Being a blogger is great for a multitude of reasons. You get to write about the things that you love the most, you meet like-minded people who have similar interests to you, and you can also earn a little bit of cash from doing so. In short, there are very few negative things about blogging, and if you get it right, you can really benefit from putting yourself (and your writing) out there into the world.
However, there are some things that you need to know as a blogger, so that you can get the most out of your passion. We’ve noted down a few of them here, for those eager to get pen to (virtual) paper.
#1: There’s a market for that…
Whatever you’re thinking of writing about, it’s highly likely that there is a market for it out there. Somebody is going to be interested in what you’re writing about, but you just need to find out who, and where you’re most likely to find your audience. No matter what your chosen topic is, it’s important to stick to it if you want to ensure that your readers stay around and look forward to your content, which is, of course, relevant to them.
#2: SEO works magic
SEO – or search engine optimization – is absolutely integral if you want to build up traffic to your blog, and it’s not as difficult as you think. All you need to do is find out what your keywords are, and how you can use them to rank higher on Google search pages, as well as other (you guessed it) search engines. Featuring backlinks can also help you to bump up your traffic, so look into the various ways that you can utilize SEO.
#3: Your content has to be great
The reason that people are visiting your blog is for its content, and you need to make sure that you’re smashing it when it comes to writing your posts. If you’re throwing out below par content left, right and center in some attempt to increase your readership, remember that your readers don’t just come from Google searches. If regular readers (or any readers for that matter) believe that your content is low quality, then they won’t come back.
#4: There is some legislation that you need to follow
As a blogger, you’re not exempt from all of the laws that apply across the internet. For example, you need to have a good privacy policy (that can be accessed by all of your readers), you need to look into cookie policies and GDPR, and if you’re promoting sponsored links or products, then you need to make this obvious in your posts. Speak to a lawyer about this, or somebody who knows their stuff when it comes to blogging laws.
#5: Writing guest posts for other bloggers is key
If you want to gain some extra traffic to your website and build up your readership at the same time, then writing guest posts for other blogs could help you to do so. Make connections with some people who would be interested in your pieces, and see whether any opportunities arise for you to write for them. Being endorsed by other blogs will help to secure your reputation within your community, and will get you those all-important new readers.
#6: ‘About’ pages help you significantly
Having a detailed and up-to-date ‘About Me’ page will help you to connect with your readers on a personal level. Knowing who is behind the posts that you’re reading helps you to feel like you have more of a connection with a blogger, which keeps you coming back every time to read what they’ve posted. If you’re not sure what to put here, then just think about what you’d want to see as a visitor to somebody’s site. Be funny, or professional, or whatever your readers would want!
#7: Eye-catching headlines generate traffic
One of the main things that pulls in readers is headlines, and the more eye-catching the better. The best type of headline is usually straight to the point, and gets your site visitors intrigued enough to click through and read your articles. If the titles of your posts are boring then you can be pretty sure that people will keep scrolling, so use your writing talents and create something that readers will love!
So, if you’re a blogger (or a wannabe blogger) then keep these things in mind as you begin your journey towards blogging success!
