your blogging fears you’ll kick perfectionism to the curb!
Create a routine that you can manage.When we set a routine that is manageable it is easier to maintain. If you write 1 post per week and can consistently post this routine then keep doing it. On the other hand if you write 3 posts 1 week and next week nothing it confuses your audience.
The intentional effort given to creating a blog posting routine will take you far as a blogger.
Doing this will help you grow as a writer and blogger by leaps and bounds!
Do you have a blogging routine?
What helps you to consistently write and publish blog content?
If you’ve started your blog congratulations! Beginning anything new is the hardest part.
Once you have launched your blog you’ll need to do certain things to help it grow.
I’m frequently asked by new bloggers how to get readers and increase blog traffic.
Many bloggers think eventually their ideal readers eventually find them.
They mistakenly believe that one day high volumes traffic will magically appear.
This isn’t true.
To generate blog readers and loyal followers you’ll need to build your own tribe.
Doing this allows you to expand your reach to a larger audience.
In this post, I provide some helpful suggestions for attracting more readers and followers.
Ultimately generating more blog traffic.
Experienced fellow bloggers can teach about how to effectively grow our blogs.
There are many writers and bloggers to learn from!
Those who have already paved a way to success for us.
Learn from them.
Show up where they are and express interest in what they do.
Join their course(s), read their books and blogs, leave comments and promote their work.
These bloggers will help you tremendously on your road to blogging success.
If you follow experienced bloggers lead you’ll grow a blog guaranteed to last.
One that will eventually grow to become a hopping blog on the web!
You’ll avoid making unnecessary mistakes that will save you lots of time and frustrations.
Utilize Social Media – The truth is not everyone visits, reads or subscribes to blogs.
Some people only use social media for online interactions.
It’s a great way to expand your reach.
Facebook groups are fantastic ways to connect with other bloggers in your niche.
You’ll make some blogging friends and help each other to succeed.
Blogging is about community and connections.
Share the works of other bloggers.
People will see your post and if it is of interest to them they’ll share and read it.
Get in the habit of describing a bit about each post.
Ask a question to encourage comments.
It isn’t enough to just write and set up a blog.
You need to build an email list right away.
Doing this will help you grow an audience of loyal followers.
Everyone loves getting something for free!
Offering a free eBook, newsletter, email course or something you can think of to offer your readers for free.
Doing this works amazing to grow your list.
There is power in guest posting! For a long time after I started my blog,
I didn’t write anywhere else.
Once I began guest posting I noticed a difference in my blog traffic.
You’ll expand your reach to the audience of the blog owner you write for.
It helps you get known to readers and other blogger/writers.
Those who may not otherwise discover you.
Submitting guests posts in your niche enables you to reach a larger readership.
When you read blog posts of interest to you and comment on those posts… you will also get noticed.
Engaging with other writers and bloggers helps you get noticed too!
You’ll generate more blog traffic by connecting with others.
We can’t succeed alone!
Here’s why;
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below…
What is something you’ve done that has increased your blog traffic?