How to make your blog more appealing ?
Beauty is in the eye of the be holder
- Blogging cannot be confined to one specific
- topic
- demographic
- age
- ethnicity
- category
- Genre
Even though some of us specialize in different topics .
In fact ;People from all across the globe read blogs .Blogs have become the go to source for news products ,services ,businesses and people alike .
But What I have found is that a lot of bloggers are doing a good job at producing content but many including myself are lacking in the entertainment department.
So yes there is more work to be done .
A writers job is to help facilitate an environment that is inclusive useful and fun.
In order for that to happen The relationship has to be mutually beneficial .
And content marketing is like putting pieces of a puzzle together.
So therefore being in the loop ( hip) helps keep you updated on the latest trends ideas and philosophies.
To help you meet the demands of your readers.
More importantly than anything else is knowing how to connect with your audience. That is key again .
knowing what sparks their , interest,addressing their concerns alleviating their fears.
If you can get a grasp of it you can win.
When you know what people want you can curtail your blog post to meet their needs.
On the other hand if you are not up to date in-touch there is a very high chance that people will lose interest ,abandon your site which can hurt your rankings in the process too.
Read 7 tips that will make your blog more successful
In order to keep people’s attention you have to give them a good reason to stay around .
You have to earn your views !
So therefore I think that it is best that you involve your readers to make them know and feel that they are listened to and appreciated .
If you do not listen and involve them then I can assure you that another blogger will. Make your readers happy.
So you must do everything in your power to ensure that
You do not lose followers due to neglect.
Start involving your readers in the process then the tide will come in.
Remember ( A rising tide lifts all boats)
So Make things comfortable for people so that when they do visit your blog it gives them a sense of feel and belonging.
Remember to please your existing guest too.
Eventually after building trust people will buy your products and services.
Check out 8 steps to make your blog more successful
Wouldn’t that be great ?
Mind you ,Before any sales transactions take place you must be willing to feed your readers the quality content they so richly deserve.
But You cannot be rigid (regimental) in doing things .
Disciplined yes !
But Do not get caught up chasing word count ,focus on producing value.
When people become the center of attention that is when things will start running smoothly.
I see lots of Bloggers getting into problems for failing to incorporate a content marketing strategy that is mutually beneficial.
Being inclusive does not mean losing touch of your personality, it means that you should incorporate a balanced approach .
If You go out of your way and write an in-depth post that does not resonate with your audience would you not be angry ? I will wait to hear your response.
Further-more, who wants to spend hours writing an article and not getting any benefits out of their work ?
Do you ?
I mean at some point in time you want to be in a position to reap the rewards of thy labor come harvest season.
Do you agree with me ?
Mind you… making mistakes is an inevitable part of it but there are measures you must take to minimize ,offset against the risk of screwing up.
But if you do not know how to fix it where do you start ?
There is no definitive answer but here is a clue.
The key is to stay connected.
Lets Face the facts ;we live in the age of
social media
entertainment
Hype
This is where bloggers need to be in the trenches doing more grass-roots work.
Even persons producing sub par content , advertising , dining his/her audience is likely to make more progress than the likes of me and you if we are not exciting our readers.
Check this out !
- seminars
- conferences
- meet and greets
- Town hall meetings
I mean any which way you can foster better relationships to build trust and awareness.It all counts.
So Now it is time to get up out of that comfort zone and start getting busy .
Get down and dirty.
Searching for trending topics is just one aspect of blogging
Searching out people sparking meaningful conversations building lasting relationships is a another ball game.
That is one of the few ways pick up wins .
Remember you do not need marketing dollars to search and find people interested in your niche .
All it requires is an investment of time and energy.
So Use organic outreach techniques to your advantage.
Some bloggers get deterred because of the hard work it takes to earn the organic traffic.
It takes hard work yes but it is essential and I know it is because I do it on a daily basis on platforms like Facebook ,Twitter, instagram.
That is what I call planting seeds.You reap what you sew.
So You have to get in people’s ears to help generate a buzz about your blog.
People talking about you are the ones indirectly promoting you.
I am not saying that you need to be an animated blogger but that will help.Add some flare into it.
You have to be different in order to stand out in this day and age and Standard content will not cut it.
- Check out some of the
- movie actors
- comedians
- musicians to get live examples.
I want you to take a look and see what they are doing .
Like for example; do they use certain words ,do they use trade mark moves ,do they stare and look at you or anyone else a certain way.
Little things like that make the world of difference .
People want something unique.They are Tired of the same old mantra.
Some body has to break out of the web .
So All you need is an outline to get you going in the right direction.
The whole point of this exercise is to get you thinking outside of the box to help you create fun post.
You do not have to do anything out of this world to make an impact either.just inject your personality .
Seth Godin is a prime example of a writer breaking barriers. Seths style goes against the “grain” so to speak but he is well received by his audience and others .
Seth is a rare talent but each one of us have unique capabilities.
Seth is true to himself.
You never know the Impact you can make unless you try.
Not every idea is going to be a home run and no not all them need to .
So Your duty is to keep brainstorming ideas. Keep your brain ticking .
Throw away the box .Think universal.
The whole purpose of this article is to help prepare you for what’s to come.
And do not be afraid of making mistakes. Mistakes is an inevitable part of the game .
I think that you end up having more fun when you are not so serious .
when you create an environment where the situation is fun chances are you will perform better.
When I write my main focus is to have fun which results in me writing better post.
So it is not like my sole purpose is to outrank you even though that possibility exist .
I want to keep it fun and witty because I am at my best when I am having fun.
Content marketing is the bridge that connects me to people.
You would be surprised to know how many people are willing to listen to what you have to say.
So never underestimate yourself.
Whilst there are millions of blogs online there is still room for the likes of you and me.
We have to carve out our niches make bonds with our followers.
The communication has to be conversational because we are dealing with people.
And when you take the people factor into consideration you must focus on tapping into their emotions .
Do not be robotic when you write.
We have to be willing to give our readers the answers they need.
In other words feed them with solution based content.
I know I mentioned the term “entertainment” but solving or answering is not only a way to build trust but is also another way to inspire,encourage people to take certain actions.
No big words or phrases are needed just simply sprinkling a little bit of your personality into the mix and you have a recipe for success.
Sometimes we think we have to do extraordinary things like action figures to when we really don’t.
No not everyone has the same likes and dislikes .
So think of why people are following your blog in the first place .
Would you sign up for a news letter or blog if you did not have interest in what the person has to say ? I think not.
Anyone following your blog has signed up because they have some form of interest in you as a person or they have interest in learning .
So that alone speaks volumes about the content you provide.
This message is one of hope and reality.There is no limit as to what you can achieve when you believe.
Blogging is fun and time consuming however the benefits outweigh the struggles we face behind the scenes by miles.
So Do not be persuaded or discouraged by anyone .
Set your goals, execute your plans.
If you invest time and energy into content marketing people are likely to see for them selves.
Like one time on twitter or Facebook some one mentioned to me (you are very passionate) and I never even knew the person.
That alone goes to show the impact I am making with my work which happens to be action and words.
I like comparing the over all user experience on a website to that of a hotelier hosting guest.That is A place to wine and dine your audience with exceptional service.
A blog is more than a place to archive and share your content .There is so much more work that goes on behind the scenes that many of us do not understand or appreciate.
There are lots of us that set up a blog ,post content ,pick a theme and that is it.
- updating pages
- Theme
- Home page
- About me page
- Responsive theme
All of the above items matter when it comes to ranking and improving users website experiences.
Anyone can pick out a theme then publish content but It is the intimate things that bring readers back to your blog .
After all not having guest coming back visiting your site is like having a restaurant that serves only one or two persons then ends closing up shop.
Think of it this way .(If you were hosting a house party would you want your kitchen and living room clustered ?) I know full well I wouldn’t want to invite guest over in that state.
You blog is not a house but it is a place where people come to hang out and read.
Even when I do visit other people s websites I expect certain standards to be upheld .More over I can tell you clear as day what I dislike.I dislike being on a site reading content then out of the blue a big pop-up appears .That is annoying !
So put yourself in the shoes of your viwers before and after you make tweaks and adjustments to your blog.
For instance you might need to purchase better hosting to help increase site load speed reduce bounce rate and keep visitors on your site longer.Those are the types of issues that need immediate attention.
The key element of running a successful blog is not in just in having good products more so happy customers happy readers.
If After all you cannot attract and keep people on your site then it is useless having a blog .
Now .Some bloggers trick their blogs out you know the fancy colors designs to make it appear to be appealing .
As a matter of fact you can end up losing more readers that way.Having too many logos on your site makes it look messy and scammish.
Look at Face book ,Amazon ,Google those sites are easy to navigate and their designs are not complex.
The number one reasons why people visit websites is to get information ,browse ,to purchase.So if your websitec is flooded with adverts and affiliate links then it becomes more of an inconvenience for your readers
Learning to make a blog appealing is not a difficult task .we have countless examples of well run blogs on the internet .
This brings me to my next question (what do you like and dislike about my blog ?) Check where I am taking you now.I can easily run a site test and identify the bugs but I need your feed back too.
What I did just now is a classic way of winning over the hearts and minds of you my readers .
Because one it shows that I care about what you have to say.
Number two it gives you a chance to participate in the process.
Then when you viewers revisit my blog and see the changes you will know that I value your input.
Maybe you can pick up a thing or two ,maybe your site is ranking well ,the content is good .
We are going to learn tips and tricks to help us make our blogs more appealing to our readers .
Yes It is going to take a little time and effort to make the necessary up grades but it is well worth it.
Lets get into these blog tips
Post Good content
Publishing Good post is the key to success.If your site is clean responsive easy to navigate but if you are producing sub par content people will abandon your site in a heart beat .To keep people around produce good content .
Be unique
Be authentic and throw away the box.
People are tired of “lock step bloggers ” where everyone is singing the same tune. Differentiate yourself from the crowd and watch how your readers fall in love with you.
Involve your readers
Lecturers and people who want to prove point over voice degrade and talk at people tend to fail in this aspect. Give your readers a chance to be apart of the process. dialogue with them ! You can host live Q/A podcast non promotional seminars.
Highlight audience members
Most people I know like rewards .You are going to have groups of readers commenting and sharing your content .Show them some appreciation by honoring them as an honoree on your blog.
Keep it simple
I know people like you and I like to use big words in conversations because it makes us look and feel educated.Here is a little secret ( people can only relate to what they understand ) Take away ; Write in a language or code that is easily understood by your readers.
Make sure that your pages are optimized
I am not talking about search optimization directly but more so having your home about me pages filled out with adequate information .
Use the right colors
Colors have meaning in business.In fact some brands customize their website colors to tap into specific human emotions.
Quote your sources
When you share information and have stats and links to reliable sources backing your claims then you increase the chances of building trust with your readers.
Admit your mistakes
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is to (pretend like you do not make mistakes) .Remember the objective is to build a blog that is attractive to your fan base and being honest helps.
Build authority
If people cannot trust you they are very unlikely to converse with you .People converse and advocate for bloggers that provide solutions to their problems .
Do not tolerate or promote spam
Spamming is harmful for your site and your community .Further more It is an inconvenience and puts your readers at risk of receiving or viewing unwanted services and products.
Diversify
Diversification is a term often associated with investing finances .Today I am using it to describe different ways to add flavor to your blog .
• Graphs
• Video
• Slide share
• Live behind the scenes action
• Live interviewing
These are just a few ways to entice your audience and prospects to come and visit your site.
Discuss the odd topic
On the odd occasion you can break away from your weekly monthly or daily blogging routine and write a post covering the latest trend .I think that trends are good to ride especially if they are controversial.
Right now as we speak a lot of people are up in arms about Gucci Advertising a white woman wearing a black sweater covering her face. Anyhow famous boxer Floyd May weather has been the center of attention for supporting Gucci even after its “alleged” racist advert.The point I am making is that by covering subjects that are trending is a good way to boost traffic.
Do something abnormal
Some bloggers host quizzes surveys give aways to help and get their readers actively involved .
Maybe you can go a step further by rewarding your readers with a free coaching package or a live demonstration while you draft your post. These are just few ideas that I am bouncing off of you.
Woo your audience
When I blog let my personality flow .For example, some people write auto biographies others write none fictional books whilst others write movie scripts and or comic books .
Do not be shy
If you are not confident in your ability how do you expect anyone else to be ? “Closed mouths do not get fed ?” Ask one of your audience members to share your blog post with a family member or a friend or something.Do not sit and assume that others will help promote your content. If you are willing to advocate for your self your readers are likely to vouch for you too .As a matter of fact Some People are more likely to trust you because your are confident in your work.
For more read 8 tactics for a more interactive blog
https://www.razorsocial.com/interactive-blog
Do not degrade people on your blog
Do not sit here and write a post like your high and mighty.In otherwords do not manipulate or guilt people into
buying
selling
Renting advertising space
If your content is good and you are honest people will buy from you anyway . Let me be clear with you . (there is nothing wrong with writing a promotional post just as long you do not do it every post and annoy your readers.)
Use automation when necessary
I know about the chatbot and how they can make your job easier but at the same time automation can hurt your relationships with the people.
Trust me ,there will be people on your site asking specific questions some of which is better off dealt with by a human.
Host a fun night
everyone else likes to host quizzes surveys give aways and contest .When was the last time you have you seen a blogger invite their guest to an online fun night just to chat and chill No business involved.
So you have to be willing to free up a bit ,you know experiment to find out what resonates and what doesn’t.
Remember blogging is universal as the relationship is between you and your audience .
Therefore you have to be open and willing to communicate so that you can stay attuned .
I am not asking you to do anything out of the norm but more for the sake of entertainment .
Think of the things that capture your attention .Maybe you like listening to certain radio stations at a specific time or maybe you like watching the Superbowl. The point that I am making is that some people like being surprised. some people like suspense .Some People do things for pleasure, some people do things for the thrills . In the midst of it all most people do things because it full fills a need or a want.
What need will you full-fill for your fan base.
What methods and techniques will you use to make your blog more appealing ?
I want you to get every inch that you can by extending the options available on your blog.
Sit down and have yourself a brainstorming session to see what Ideas you can come up with.
Reach out to me and I will give you some more insight .
I do hope that you enjoyed today’s episode .
Conclusion
So many of us focus on content production on and off page optimization as the main areas to help improve the users experience.
A lot of us have guidelines that we follow religiously no matter what we post .As a result we often become reluctant to change .
I do think that following the traditional blogging rules has its advantages and disadvantages.
I think that the problem is when we become obsessed or rule driven and less creative you know like being in a rush to meet content deadlines .Another way that We run into problems is by assuming when we should be confirming.One of the quickest to get confirmation is to test , ask questions.
If you do not ask you will not get an answer .And No you are not putting yourself at a disadvantage by getting insight from your audience.
The people in Your tribe are the ones viewing subscribing to your offers so why not involve them in process .Further more they have likes and dislikes some of which you can use to your Advantage .
Here are some words of encouragement
You can do all the things in life that you put your mind to .Think big ,be bold be courageous .
And always make sure that you incorporate your reader in the process.
Now I am one hundred percent sure that there are much more ways to make a blog more appealing .
However it is up to you to find formulas that works best for you .
Using guidelines is a good but you must find creative ways of doing things on your own.
Writing in of itself is a creative process in which each writer has unique ability to write and impact people’s lives.
So use your influence because there are people looking at you with a close eye .
Now you are not under any pressure here so this is just a friendly reminder to help bring awareness about the possibilities and doors that can be opened up.
So now is the time to embrace the challenges and charge ahead ..
You have the talent and Gifts to execute on your dreams at any given time.
Skill plays a part in the game of content marketing but is not as important as having the will power to execute.
I feel blessed to be here speaking in front of you today.
I want to thank you for investing your time and energy today.
How do you feel about this post ?
What points did I miss out on ?
Are you ready to entertain your readers ?
What did you learn in today’s post
I hope that you feel empowered and ready to tackle what is in front of you.
You do not have to take giant leaps but you must be patient and diligent in the process.
Start getting busy ! The keys are in your hand now .You are the captain of this ship.
You have the freedom and ability to steer where you want.
Thank you very much.
Get involved in the conversation,Your input is needed and appreciated .Please don’t feel as if what you have to say is not good enough because it is.
Thank you very much for participating .
Let me here you loud and clear in the comments section .