And, typically, a large following means a reasonably healthy readership. Now, you may think that these bloggers have a secret formula that allowed them to gain so many followers, but you'd be wrong.
There is no secret nor is there a hard-and-fast
formula. However, there are a number of things that you can do to increase
traffic to your blog and create a greater following. Bear in mind, though, that
none of these options are 'quick fixes'; the not-so-secret secret to a
successful blog is hard work.
Tip #1: Write About What You Know
It's a cliché, but
it's true...
This is the first and most important rule of
successful blogging. Don’t choose a topic based purely on what you think will
be popular. Almost invariably, these kind of blogs will flounder. Why? Because
a reader can tell if a writer has no enthusiasm for his or her subject.
Also, in theory, if you’re writing about a
something that you have a great interest in, you’re probably more knowledgeable
about that topic than the average person. Therefore, you’ll be able to create
posts that are not just pleasant to read, but informative for your audience.
People read blogs for two reasons: to get
information or to be entertained (you’re on to a real winner if you can combine
the two). So, just churning out stuff with the appropriate density of keywords,
isn’t enough. Yes, search engines may send a few people your way, but if
they’re not impressed by what they find, you haven’t gained anything.
So, choose a subject that interests you, something
you’re passionate about - a topic you can imagine yourself writing reams on. If
you want to write an educational blog, for example; the proper care of red
devil cichlid, it’s also helpful if you’re fairly knowledgeable on that breed
of fish before you begin.
However, having said, "write about what
you know", there is an exception to the rule. You might choose to write a
blog about something you don’t yet know, but are learning about. For instance,
if you wanted to write about your experience training your first puppy, that
would be an equally valid and, potentially, very interesting blog topic.
Tip #2: There's No Such Thing as Too Small
You've got to find
your niche...
If you want to create a blog that has lots of
readers and followers, the logical thing would seem to be write about something
that is popular. Actually, the reverse can sometimes be true.
On the face of it, it seems counterintuitive,
but think about it for a second. If you have a love of films, and decide to
write reviews of all the latest releases, how many blogs doing exactly the same
thing will you have to compete with? That’s right, lots!
So, although millions of people will be
searching for the newest superhero flick or romantic comedy, your blog is one
drop in a very large ocean of similar sites. Now, that’s not to say it can’t be
done. But, if you’re going to write on a topic that thousands of others are
also writing about, you have to make sure you stand out from the crowd.
Alternatively, though, you should think about
finding your niche - something that the world and his wife aren’t already
talking about. That isn’t necessarily as hard as it seems and is, often, a
simple case of narrowing your subject.
Let’s use the film example again. If you have a
love of movies, don’t just write about all the latest blockbusters. Instead,
consider specializing. Now, that may be one actor, one director, one style of
film or country of film-makers. Whatever it is, you’ll be the go-to guy or gal
for that specific topic.
Therefore, not only will search engines send
readers your way, but you'll create a dedicated following of like-minded folks.
Tip #3: Find Your Voice
No, you don’t have to
sing…
All writers have a ‘voice’ (it's not exclusive
to authors of fiction) that is unique, or at least they should have. Think of
it as talking; each and every one of us has a very individual way of speaking,
with our own timing, inflections and odd speech habits. When you first start writing, you’ll probably
find that you’re mimicking the style of another author. And that’s fine, while
you find your feet.
However, once you’ve established what you’re
going to write, you really need to be thinking about your own unique voice.
Remember, I mentioned above, people read blogs to be entertained, not just
informed.
Now, you may want to be humorous, sarcastic,
angry or serious in the way you tackle your subject. All of those are fine
stances to take, but what you don’t want to do is be a carbon copy of any other
blogger.
As far as I’m concerned, one of the best ways
to find your voice as a writer, is quite simply to write. The more comfortable
you begin to feel, the more loosely your writing will begin to flow.
Essentially, the more relaxed you are, the more your voice will come to the
fore.
And, once you’ve found your writer’s voice,
you’ve added another aspect of your posts that sets you apart from all the
others. In turn, this enhances your chances of gaining a regular readership and
will increase your blog's followers.
Tip #4: Make The Most of Social Media
Although, it's not
necessary it can come in very handy...
Okay, you’ve got some quality writing going on
now, you’ve found your voice and your niche. So, it’s time to get some readers.
I know many writers who do not use any form of
social media to socialize, let alone plug their work. So, it’s not a necessary
part of being a blogger. However, it can be tremendously helpful.
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Stumbleupon, Digg,
YouTube, and any other platform you can think of, can be utilized to spread the
word about your blog. That said, you should be careful when self-promoting on
sites like Digg and Stumbleupon, because if all of your links are to your own
site, it will not be looked upon fondly.
So, be sure to find other sites you like and
give them a nudge, too. And, when you do, If you can contact the site owner and
tell him or her that you've given their blog a plug, they may well return the
favor.
It’s a simple fact that the more people visit
your site, the more likely it is for you to find readers who are interested and
entertained by what you’re writing and will subscribe to future posts.
Tip #5: Be Courteous to Commenters
Be sure to reply to
all comments you receive...
Unless they’re spammers, people don’t readily
leave comments on websites. So, if someone has taken the time to comment on one
of your posts, be sure to reply. If possible, address the reader by name and
respond to their comment with a relevant response.
Bear in mind, they may disagree with the stance
you have taken on a particular subject, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be a
return reader. If they feel you’ve handled the topic thoughtfully, the fact
that they disagree may not deter them from subscribing to your blog.
Similarly, it is a good idea to visit blogs
that are handling the same (or connected) subjects to yours. And if you read
something that interests you, be sure to leave a comment telling the author.
Again, you don’t have to agree and it’s perfectly acceptable to say so, as long
as you’re constructing your comments in a non-confrontational and mature
manner.
By making friends of fellow bloggers, you’ll
increase the chances that they’ll give you a ‘shout out’. And being courteous
to all your readers may inspire them to follow your posts.
Blogging Ain't Always Easy
There are no shortcuts...
If you take nothing else away from this
article, take this: Blogging isn’t an exact science, it’s a craft. As such, it
takes time to become gifted at it. You may not strike it lucky with your first
blog and, chances are, you’ll grapple with a few topics before you find ‘the
one’.
You should also bear in mind that no site is a
smash success overnight. If you want to get more readers and blog followers,
you have to be persistent, as well as following the tips above.
In the case of most bloggers, they find that
their sites really start to come into their own when they hit fifty posts.
Nobody has been able to tell me why this is the ‘magic’ number, but it seems to
be the case.
Of course, you may start seeing positive
results before you make the fifty-post mark, but if you’re serious about making
money from blogging, you have to be committed for the long haul. From an online
writing point of view, there is no such thing as a maintenance-free source of
income.
Good luck with your blogging ventures!