5 Ways to Persuade People to Stay Longer on Your Blog

By: | November 18, 2015 | Tags: , , , |

This is a sponsored post.

If people are not staying for very long on your blog, or they visit once and never come back, you have a problem. Here are some ways to persuade people to stay a little longer.

 

  1. Improve the Blog’s Appearance

 

This is where you should start when you’re trying to persuade people to spend longer on your blog. If it looks good, they’ll be more likely to stick around and see what else is on offer. You can improve the appearance of your blog in many ways. You can completely remodel it, giving it a new template and design so that it looks more modern and up to date. You could also change the way you present your blog posts. Trying adding interesting photos to your posts, for example. You can find plenty of free images online.

 

  1. End with a Question

 

Every blog post on your blog should finish with a question. Why is that? It’s because it gives your readers something to respond to. If you can start a conversation with your readers, then they will be more like to spend more time on the blog. When they do post a reply in the comment section, make sure you respond to it. That way, they won’t feel like they’re being ignored by you. There’s no better way to increase the amount of time people spend on your blog than improving its interactivity.

 

  1. Keep the Plate Spinning

 

An inactive blog is never going to be very successful. What usually happens when people visit a website and then find that it hasn’t been updated for a year is they leave straight away. Who wants to get information from a source that’s out of date? That’s why it’s so important to keep the plate spinning and update the blog regularly. Even if you don’t feel like writing anything, it’s vital to make the effort to post on it. This will improve the search engine ranking of the website’s pages as well.

 

Photo Credit: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/blogging.jpg

Photo Credit: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/blogging.jpg

 

  1. Ask for Emails

 

When people arrive at your website, you should ask for their email address. This will allow you to send them newsletters informing them about what’s new on your blog. This is a great way to let people know what you have to offer before they even visit the blog. Then, when they eventually arrive at the website, they’ll know exactly what they want to read. If you get it right, you should find that more people spend a lot longer on your website.

 

  1. Offer Related Posts

 

A related posts tool allows you to install a sidebar next to the article that’s being read that shows other similar posts. This is a great way of encouraging people to click on those posts and read something else. If you don’t do this, the chances are the reader will simply leave the website once they’ve finished reading one post. But if they are given the incentive to carry on reading something else, they will stay for longer on your blog. It’s a very simple trick, but it works every time, so give it a try.

 

Readers, please share, so other bloggers can get the benefit of these blogging suggestions.

I received compensation in exchange for publishing this article. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.

What do you think readers? Do you agree with the opinions the author presented? Which tip do you find the most useful? I look forward to your views.

 

Related Post:

15 Guaranteed Ways to Make Your Bounce Rate Look Amazing

 

  1. Charles Rogers

    I would say these are very good. The one that I’m struggle with is to get more than a “like” from a reader.seldom does anyone answer my questions.
    It takes time and work. What has worked for me. When I identify the “About” from a “Like”, I go to their blog and e-mail them a question or make personal comment in their comment section; priming the pump. c

  2. lbeth

    I think your hints are helping my blog grow. I find new followers almost every day. Thanks.

    • Janice Wald

      So glad to hear Linda. I am excited about your connection with Charles. He is a supportive community member.
      Janice

  3. Rina

    Hi Janice, I agree that related post helps to keep readers stay longer. There are various ways to incorporate the link to other post, it can be within the post itself, at the bottom of post, or in the side bar. Have you tried sticky side bar widget? It is particularly useful for lengthy post (1000 words or more) as it keeps the side bar showing all the way to the end of the post.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Rina,
      Thank you for writing me today. It’s been fun pinning to our blog’s community board with you. I see your pins there.
      I am not familiar with a sticky side bar widget. Is it a plug in?
      Janice

      • rina

        Yes, it’s a plugin called Q2W3 Fixed Widget (Sticky Widget). Try it and let me know if it works for you.
        Btw, yes, I have a lot of fun pinning to Mostly Blogging group board. I guess I just need to pin more regularly.

        • Janice Wald

          Hi Rina,
          Thanks for the suggestion. I will think about using the sidebar for this purpose. Also, if I ever update my tools post, I will add it as a suggestion.
          Janice

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Betsy,
      I tried to visit your site, but your name isn’t a link.
      Janice

  4. betsy hudson

    Sue, in your experience, is inserting “related posts” a close cousin of including a hyperlink within the text to send readers to another part of your blog? I’m a new blogger and I feel that the hyperlink is simpler.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Betsy,
      Thank you for your comments this morning.
      The answer is YES!
      At the bottom of this article I have a “Related Post” or “Related Posts” section. It is a way to give readers additional information on the topic and at the same time get traffic to older posts. In order to do that, I install a hyperlink to the older post, so readers can just click on it, and the hyperlink will take them there. Thank you for your questions!
      Janice

  5. betsy hudson

    So sorry— forgive me. (talking to two people at once)I meant JANICE, of course. 🙂

  6. Debbie

    I like the term, keeping the plates spinning. So true. I have another blog that I haven’t updated in ages. I need to do something about that.

    In addition to related posts, bloggers should link to some of their related articles within their post too. That helps keep readers around a little longer.

    And thanks for the link for free images. I’m always looking for good, free pictures.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Debbie,
      Thanks for checking this out for me. I agree. The photos at Free Range Stock look cool. Do you have a Sticky with your related posts on the side?
      Janice

  7. Melinda

    Janice, congrats on your first sponsored post! Woo hoo! You go girl!!
    You are in the big time now!
    Since you taught me how to insert hyperlinks, I think that has helped me so much!
    Your, BBFF Melinda

    • Janice Wald

      Have your page views improved? On your stats, you should see your old posts get views. I am happy I helped.
      I hope you will still have time to write me if/when you become a student.
      BBFF
      J

  8. Benjamin Carter-Riley

    Sound advice Janice!

    These things are what every blogger should follow, it’s so simple but it’s so important to do the five things that you’ve addressed in this blog post. Such a good post, I’m going to share it via social media. 🙂

    • Janice Wald

      Hi,
      Thank you so much. I am grateful for you sharing the article. Nice to meet you. I visited your site.
      Janice

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  10. Jessica

    I’ve also noticed that having my links (whether they be to my own blog or to another website) open in a new window helps keep people on my blog longer. Otherwise, I am directing people away and they weren’t coming back.

    • Janice Wald

      Hi Jessica,
      1. I agree with what you wrote. Every since I started putting links to old articles in my posts, I have been getting much better traffic. I remember once, the backlink was getting more traffic than the post!
      2. I also agree it keeps people on your site longer lowering your bounce rate.
      3. Thank you for visiting my site and commenting on my article! I am off to visit yours!
      Janice

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  12. commonsensegal

    Janice, insightful post….thank you for sharing. I was also glad to find the tip about the free photos at freerangestock.com, I am always looking for great free stock resources that complement my posts. Athough I don’t mind paying for some of my photos too, which I have done for images that I really like that are not free.
    Thanks again for visiting my blog and commenting. I look forward to seeing you again 🙂

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