Photo by Athena
If you want to be a trusted, valuable resource in your blog's niche, you'll want to write posts that stand out. Posts that people will bookmark, e-mail to their friends, mention on their own blogs, or even simply print out and stick on the fridge – these are the types of posts that make your blog one they'll want to read. Your blog is one that improves their daily life, is a wealth of information, and is incredibly useful. Do that, and your blog will succeed.
Sounds easy, right?
Building up your blog to be the go-to place takes time. It's not easy, in fact. But there are a few tricks of the trade that make it a little bit easier – simple ways that increases your blog's stickiness (definition: a blog that keeps its readers). And none of them are terribly hard.
• Use very small paragraphs. People don't read blogs, they skim them. If you hand them a huge block of text, they'll skip right over it, along with the life-changing information you've just written. Successful blog that does this well: Rocks in My Dryer
• Use bullet points or numbered lists. These are the types of posts people save, share, and bookmark. They're useful, because they're easy to read. This is a bullet point post. Successful blog that does this well: Zen Habits
• Write clearly. While it's important to write well, it's not important to impress your audience with multi-syllabic words and fancy jargon no one really uses. Talk like a person, not like a snooty expert. Successful blog that does this well: Frugal Dad
• Be witty. You don't have to write joke after joke after joke, but if you can, provide a voice that sounds natural, as though your reader is sitting down with you over coffee or a glass of wine at a dinner party. Successful blog that does this well: Put Things Off
• Get to your point immediately. Very few successful blogs can ramble at the beginning and keep its readership. Treat your readers as smart adults with a busy life, and tell them right away what your post is about. Successful blog that does this well: Like Merchant Ships
Photo by Krista
• Find your unique angle to a well-known subject. If you're going to write about something everyone's dog's blog is writing about, make your piece incredibly different than anyone else's. Write about being a mom, but write about potty training and being the tooth fairy and watching your kids grow in a new way. Be different. Successful blog that does this well: Dooce
• Use photos. There should be a really good reason if your post doesn't have an accompanying photo. And I really can't think of one off the top of my head. FYI: There are scads of places online to find legal, free, or cheap photos. Flickr is one of them, but please read this article about giving proper credit before using other's photos willy-nilly. Successful blog that does this well: Soule Mama
• Don't use music. Many people read blogs at work, with sleeping babies on their laps, or in the only quiet time of their day (i.e., kids' nap times). Don't scare the pants off of them while they're blog surfing. If you want to keep readers at your site, then keep your music widget with an optional play button, if you must have it at all. Successful blog that does this well: Any blog that doesn't use music
• Take a stand. If it's something you're truly passionate about, don't be afraid to share your opinion. People remember the posts that vehemently defend an issue that means the world to them. Successful blog that does this well: Queen of Spain
• Be real. Even though you should convince readers that you're qualified to write about your niche, don't scare them away by appearing perfect. Mistakes are what make people people – I, for one, love someone's advice or opinion all the more if they learned it the hard way. Share your blunders. And your readers will cheer when you succeed. Successful blog that does this well: Looking Towards Heaven
What kind of posts on your blog receive the most comments? These tend to be the ones your readers enjoy the most. What does that say about the type of blog you have? How can you reproduce that type of post? Is there anything you'd add to my list?
"Toblerone" is an American mom living overseas with two kids 3 and under, and she writes about life hacks for home managers at Simple Mom. She also hates wearing socks, and could wear flip flops year-round if the weather permitted.
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Fabulous post. I love how you give advice and examples of what you are talking about. Sometimes it's hard to know just what we should be striving for, but seeing it in action is so helpful.
Thanks for highlighting my blog in your post. I do think some of the best authors are the ones that write in an everyday language–as if you are having a conversation with them. For me, this is easy to pull off because I'm about as far from an "expert" as you can get!
Thanks for highlighting my blog in your post. I agree that some of the best authors are the ones that write in an everyday language–as if you are having a conversation with them. For me, this is easy to pull off because I'm about as far from an "expert" as you can get!
I'm pretty sure I haven't scared any readers away by being perfect!
I hadn't thought about photos before, I use them, but not consistently. This is great advice for me. Thanks!
Glad it's a help! The hardest part was narrowing down just which blogs should represent my points…
Fantastic entry!!!!!!!!! Yessssssssssssssss!!!
Do you think that if I link to it, gals who do NOT use paragraphs, will get the hint???? -sigh- Know those who write in one long stream of consciousness *humongously* LONG paragraph?!? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! If they weren't sweet, I'd just bail.
But in fact, I do not reallllly readdddd them closely. -sigh- Even if they'd break it up some, with little colored ~~~~~~~ or something. -sigh-
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Photos-City-Mine
When Twilight Embraces
Fantastic entry!!!!!!!!! Yessssssssssssssss!!!
Do you think that if I link to it, gals who do NOT use paragraphs, will get the hint???? -sigh- Know those who write in one long stream of consciousness *humongously* LONG paragraph?!? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! If they weren't sweet, I'd just bail.
But in fact, I do not reallllly readdddd them closely. -sigh- Even if they'd break it up some, with little colored ~~~~~~~ or something. -sigh-
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Photos-City-Mine
When Twilight Embraces
Amen to the music. I've exited many a blog without reading a thing when music started blaring.
I also have faced the mono-paragraph. I usually try to email some of those folks and tell them how hard it is to read, but many of them don't have a visible way to contact them (another pet peeve of mine, along with the missing search box)
Great article with great points. I like to THINK that I'm following most of them, but it's nice to be reminded. . . I'll be relooking my blog in the next couple of days to really evaluate how I'm doing.
Great article. I'm always looking for ways to improve my blog. I've been blogging for almost a year and since it's become a huge part of me, I know there are things I need to do to become better.
Great article, Simple Mom! I would definitely include you in the list of bloggers who consistently provide well written informative posts that are frequently bookmarked. I especially enjoy your posts on home management notebooks and budgeting.
I have recently started a blog, and have been searching for articles like this! I also find it helpful to consider what it is that makes me like the blogs that I follow regularly, and to try and emulate those traits if they are a good fit for me.
Great post, thank you. I especially appreciate the example links. These are all great tips.
Thanks for sharing!! Those are some really helpful tips. C'mon by Wani's World and check out my WFMW post!
If you're going to take a stand, make sure you research first. Research thoroughly, and research from different angles. You have to have something to stand on, people WILL call you out on this. And if you really want to be respected in this arena, welcome those with opposing opinions and treat them with respect.
I totally agree about the joke after joke thing. So much joking dilutes the funny. And actually makes you seem LESS witty than if you'd used no jokes at all.
Thanks for all the great advice! It is sooo what I, as a new blogger, am looking for.
I agree about the music on some blogs. I hate it when it comes on automatically.
And your point about photos stepped on my toes. I haven't used many. I'll be working on that!
Again, thank YOU!
I appreciate photos too….but (you knew that was coming, didn't you?lol)….photo after photo of a flower/whatever sometimes makes me want to hit my head on the monitor. And I LOVE flowers…just be a tad careful of "overdoing" photos…
This is an excellent article. Thanks so much.
Tammy and Parker
http://www.5minutesforspecialneeds.com
Nothing makes me click away from a site faster than auto-playing music.
Excellent post with good points!
Great Ideas! Especially the one about MUSIC!
This was a terrific post! Great points. I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like music when she's blog-hopping.
My writing trouble is I need to get to the point more quickly and be succinct. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you for these great tips! I've been wondering about photos for a while, and this info was very helpful.
This is very helpful! Thanks for posting!
Great post, great advice! I'm going to try to keep all this in mind as I blog in the future. I'm really just starting out, and still trying to decide on my 'voice' and niche. Thank you for such an informative, well written post.