If you're reading this post you may be wondering how to even start a blog and I have to say there are great tutorials out there on the internet for that But when it comes to growing your blog, that's a whole different story. You may have a blog to go with your shop or store or you may have a blog that helps boost your income. Maybe you even have a blog that's just for fun. No matter what reason you have for starting a blog, every blogger can benefit from growing their blog. Maybe it means more sales, more traffic, or more clicks on your affiliate links; but no matter what the benefits are, you have to put in the work.
The following tips are great for bloggers just starting out but also a great refresher for those of us that may be feeling stale with our traffic and our post content. These tips are ones that I have tried and succeeded with and even some that I need to work better at. I've collected this advice over the last 8 years of blogging from conferences, other bloggers, and my own experience of seeing what does and doesn't work.
In order to put content out that attracts readers you need to put yourself in their shoes. What needs do they have that you can fulfill? Maybe they just need a laugh, maybe they need fashion advice, or maybe they need to buy some beauty products that you just so happen to hand make. You need to market yourself and your blog so that it serves a purpose. For me as an advice blogger I try to solve common problems that people have whether it has to do with money, getting organized, or staying fit and healthy. You don't buy a book just because you saw it on the shelf, right? You generally have an interest in the topic, so just remember that when you create blog posts.
Working with other bloggers in collaborations is a great way to get their readers to become your readers as well. Sometimes I link to a random blog post from another blog I enjoy reading. I've also teamed up with other bloggers for giveaways and I always interact with them on social media. A very important way to get yourself noticed is by visiting other blogs and leaving GENUINE comments on their posts. Now, when I say genuine I mean more than just "Great Post" because trust me as a blogger, I hate that and I totally know when you're commenting just to get more traffic. Read my post, process it, and make a genuine comment or add your 2 cents but don't be generic. When other people see that they aren't going to want to check you out. At the end of your comment make sure you link to your own blog. This is how other people may stumble upon your blog from another one. Also, reach out and find your blogging bestie. For years now I've been meeting up with Monica of Jersey Girl, Texan Heart to spend time together and we've actually become best friends. She was even at my wedding reception!
Giveaways are a great way to boost your traffic on your blog and on social media. You can ask readers to subscribe to your newsletter, follow your social media sites, and even leave a genuine blog comment on your post in order to gain entries. One of the keys to a good giveaway is a decent prize. I know that some of you may work with a company that wants to run a giveaway and that's great but sometimes the prizes are LAME! I will confess that even I used to run lame giveaways. Winning a coffee mug is just boring and most people would rather spend the money on it than waste the time trying to enter and win. That doesn't mean you can't giveaway the mug from the company that is working with you but try adding something else like maybe a $10 gift card to Starbucks. Make the prize worthwhile for those entering. Everyone has a busy life and people won't want to waste their time if it's not going to be worth it.
This is a very important aspect of blogging. Choose a nice clean layout and a simple background. And make sure you have an attractive logo and/or header. This is where you may need to invest a little bit of money to have a graphic designer help you out but trust me it's worth it. If you have low traffic it's either because your content is boring or your blog is "ugly". Sorry, but it's the truth. Take a good look at your blog. Then go look at other blogs that seem to be doing well. Who has a nicer layout and cleaner look when you visit the blog? When you visit a blog there shouldn't be any pop ups or broken images that don't load. Clean your blog up. Don't have a ton of things going on in your sidebar. Keep it nice and uniform. I've worked really hard to get this right over the years so if you need some inspiration, take a look at mine.
When someone comments on a blog post, make sure you respond in a very timely manner. Don't just give a generic thank you but instead thank them for visiting and respond to their comment acknowledging that you're paying attention to what they are saying. This is a great way to make readers feel appreciated.
I've attended a few blog conferences and the benefits are endless. Not only do you learn a lot but you meet new people and you have more confidence as a blogger. If there are no conferences around you then just look for online trainings for growing your blog or even polishing up on your social media skills. You can write the expenses off at tax time and the money you invest will be well worth it with the information you get out of the training. And if you don't have the money for that then find posts from other bloggers about how to do better. Just last month I did a post about how to grow your Instagram.
Make sure you have a little area of your home that you can get some quiet and focus on writing your blog posts. This will help you get in the zone and avoid distractions. I have a little office area with no TV or music and that's where I go. Sometimes if it's nice out I'll sit on the porch and do some blogging on my laptop. You also need a way to stay organized as a blogger so consider getting a planner book where you can brainstorm ideas and schedule when your blog posts will go out.
So if you polish up on some of these skills, and keep this in mind as you blog in the future you should see some improvements in your traffic and readership.
Of course! I hope some of these help you!
Your little work area is adorable, Ellen - I think I'd be like you, heading out to the porch on nice days though! Great tips - I think I need to clean up my sidebar. I did give it a spruce up recently but perhaps it needs it again.
I love the honesty of this post. I really agree with leaving genuine comments. Nothing is more annoying than "nice post" followed by a link to a blog. I think I have to do some work on hosting a giveaway and attending a blog conference. Oooh, I also love your work area!