At least part of the reason you have a blog is so that people will read it and also comment with their thoughts on the topic that you took the time to post. If these people come back to your blog consistently, then you have a true follower.
How do you make people return frequently?
To begin, you can not “make” anyone else do anything. You can only control yourself and that’s it, so the question should really be, “What should I do so that people come back day after day to read what I post on my blog?”
THAT is definitely the question and every day people discuss, argue, debate, hash out, talk over, and blog about the best way to keep a reader’s interest.
“Today you are You,
that is truer than true.
There is no one alive
who is Youer than You.”
~Dr. Seuss~
Who are you?
No one believes “anonymous” unless it is a nifty quote. That’s just a fact. People like a face with a name and we want to know what makes you tick. It isn’t different on the internet. As a matter of fact, it is even more important on the internet to let the real you shine because people do not have the opportunity most of the time to talk with you face-to-face. Yes, there are a few exceptions such as blogging conferences and intentional meetings or parties, but for the most part, you are untouchable.
To enhance your identity on the internet:
- start with your own domain name
- create an about page on your blog
- open a Twitter account and tweet frequently
- create a Facebook Fan/Official Page
- join or have your own forum(s) with like minded people
- open a LinkedIn account
- Stumble to expand your presence, interest and knowledge
- have a means for people to contact you privately via email
Above all…be YOU.
YOU are unique in one way or another.
Fake people are not any fun.
Don’t be fake.
What is your goal?
Know what you want to obtain by having a blog. Do you want to have family and friends read your blog or do you want to make money by having lots of traffic? There isn’t a right or wrong answer to that question, however, you have to know why you are blogging because it is the basis of your content.
Who are your followers and what do they want to read?
Knowing your audience is crucial because if you don’t know what they want to read, you will definitely get it all wrong. For instance, if my audience is 60% men ranging in age from 35-55 years old, writing five times a week about doll merchandise and shopping for shoes is an unwise decision. I would be lucky to hold their interest more than two days.
Once you know who your audience is and what they want to read, write consistently. Your readers will get tired of going to your blog and finding old content and will eventually stop visiting altogether.
Another vital aspect to having your followers return is to talk with them, not to them like a mean school principle and definitely not like you know everything. Nothing turns me off faster than someone who gives the impression that their life is great and if mine doesn’t mirror it, then my life stinks. Ughhh!
How do you get to know your followers?
There are so many ways to get to know your readers! The relationship building opportunities are wonderful, exciting, enlightening, uplifting and fun! I promise not to go overboard on this aspect of blogging, but it is sufficient to say that getting to know so many wonderful, interesting and articulate people is mahhhhvelous dahhhhling! Honestly, it is extremely inspiring to connect with so many fantastic people.
In order to know your followers, you must talk to them via:
- comments on their blogs
- forum and community chats
- cards
- letters by the postman
- Skype
- text
- telephone
I hear you freaking out! You do not have to call all your followers on the phone, however, if one of them wants to talk to you that way, do it!
It is always disheartening to see that I poured my heart into a post, it was hit LOTS of times, read all the way through since the readers visit lasted two or three minutes on that page, but there are only one or two comments.
However, I KNOW that my followers read the post and I also know that they are busy with their own lives and challenges. Some of my readers have to type by the “hunt and peck” method, so I totally understand why they do not spend thirty minutes to type two sentences on my blog. I’m just happy that they read what I posted and hopefully enjoyed it. I try to remind myself of these facts and remember that comments are everything.
Comments are lovely, don’t get me wrong, and in many ways very important because the feedback keeps me on the same track as my followers. That is the main reason that I like having comments. It is a gauge as to whether I am posting what my audience wants to read and it helps me to get to know them better. Encourage commenting by your readers because it will build relationships that often blossom into friendships.
How to make your blog technically easy to read
There are many technical aspects to a blog that need to be attended to on a regular basis. Keeping your blog “follower friendly” is a must if you want your readers to return often. A few things that will help your blog include, but are not limited to:
- site loading time
- images
- content that is worth reading
- easy navigation
- template color isn’t blinding
- ignore page rank
- template font doesn’t require you to blow up your screen 50 times larger in order to read the post
- have your own domain
- easy to remember and interesting blog name
- your language and word usage corresponds with your reader (don’t talk over their head or like they are children)
- buttons and badges for followers to grab
- easy linking
Pay attention to the technical aspects, so that your readers can pop in, read a little and leave without difficulty. Make it a nice visit just as you would a friend who stops by your house just to see you for a few minutes to chat. Offer your readers that lovely visit and piece of cake, so to speak.
People will follow you
The internet and the world is a very big place. Thinking that NO ONE will EVER read what you write is a bit silly. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your blog won’t have 30,000 readers in a day either.
Just as you started school around the age of seven and then progress until you finally graduated one day, so it is with your blogging growth. Take it one day at a time. Learn and grow from each HTML blunder and blurry, undersized image. Before you know it, your blog will bring you much happiness in the form of money, visual appeal, life enhancing experiences, peace, excitement, knowledge, personal growth,lasting relationships or maybe all of the aspects listed!
I love blogging and plan on doing it until the daffodils are planted on my grave
Did I miss something today or did I hit the nail on the head?
Thanks for the very helpful suggestions. I've had my blog since Jan. and I have been really enjoying it. I do enjoy your blog, it is easy to visit and you always have something interesting to keep me comming back. Thanks.
Kathy
http://www.mydishwasherspossessed.blogspot.com
Dear Red
I am loving your blog more and more.
I love your generous spirit.
And your blogging tips.
But one question that nobody can answer me… what if you are doing all those things… ALL of them. What if you have great content, fab images, a quick loading time, your own domain name… the works.
But your official follower numbers creep up by ones and twos.
Over 75000 visits in 8 months… but only 300 official followers.
How do some blogs attract so many "followers"?
Is it a through follow-me-back memes? Is there some blogger heaven where American bloggers go to meet?
Is it because I am in New ZEaland and we only have about 200 bloggers here?
I have one of the biggest numbers of followers in NZ, the only one I know with more than me has around 500.
Is this cos we are so far away?
Just wonderin.
Wondering if you could visit my blog and give me your thoughts, Red.
I know you're a busy lady but I sure would appreciate your advice on what else I might do.
xxx
Thank you Kathy!
I'm glad you find my blog helpful and enjoyable enough to keep coming back. I always appreciate your comments.
Simoney,
Your readers are confused. You have SO MANY blogs and when I clicked your name in the comment I was trying to pretend to be a person that never visited you before.
The first thing I noticed was that you list your "email" under your picture, but you didn't list your main blog. So, of course, I started at the top of your "My Blogs" list.
If I was the "average" reader, I would not have visited the entire list of blogs. Your MAIN blog is the next to last on the list!!!!
First, I'm not sure why you don't incorporate everything in the "other" blogs into your main blog. It is all interesting and related. Plus, it would help not having huge gaps of times in between your postings on some of the blogs.
Since you asked…my suggestion are:
1. Put all the blogs into the main blog.
2. List your blog under the CONTACT section of your blogger profile where your email address is listed.
3. Be patient. You've only been blogging since July, so it hasn't even been a year yet.
4. Nothing is wrong with your blog. It's cute and I like that you incorporate lots of pictures because I'm so visually motivated.
5. It doesn't matter that you live in New Zealand. Join a forum, preferably mine. (smile) Aleta lives in Austrailia and is a very active member of my community. Everyone visits her blog regularly because she is "building relationships" not just trying to get numbers and followers. If you build relationships, the numbers and followers will happen naturally.
Okay, that was a whole blog post as a comment LOL I hope it helps!!!
Thanks Red, that's really good feedback. I never realised that was what was showing up. I've actually been blogging since September 2008! But the stats only started getting counted in July last year when blogger introduced the "Stats" widget.
I have been wondering what to do with the other blogs; they were meant to be communal. I may see if somebody wants to take over Undercover Bloggers. And maybe put my invitations into my main blog, as that is just a place for people to get free printables. WOuld be better in my main blog, as you say. Kidsclick started off with a hiss and a roar but I have lost energy for it. Reluctant to let it go but maybe I should. It's not really happening.
I am already a member of your community, but it seems like since my youngest no longer sleeps, I have limited blogging time and don't get to visit and join in forums like I used to. Plus we've been having major dramas with my eldest, so "life" has caught up with bloggin and demanded some more attention, LOL.
But thanks. I will totally take on board your suggestions.
xx
More wonderful info…thank you! I am amazed how you manage to find time for all you do but I am glad you do. I only have a limited time to blog and sometimes feel that's what drags me down, still I enjoy the friends I have made. Getting ready to step it up a little for exposure … new photography project starting this month!
Gah! Wrote a big comment and it disappeared…stupid phone! Gist was love your blog..thx for the useful tips…big hugs.
Would love you to check out my blog. Great post! Will work on using all of this stuff.
http://bdoublettechnology.blogspot.com/2011/04/ipad-me.html
Thank you so much! You have saved me so much time and stress! What a blessing! I just started my research and creating today, sooooo as such my blogspot only has one entry, but I am now (this week) going to work on a custom domain and incorporate ALL of your ideas! I would have never found you had you not posted on my blogfrog community, The Daily Wife. Thank you again….you angel!
Wow! I am so happy I just followed this site. I have had my blog for three years but after the first year I gave up on it because I didn't think it was going anywhere. I picked it up again 5 months ago and it has been flying by. I will definitely be keeping up with this blog because of your great tips and natural writing. I hope I can be as successful in it as you have been.
Hiya,
Love the post, and the site. I’m a newish UK visitor. I’m a writer who has been writing for many years but just started this online novel, around July-ish, I think. I’m trying almost every trick to gain followers and i think it’s slowly happening… it’s just not very ‘visible’ on the site yet. i.e. folks seem loathe to join, etc. But i know you’re right. Slowly but surely, build up relations etc. I’m trying everything but have very limited time, due to PT job and actually having to write a literary-style novel as well! Great help though, from your blog, thanks. I don’t understand the ‘linky’ thing though?! I wanted to put my site address in but wasn’t sure where. Also not sure if this is going to come up on your site as a comment, or be sent to you as a message! It takes time to get techno savvy too! x
Welcome to blogging!
This is an older post so the linky thing was closed/lost during my blog transition to a new platform. If you want to leave your blog URL in the comment section, you can do that instead.
Yes, this is a comment. 😀
I have a whole section dedicated just to “blogging” that you can read to help. You can access it from the navigation bar. Also, you can always ask me any question and I will try to help you.
Happy writing Sara!
I have read a few of your posts so far… (you are popular on Etsy it seems) 🙂 and this is just the kind of thing I needed to hear! I am a newish seller, newish blogger and newish promoter and there is so much information it can be hard to sift out the bugs. I have read two of your blogs so far and find them extremely helpful, simple to follow and sensible… thanks for taking the time to write!
Welcome Merry! I’m so glad you find my blog enjoyable and helpful! If there anything else you need to know and you can’t find it in a post, just tell me – if I need to do a post to explain whatever your question is, I will be happy to do it for you.
Great blog — at least what I’ve read so far 🙂 I’ve made a few attempts at blogging, but never really got it off the ground. I think I just had too many things going on at once. Too many irons in the fire, as they say.
I’ve been considering getting back into blogging, since I do enjoy writing very much. In fact, reading your blog inspired me to update my sole remaining hub at hubpages.com . Murphy’s Corner http://frndlyghost.hubpages.com/hub/Confessions-Of-A-Whipped-Cream-Junkie is written in the character of one of my cats, who is in fact, a total whipped cream junkie.
I also have three Twitter accounts: @frndlyghost , @BusterTWondrdog , and @EstherDBunny . The last two are “character accounts” — aka stuffed animals. So do feel free to say hello anytime 🙂
Thanks for the great suggestions and advice. Btw, I too am a redhead — well, formerly anyway. My hair started going white a few years ago, and I decided to let it go to its natural color last year. But I do have “fun colors” in the front (currently red and green for Christmas).
I will be coming back for more!
Elaine Hearne
Your cat is pretty! I also love that one of your cats is a whipped cream junkie. That’s really cute!
I’m glad you enjoyed my blog too. I just followed all your Twitter accounts. The redheads have to stick together!!! 😉
Thanks for your enthusiastic supportive post. I have been writing for two years now and get discouraged from time to time that my page views haven’t skyrocketed (I keep waiting for Oprah to discover me). I write about pop culture and myself on Tuesdays and review films and books on Fridays and I have readers but am still trying to figure out why people don’t leave comments and why I don’t have obvious followers. I am not very tech savvy and have had trouble with the RSS feed button working, that sort of thing. If you get a chance, giving me some feedback on my site would be greatly appreciated. Anyway, thanks again. I feel better after reading your post.
Rosy
People don’t have time to leave lots of comments. Actually people just don’t take the time to make lots of comments because they have gotten caught up in the “got to read more and more more” mode of life. Don’t take it personally.
As far as number of followers, it takes time and LOTS of marketing on LOTS of social media platforms to get your blog in front of people so they can know you exist. *time and effort*