There are countless reasons why people start blogging — to drive up SEO, find more customers, or just to become a better writer — but no matter the reason, one thing is certain: you need a steady readership to make it worth your while. So how do you get more traffic? Here are five ways to attract new readers and keep them coming back for more.
1. Remember that it takes a lot of time and work.
You’ve probably heard stories about successful stay-at-home moms who make an executive’s salary from running a popular blog. What you don’t hear, however, is how much hard work is involved in going from zero readers to thousands of visitors each day. Remember when you are building your blog that it takes a lot of time and hard work to grow. Be patient and you’ll get there.
2. Focus on making your content stellar.
The reason people visit your blog (and continue to come back) is simple. It’s because they like your content. Take the time to figure out what type of content is providing the best results, and then produce more of it. You may be set on writing blog posts initially, only to find that your audience responds much better to videos. As you continue to test different content strategies, you will learn exactly what your readers like.
3. Stay consistent.
If you are looking to keep your current fans interested while attracting new readers, then it’s vital to stay consistent with your content production. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to post multiple times a day. Instead, set a schedule that works for you and stick to it. That way, your readers will know when to expect updates from you.
4. Leverage social media.
Social media is a powerful tool and goes hand-in-hand with building your blog readership. Every time you post new content on your blog, you should promote it across all of your social media channels. As an added bonus, if you happen to have a relationship with someone who has a large social following, consider asking him or her to promote your content on social media. Any time you can tap into another person’s social network, you will see your readership increase.
5. Optimize your site for search engines.
The first few tips consisted of making your content great for readers. While this should be your first priority, it’s important to remember that you also need to write for search engines as well. Using an SEO tool like Yoast for WordPress will help you optimize your blog posts so search engines understand how to index your site properly.
