We’re getting to the end of our time together, and in these last few days I like to look to the future and see how we can use what we’ve learned over the last few weeks on our blogs.
Today’s challenge is a simple one, although it might take you a bit of time, but it shouldn’t be skipped. We’re going to switch from creating content and the day-to-day of building community with our readers, and do things that are a little more long-term and strategic.
Today is all about growing your readership. I’ll discuss some of the drawbacks of focusing solely on content (as in a “build it and they will come” idea), and why it’s not going to do you any favours if you blog on a whim without a focus.
I’m also going to give you guidance when it comes to where you spend your time, who you are talking to, and how to find readers who will love your blog and what you do. I’ll tell you how to make a list that focuses on these things, and how to figure out what opportunities there are for you to join those readers and make an impact where they already are.
We’ll also have a look at where you are now and if the habits you currently have are serving you. And if they’re not – well, I’ll guide you through how you can make a change to blog to the right audience more effectively.
We’re almost there! Let’s go out with a bang.
Click here to listen to day 29 of the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series on the ProBlogger Podcast.
Further Reading:
A great way for anyone to grow their blog readership is to have a question and answer section whereas your answering people in real time online. Additionally, syndicating content with third-party application to social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube bookmarks, del.icio.us.com, Google plus community, Pinterest.com, App.net, and other networks will significantly assist in not only reaching the target audience, but retaining a “loyal blog readership.” Lastly, creating an online startup whereas a blogger creates a full-time income from answering people’s questions is a great idea toward making money online full-time or alongside daytime employment.
A good thing also for bloggers is to have a nice and attractive pop-up box that allows readers to submit their e-mail addresses in order to read the newest blog posts, which will in turn drive increased ad revenue, readership, RSS subscribers, and make automated marketing easier for the blogger.
Thanks for sharing .I want to create blog
Sounds very promising Darren,
The era of build it and they’ll come formula has long passed.
Most of us needs a change in mindset, a change in plan and a change in focus if we really want to remain in the race for long.
This one is really going to be superb, going to listen right away.
Thanks for sharing
This really sucks when you write a lots of articles but you do not get a lot of visitors. Visitors are the life of your blog. So, in these days this is really important to know how to make your blog popular among the visitors so that you get returning visitor for your blog.
This is why you have to focus more on creating “lots and lots of content” for your blog or website in general, so you build up the value of your site and don’t find yourself overwhelmed by submitting articles that have little SEO backlink value and build others up with content you write from scratch. Make it a habit to write 1 evergreen post daily for your site “1,00 words or better,” in addition to uploading a video to YouTube or writing 1 page a day including links back to your site and include affiliate links in the document, so that if ppl don’t come to your site and click an affiliate link in your document, you still benefit financially if they buy something.
Thanks Darren for sharing your valuable experiences through this podcast series.
Agree about the stories part: people need something personal to remember about your blog
I’ve had a ton of luck growing my readership with Pinterest. Pinning blog posts with eye-catching images allows people to share them and bookmark them to read later. Then, they can follow you to ‘subscribe’ to your pins.
Thanks for providing such useful tips to grow the readership of our blogs..