No blogger enjoys making the effort to write and publish if there are no readers. Many new bloggers have given up writing because there was no traffic on their site. This is not a difficult problem to overcome. Whether you have had a blog for a long time or you’re a beginner, here are a dozen simple steps you can do that will create a buzz about your blog.
1. Leave genuine comments on similar blogs. Every blogger writes to be read. Leaving comments not only encourages writers to keep writing, but it also allows you to leave your link for follow-backs. Make an intelligent and pertinent comment and you will reap some new readers. Do not simply cut and paste a generic saying into a lot of blogs. Other blog readers notice it, it does not relate to the post, it makes you look bad, it is not polite, and it is actually SPAM!
2. Post new content several times a week. Don’t feel the pressure to compose literature every time you sit down at the computer. Blogs are best read quickly. Your posts do not have to be exhaustive, that’s exhausting! Short is great – better! You can always divide long posts into two or three posts. I believe people will read more frequently if they know it’s going to be quick – and with new content often.
3. Show your love for others by posting links! Everyone loves to be linked! It is always a good thing to discover a new blog that is enjoyable to read. Links encourage readership – of other blogs and yours.
4. Share updates about new posts over multiple platforms. The surge of social networks may be cluttering up the web, but they are also growing in their number of users. If you use Twitter, Flickr, FaceBook, and email – then you have four different audiences where you can share your message. Yes, some of your contacts may get multiple notices of your new post, but I think they’ll forgive you if you have quality content.
5. Pictures, Videos, and interesting sidebar widgets make your site more interesting. WordPress widgets and sidebars have endless potential to add interesting things to your blog as associated content. YouTube and other video services make adding videos to your blog a breeze. Your blog can be a greater sensory experience today more than ever before. This creates interest.
6. Write about current topics of interest … trending topics. I usually miss the trends, but if you pay attention to what is catching the attention of bloggers you can take advantage.
7. Ignore trolls and arguments. There are some people who just enjoy stirring the pot. If you get a troll filling your comments with argumentation, do not participate in the wrangling. This is a big turnoff to most readers – particularly those who are seeking religious information.
8. Tell about God’s great moves in your life. If we are interested in outreach, the testimony of Christians who are sharing what God has done is very powerful. On the other hand, do not complain about your church. It’s kind of hard to harp on your preacher, leaders, worship time, and then invite someone to attend worship with you.
9. Always respond to comments. Not only does each blogger long to be read and understood, so do those who comment. Love your commenters with a response, and they will enjoy coming back and leaving more comments! This simple step simply keeps the stream of communication flowing.
10. Ask for help when you need it. As we all know, the tech world is expanding faster than our waistlines. So if you run into a snag, find someone who can help. One of the great discoveries I have made is THEOBLOGGERS. This Christian company offers low-cost domain name service and web hosting. Not only that, but they use the wonderful WordPress (see #11!) software. The tech support is amazingly swift. If you are not a technofile, I encourage you to sign on with Theobloggers so that you will have all the help you need. They have been a lifesaver for me.
11. Use WordPress; turn off the annoying verification step. I know this has potential to ruffle feathers, but I really believe WordPress sets the bar for free blogging. Their spam catcher is awesome, the lack of word verification is a relief, and the multiple themes from which to choose makes the creation of a unique blog within your grasp. Sorry Blogger, Typepad, LiveJournal, Xanga, and all the rest. WordPress has my seal of approval!
12. Stay aware of the changing face of blogging. Blogging has changed since I came aboard several years ago. And it is not going to remain static in the future. In fact, tomorrow I plan to share a few concluding thoughts on the subject of staying aware. One of the fastest growing websites on the net is actually all about blogging, but most people who use it do not consider themselves bloggers! More on that tomorrow.
Thanks for reading!
John
John I agree with your comments especially about asking for help. I know I hav asked for it a ton of times from you and others in the past few years and I Brad and the guys at theobloggers.org are awesome and fast I have to amen you there!
Bobby, I am glad you signed on with Theobloggers … it is a great service.
Great stuff, John! I need to learn more about the technical side of blogging, so I can add widgets and make tweaks here and there. This was really helpful.
Glad to be of service Roger. Keep on blogging!
Then again, maybe its just time I switched to TheoBloggers!
I can testify to the point about trolls. I have had several people tell me they won’t comment on my site because of the acridity of one person’s comments. Stats show that he visits my blog about 8-10 per day. I’m trying to just ignore him for now.
As to the rest… high quality stuff, as we expect from John Dobbs.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Thanks, Tim, you’re too generous. Good luck in getting rid of a committed troll!
Good stuff John.
I am now reading using Bloglines and love it so far. Thanks for the heads up. I also plan to shorten my posts too at your suggestion.
Royce
Yes, a blog reader is just essential if you hope to keep up with several blogs at once.
John–These are very good points. I wish I could have heard your class. You have done so much to encourage blogging and other social media. Thanks.
Thank you, Jim, for a consistently excellent blog … you are a true leader.
The first one on your list is really tricky. The tricky part is the motive. I think that is why you included the word “Genuine”. But the title of this post is how to create a buzz about your own blog. Leaving genuine comments is about someone else’s blog and hard work. It is undoubtedly true that leaving comments elsewhere can improve your own traffic if you link to yourself. So practically speaking it is true. I agree comments have to be genuine and so for me it is hard to leave a genuine comment if my sole purpose is the title of this post – the intent to create a buzz about my own blog. Just something I have wrestled with in my own head some time back.
Matt, I see your point, however I think the answer is in your true intention. You can have more than one result from the same action. If you’re truly not interested in the blog where you are leaving a comment – then it is just spam. But if you are interested … and you also hope to get others interested in your blog which is on simliar themes… I think you’re just spreading the word about others (yourself included) that are writing about it. Keep up the great work on your blog!
John,
Great thoughts again. I wish I had these tools or tips if you will back at the beginning of my blogging days. But, oh well, I guess its never to late to start anew!
Amen, Jason, it’s never too late to start!
I just heard about your site! Today’s post is the first one I’ve read, but I’m glad I didn’t miss it. Thanks for the pointers. Keep ‘em coming.
Welcome, Mark. I have visited your blog and added it to my reader. Look forward to getting to know you better!
John,,,
Two things you challenge me on here.
1 – I struggle with replying to comments. It’s not because I’m not interested or because I don’t want to … I struggle with time. It’s tough to find time to blog, then to comment back on the replies makes it tougher. We don’t have to reply to every comment, right? Just some?
2 – Blogger – I’m trying to change :) I have to turn on word verification or else I’ll be selling cheap Viagra. :)
Yes, this all takes time and one must decide for yourself if it seems a valuable use of time. As in all things we must balance our lives to allow the most important things to rise to prominence. Good point. As for blogger … well…. what’s wrong with cheap Viagra? lol
PS – I’m a proud disciple of John (dobbs) :)
somebody should put that on a t-shirt.
Good stuff John. Blogging is almost like having “continual”friends in that you usually have folks over for dinner that end up inviting you back.
Cecil, that’s a great way to describe it.
John, I enjoyed your class at the Workshop. I signed up with TheoBloggers and am slowly learning. I’ll be checking back often for more tidbits.
Thanks, Wayne. I look forward to keeping up with you on your blog. It never hurts to know a Pope.
O blogger king! Thanks for your good work and words.
Thanks Glenn. I always enjoy reading your blog.
You are a good guy. Thanks for talking. I love reading your blog. If I was you I wouldn’t need buzz.
I love your heart. Maybe I will use some of your ideas.
Thank you, Darin. I have enjoyed watchign all of your unique ideas at New Heights and I’m so glad I know you.
I found your blog per Trey Morgan’s blog. I have enjoyed reading. I am a blogger that started out to keep my kids updated but then got really depressed when no one would comment. So—your helpful hints are great and will make me give it a try again. Now—you are officially invited to leave me a comment—any comment.
Lisa, you have a great blog! I visited and left a comment. Glad you found me via Trey … which illustrates the viral nature of blogging and why linking is so important. Awesome!
John,
My email is acting up, will you email me so I can recapture your email address?
Praying for you and Maggy today!
love Neva
Thanks John,
I really needed to hear #s 2, 6, and 7. My blogging has becmoe so sporadic that I’ve been removed from several links, so # 2 is especially pertinent. And thanks for the reminder about keeping it short. If I scroll through a post that is the length of a sermon manuscript, I will rarely read it. There just isn’t time.
Thanks, Wade. I actually stopped checking your blog for a long time. The other night I read through the last several posts … I hope you’re settled into a place where you can serve for a long time.
Hey John, this is great and very helpful. I really enjoyed your class at the Workshop as well. I’m trying to get better at the blogging/website thing…time is an issue though, as it is with everyone I’m sure. It is worthwhile though, and has a great place in the Kingdom of God.
Thanks for challenging and encouraging us to a better place with this…I appreciate you bro…
Thanks for the encouragement, Jamie. I think i will address this time issue because others have mentioned it as well … and it is important. Appreciate ya!
I appreciated your advice to always respond to comments. I have tried to respond (even when it has taken a day or more to get back to my blog). Sometimes I have even responded to Portuguese spam because I did not know what it was. Someone has made an effort to communicate with me, so I don’t want to ignore them. Thanks for bringing up this point (and please forgive me when I have been an argumentative troll–I’m still learning to be more kind).