Yeah #9 is the hardest SIGH I have picture in my head I want to take a snap shot of them post voila, someone invent that app already.
12 Most Effective Ways To Develop a Solid Blog
1. Be you
If you’re going to write a blog you have to make sure you’re doing it because you want to, and love to. “You” is the key word here. Don’t be afraid to be yourself – if you conform to the rest, you will (usually) fall behind.
2. Compare yourself to no-one
The problem with comparing yourself to others is you create self-doubt. Everyone has his or her own writing style – you should learn to love yours and, if/when you do, it will come through in your writing. Learn from others, admire others and respect others, but don’t compare yourself to others.
3. Bend the rules
There are too many people who follow the “rules” when blogging. Is my post too short? Is my post too long? As long as your content is compelling, people will generally read it. If it seems too long, break it up with some headers and/or pictures, it makes the flow of the post a lot better for reading.
4. Do it
The best way to improve your blog is to do it more. Like anything, the more you do it, the better you will get at it. Even if you don’t hit the Publish button on every post, write every day – it will help you define your style and narrative voice.
5. Avoid the numbers game
Too many people get caught up in the numbers game. Try not to pay attention to who subscribes and who doesn’t. If you start to worry about that it can throw your writing style off, as you try and write solely for numbers, which usually means lesser quality posts.
6. Make it relevant to your audience
You need to take the time to recognize who your audience is. Once you know that, then you can create fun offers exclusive to your readers. It could be a guide filled with tips, a free chapter from your ebook…etc. But whatever the offer, it needs to be relevant.
7. Link it up
When writing a post, if there is topic/point that you’re touching on but you know of another blogger who wrote an entire post on it, link to them. Not only are trackbacks a great way to increase traffic, but it helps build a relationship with that blogger that could be expanded upon further down the line.
8. Visit and comment
Try to get out of your house (blog) and visit other ones. Start off by leaving one comment a day for each day of the week. This gives you the opportunity to meet new people, offer up your opinion and potentially have them come visit your blog.
9. Pick the right picture
A picture can speak 1,000 words (and it generates 50% more interest). This is a great way to connect with readers – it allows for that emotional connection. Whether it be funny, sad or angry, it helps set the tone for the reader.
10. Facebook linking
Write a fun or intriguing question on your Facebook page and then link it back to your blog for the answer. This is something fun for your friends/fans and a great way to drive traffic to your blog.
11. Have a strong headline
Your headline can be the reason your blog is rocking, or a tumbleweed. Find ways to spark the interest of the reader. You could position it like you’re solving a problem, telling a secret, giving away valuable information, or just keeping it fun.
12. Tweet your post
If you’re on Twitter, you may be wondering what the appropriate number of personal retweets are. I would suggest 2/day for 2 days. Remember, when we are up and working, the other side of the world is sleeping. So once every 12 hours is good. If you are a Tweet-a-holic, then once every 8 hours for 2 days is good too.
Featured image courtesy of tallkev licensed via creative commons.
50 comments
1 Like
I love this list, especially #1 and 4. Harder than it looks sometimes, right? Thanks for contributing and welcome aboard the HMS 12 Most!
@jeanniecw Thanks :) I agree, it is harder than it looks. The secret is taking one at a time and implementing it. Too many people look to make the change in one move, and though it may work for some, it's not ideal for the majority.
Cheers,
Troy Claus
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And, every once in a while, write a blog post about nothing and see what happens.
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@TroyClaus Dear Troy, if I were going to steal your spotlight, I'd REALLY do it. Much love, Gini
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Great, simple points (and for most of us, reminders) on how to make our blogs the best they can be. On my own personal blog, I take a look at the numbers, but I constantly have to remind myself not to obsess over them -- page views rarely give me more information than "people who were just passing through." It doesn't help me gauge who's interested, who's actually reading or just skimming, and who may be more or less likely to leave an insightful comment. If I worry too much about that, that's a big sign for me to take a step back and focus my attention in a more productive way, such as taking a second look at my content, tweets, etc.
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@annedreshfield Thanks! Blogging has so many elements and sometimes it's hard to keep focused. We've been taught to focus on numbers when calculating success, and thats true to a degree, but I feel it shouldn't be the main focus when blogging (or on Twitter and Facebook for that matter). The good thing is you recognize when you're not focused, and thats half the battle won :)
Cheers,
Troy Claus
Simple rules always work... Do you recommend to link to youtube channel or insert HTML code of video in your blog post? What do you think Danny?
@SmokinHotPR Embed the video - keep people on your site, and it still counts towards your views, too.
If you're on self-hosted WordPress, then Viper's Video Quick Tags offers a great way to embed video with just the URL, and also from a variety of different video sites:
http://www.viper007bond.com/wordpress-plugins/vipers-video-quicktags/
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Just discovered 12most.com and it makes my little ADD heart sing! Succinct and professionally relevant for me as we are developing our blog. Thanks, Troy!
Monica/Sister#1
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@deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis @ginidietrich I like the idea, and yes, Gini seems to have a few good ideas up her sleeve lol. Thanks for the opportunity.
Cheers,
Troy
3 Like
@TroyClaus @deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis Yes, my ideas are to watch what @Danny Brown does and shamelessly steal.
@deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis @ginidietrich @TroyClaus I have good scotch, of that helps?
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Number 1 is most important to me. If you are going to thrive you have to be you and like what you are doing. We had a healthy debate on my blog regarding headlines. I think that they are important but that their value is sometimes inflated.
While you need to find a way to bring people in the content has to keep them involved. Retention is simply critical and from what I see many bloggers don't spend enough time trying to build and retain their community.
2 Like
All very good points, Troy, and thank you, @YourStoryMatters for bringing this post to my attention and adding 'building community'. That is, after all, what we all are trying to do, isn't it. Good to be here this morning.
@najmuddin24 - you used several of the tips above. The nice thing about these kinds of lists is that a few of the items may be done by us naturally... often, we take one or two of the points above and incorporate them into our next post and see what works. Then, take another one or two and incorporate them into the post after that and, you guessed it, see what works.
@Darren Sproat @YourStoryMatters @najmuddin24 - Thanks Darren, appreciate it. It was fun being able to share some cool info a=on a great site, I'm a big fan of The 12 Most...
Cheers,
Troy Claus
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3 Like
Great points shared Troy! I would add #13... build community. Your Story Matters at Then Life Happens www.thenlifehappens.com, encourages comments by offering quarterly Gratitude Gifts and sometimes book giveaways of related posts. We also encourage and invite others to submit their story to share. I definitely see your tips in action when you write... I love that I can count on you being 'you'! @darrensproat @thenlifehappens
@YourStoryMatters @darrensproat @thenlifehappens I completely agree, community is very important, and in my experience, a direct result of following the proper guidelines when building a blog. It is very clear that you do just that, and it comes out in your work.
Cheers,
Troy
3 Like
So glad you brought me here Troy via Danny ... I think I'm going to like it! :) Totally dig this post and like things that are clear and clean! I'm definitely working these 12 ... only time will tell! Thanks so much Troy! Have a fabulous day!
Much kindness,
Elena
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@WGB2U You are most welcome. @Danny Brown is kind of a good guy, lol. I think these are some tips that are fairly easy to implement immediately, thats why I chose them. Glad you enjoyed :)
Cheers,
Troy Claus
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3 Like
I have to say that this site has some of the best content I have ever seen. Short, punchy, and incredibly useful. Keep up the great work and thanks!
2 Like
@PointA_PointB Thank you so much! we are working on making this somewhere people want to visit!
3 Like
perfectly succinct. I am very partial (habitually on this blog, its seems) to number 10, since i loooooooove FB - and it's how @seanmcginnis lured me here this morning!
@OneJillian @SeanMcGinnis - Cheers! Yes, Sean is quite the Lure'r (in a good way lol)
Thanks,
Troy Claus
1 Like
Troy, thank you for pointing out about not comparing yourself to others, sometimes this is hard to remember but its good to know that's recommended. If there was room for one more I would have added to get the Alexa toolbar. It helps when you visit your own site and helps your fellow bloggers. Alexa believes that tech savvy people use it and writing a short review for a blog you really like can lower their Alexa immensely. Thanks for the awesome post!
@thedomesticexec Thank you for the kind words. I agree, it is hard to remember to not compare yourself, it's human nature and often sneaks up on us. Thanks for the Alexa tip, I'm a fan.
Cheers,
Troy Claus
1 Like
Troy ,
Many really good tips there. I think your number one is the most important. Although "Be You" can take time, authenticity is what ultimately leads you to continued readership.
A lot of bloggers and social media folks continually spit out the same rhetoric. It is like regurgitated food that keeps getting chewed up, spit out, and then reheated. It is actually a bit painful.
I love anyone that writes in their own voice, and I really like anyone who can speak from meaningful exeperience.
Troy - thanks for stopping by 12most. Look forward to having you again some time.
@danielnewmanUV Cheers Daniel, it was a pleasure to be your guest. You're exactly right, it is very important to not only develop your own voice, but to make/keep it as authentic as possible. We want to build authentic relationships, readerships and in some cases, friendships, and none of those will form correctly unless it's the real you.
Cheers,
Troy Claus
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Hello Troy,
Interesting article indeed. However, I am still not sure if these tips actually do help. I recently published a post which went viral. I followed none of the tips you have mentioned above and still it happened. Not sure if these tips actually help. But as you said it yourself - Bend the Rules :)
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@najmuddin24 Thanks for the comment, sorry none of these tips are for you. There are hundreds of tips for blogging, I posted these ones because they are questions/concerns that we're faced with quite a bit at the Online Blogging resource centre we operate. In your article that received a lot of hits, did you write it? were you being yourself? Just curious :)
Cheers,
Troy Claus
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@najmuddin24 Please link me to your Viral blog - interested in reading it. Thanks!
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@danielnewmanUV Here you go - http://najuism.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/im-an-indian-we-are-like-that-only/
This single post ctouched 665 hits in 1 day. My previous best was 122 hits. For a non-regular blogger like myself, this was surely a surprise. Do let me know if you find any of the tips above being used in my post. Would love to learn.
@deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis @danielnewmanUV @TroyClaus @ginidietrich I think Gini or Gertrude or Jina or Gina would be able to add #13 - take everyone else's ideas and repurpose. ;-)
@deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis @danielnewmanUV @TroyClaus @ginidietrich Who's this Gini person? Was she a Blondie song?
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@Danny Brown @najmuddin24 @TroyClaus Thanks for Jumping in Danny - I'm certainly not a blog expert....or am I....
4 Like
@najmuddin24 @danielnewmanUV I would say you used the following tips:
#1 - Be You: You're an Indian and proud of it This is exactly what Troy is on about.
#3 - Bend The Rules: Not many people would write about how Indians (stereotyped, maybe?) play the game whenever they can. You wrote it, and weren't afraid to play the safe card.
#11 - Have A Strong Headline: Your headline, "I'm An Indian and WE ARE LIKE THAT ONLY" is a pretty strong call-to-action. Any time capitals are used, you're essentially shouting you point. Combine that with what could be seen as a provocative headline by some, and you're definitely using a strong headline.
So I'd say you're using three of the points at least. ;-)
(Disclosure: I'm @TroyClaus business partner, but I have no bias on this post - just wanted to answer your question).
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