There’s a lot of advice out there in the cyber world – advice on health, sickness, love, money, and how to create a blog that’s to die for, with the readership in the gazillions.
Whether you are blogging for pleasure or blogging to promote you want those stats on the high-end of the range.
Is my blog for pleasure or promotion? I’m not sure. I started blogging for promotion because that is what I read I am supposed to do when publishing my book, ‘Crossing The Line’. See, there it is with a clickable cover over to the right on my sidebar. Believe me that scared me to death. I had no idea what to write about so my first blog post was about social media and writing and I tended to move in that direction for a while with my following posts.
I later began to venture into writing more about my life – what it was, what it is, and what I wanted it to be. I threw in some stories about my family because they make my life interesting and sometimes funny. I can do that because it’s my blog, therefore, they can’t stop me. 😉
I have a few tips of my own I’ve put into action and noticed my readership has spiked in the past few months. Even though I have only 400+ followers it makes me happy to see my stats rise each day bit-by-bit. Who wouldn’t?
- BE CONSISTENT – Start-stop, start-stop is not a good thing. Don’t post seven days in a row and then stop for a month. You don’t even have to post seven days in a row or every day – all day. You could burn out quite easily like that. Most readers like consistency and enjoyy knowing when to expect you to appear. I try to post at least Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with Wednesday being my re-blog day. (Here’s the link to my #reblogwednesday event if you’re interested. I’d love to have you on board.) On a good week I post on all weekdays and leave my weekends free.
- BE OBSERVANT – Take notice what time your posts are usually read and commented on the most and post on or before that time. I’ve noticed if I schedule my posts for 5:00am I get the most traffic. Take advantage of that scheduling option on your dashboard. It’s a lifesaver! I’m sure not getting up out of my warm bed at the crack of dawn to post.
- LIKE, COMMENT, AND FOLLOW – I cannot stress this enough. The more you follow this advice, the better your readership will be. Interact with other bloggers through comments on their sites and interact with the readers who respond to your posts. Start a conversation. It’s really not that big of a deal and feeds your blog profusely. I know this takes a considerable amount of your time, but you can’t expect others to do for you what you won’t do for them.
- GIVE THE READERS WHAT THEY WANT – Now this is what I’m not absolutely sure of. My stats run high sometimes from humor to advice, but not always consistently. I’m going to add a little poll to this post and ask you – my readers – what you would like to see more of on my site. It will just take a minute to vote so don’t sign off till you do! And please comment in my comment section if you have more to say on the subject! 😉
Getting you readership up and your name out there in the blogging world is a process and you have to take it one baby step at a time. This is what’s working for me at the moment. It may work for you – it may not. If you pay attention, you can figure out what’s right for your blog and then follow through.
~Elle
I picked the one I was most currently into, but actually I like the variety pack – keeps things interesting!
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Variety pack! Haha. Sounds good Shel! ~Elle
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Great points, Elle. Tales From The Wagginmaster is evolving. Blogging101 certainly gave me lots to think about.
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Me too Jerry. It was a big help! ~Elle
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Thanks for this Elle – some bloggers put this info in a style that is easier to read and understand than others. You are one of them.
I think we all need to sit down and look at the basics of blogging now and again. Or at least I do lol
Cathy
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Thanks Cathy. I’ve read some like that too that tell you exactly what you need, but go on and on as though you are reading a paper from a lawyers office with all the mumble jumble of words and phrases unknown to you! Glad you enjoyed it! ~Elle
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Elle, I started blogging too just before New Year’s to promote my books. I wish you every success in promoting your new book. It looks interesting and I did take the pool. Best wishes and thanks for the advice. 🙂
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Thanks Anne. Sometimes I think I blog more than write and that is why my sequel is not finished! lol! ~Elle
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You always have some great advice, and you are pretty consistent with all your posts. Great job! I’ve never done a poll before, I should try it sometime 🙂
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They are not as hard as they look!
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All great advice!! Blogging has certainly been a learning experience that I’ve come to enjoy.
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My husband thinks I enjoy it too much! ~Elle
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Sigh. I have reached an impasse of sorts by views have dropped to a historic low ( granted I have been at this blog for only 3 months now ). I am currently at the writing what I like stage views be darned. Thanks for the advice though! Let’s hope that passion keeps burning.
Ally ~
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What bothers me is when I see a drop in my followers. Only one at a time just once in a while but it makes me wonder what I did wrong. Could I have prevented that? ~Elle
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I don’t know at the moment. I feel like I’m basically writing for myself . I haven’t lost any followers… yet! But let’s be optimistic! FIGHTING! (I live in Asia forgive me :D)
Ally~
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I thought I was following you – I wasn’t but I am now. 😉 Are you on twitter or facebook?
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Nope. I am on tumblr. You probably don’t have that one and its fine. Thanks!
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I really couldn’t choose one subject that I like , because I enjoy a variety of it all. A dash, a sprinkle of it all . Maybe you can have rant Mondays… or social media Fridays for instance ? I know I definitely have to work on my consistency , haven’t worked out a schedule yet, in the middle of Blogging 101.
http://www.rendezvousennewyork.com
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Loved Blogging 101 in January Trudy! That’s a thought on putting things into perspective on certain days. I may try that. Those rants show up when least expected though and I have to get it down or lose it. HAHA ~Elle
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I mean write it to keep the memory fresh and the quality of the writing good but schedule the post.
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That may work because I did do that last rant like that but sometimes if I don’t go ahead and post I ‘get over it’ if you know what I mean and then the moment is lost. LOL!
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I think I will take the course again , I might have missed a couple of things since there is so much to learn.
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I also did 201 but I think I enjoyed 101 better. Hey your twitter button isn’t working on your site. takes me to a blank page. tell me how to follow you on twitter and check out that useless button! LOL! ~Elle
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I will check it out . Thank you !
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Send me your Twitter name so I can follow you!
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Its @tl5710 .. until I try to change it to something relevant
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