Do you wish your blog could grow at a faster pace?
Do you wish your blog’s readership was greater? Do you wish you had more blog followers?
Lately, readers have been writing asking how they can grow their blogs and expressing disappointment and frustration that their blogs are not growing quicker. Do you feel that way?
Perhaps there are factors that are causing your blog to grow at a slower pace than you would like. This post will tell you how to fix them.
Factors That Could Affect Your Blog’s Growth
Platform
Is your platform working for you? Have you given your goals for your blog any thought? Many of my readers are beginning bloggers. Have you considered what you want to do with your blog down the road?
For example, WordPress.com is a common choice for bloggers. However, if you want to monetize your blog down the road and sell advertising space, you will need to pick another platform. If you do, will your readers follow you there?
Next, is the template you’ve chosen for your blog working for you? For example, do you need sidebars? If yes, do you have them? Maybe you’ve noticed, my blog, Reflections, has nothing on the sides. Your template should work with the content you are planning to share.
Niche
Do you have a theme? You need a niche, and that becomes your brand. I know so many bloggers who have themes like “random thoughts”. I spent months honing my theme. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a political blogger, a pet blogger, an entertainment blogger, and… Blogging isn’t about the writer. It’s about the reader. Find a theme about which you are knowledgeable, and share it with your readers. They will be grateful that you have empowered them, and the your feeling of validation will be unsurpassed.
What if it is important for you to be able to write on a variety of themes? I would advise you to have different blogs.
Content
You should have two goals for your blog. One of them is to produce content for your reader. Your goal for your blog should be to communicate that content in an informative and engaging way.
If the content is about the reader, they will be engaged and learn from
If you went to blogging school, would this be the textbook?
the information. One way to engage the reader is to use words like “you”. They will feel like you are speaking directly to them.
Ask yourself if your content is timely. You might love the holidays, but writing about them in May, for example, may not seem relevant. Go ahead and write about the holidays, but keep it in draft form, so it’s ready to go at the end of the year.
My post 8 Easy Steps to Increasing Blog Traffic Using Google Adwords explains how to research your key words, so you will know if people consider your topic timely.
Your content should be friendly, if possible upbeat, and even entertaining. Use your own voice. Let your personality come through.
Your Audience
I explained above that many of my readers are beginning bloggers. I know that because I know my audience. You might ask how I know that. Am I advising you to stalk? No. They told me in their comments.
I do try to write blogging tips for all levels. What if you can’t write so you appeal to everyone? MailChimp allows you to contact segments of your readers. You can send your blog links to certain segments and appeal to your various populations that way. My post How to Easily Increase Your Page Views is a MailChimp tutorial.
I understand slower growth than you anticipated can be discouraging. I have tried to give you points to ponder. People see you the way you are today. If you are currently disappointed with slow growth, try some of these elements, and marvel at the improvement in your traffic. I know I did.
Readers, if you think others can benefit from these tips, please share.
Did I miss anything? Are there any other points to consider when making blogging choices? On the other hand, how you tried any of these? How did making those changes work for you? I look forward to your views.
Related post: How to Grade Your Blog
