This is a guest post by Rich Dixon. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here.
A friend recently asked me if I’d help her start a blog. Her request prompted me to consider what I’ve learned from operating my own blog for the past two years.
My first suggestion was to spend some time reading and learning. The Internet overflows with blogging information and advice.
I’m not the guy to help you generate huge numbers overnight, but that information is everywhere. I’m also not the source for technical tips; I know what I need to know for my situation, and I learn more as I need it.
I suspect I’m like most folks who publish content on the Internet. I classify myself as a small-but-serious blogger. I’m also a big-time consumer of content. I follow a lot of blogs in various niches, both for content and to learn what works.
So based on my experience, what should I tell my friend that’ll get her started without overwhelming her? Here’s where I started.
For me, blogging is essentially a relationship. Two important elements of any relationship are purpose and connection.
Find Your Purpose
Decide what you want to accomplish. You can find tons of high-quality guidance about every aspect of setting up and operating your blog, but none of it is one-size-fits-all. Every choice—design, platform, post length, style—depends on the end goal you have.
Decisions that don’t seem like a big deal now may become important later. For example, self-hosting with your own domain may feel like an unnecessary expense, but it’s essential if your goal is to build a personal brand or a business around your site.
Remember that it’s about your audience. If that fancy font you really like is hard to read, I’ll move on. I visited a blog this morning that made me feel like I’d entered a little girl’s room—pink and flowery and frilly. If that’s the feeling you’re after, great. I hope I wasn’t the intended audience, because I felt distracted and out of place as I searched for the exit.
Design should fit the blog’s personality. An overly simple design might appear plain and unattractive, but the minimalist theme at Jon Swanson’s site actually sets the tone for his message and enhances the content.
Everything matters. Every choice either moves you toward your goal or away from it.
Personally, I don’t pay a lot of attention to numbers because traffic isn’t part of my objectives. I look at and track analytics monthly, but that’s really more about curiosity. I look for trends, experiment with different ideas, and learn from my mistakes.
I think of my site as a circle, and I think about attracting readers who enhance the quality of the discussion. Because my blog centers on faith-based issues, I’m more focused on the depth of interactions than subscriber numbers.
The point? My strategy is intentional and fits my overall goals. Incidentally, my numbers have more than tripled since 1/1/10. They’re still miniscule by Internet standards, but there’s some evidence that my strategy’s working.
Focus on Connections
Life is about connecting with people and things. Information, expertise, and opinion are readily available from an endless variety of sources. I consistently follow writers with whom I feel some sort of connection.
Strategies and specific tactics vary. From my perspective, what’s important is consistency and authenticity. Tricks and gimmicks provide short-term spikes at the expense of long-term trust and loyalty. You may fool me into visiting, but I won’t be back if you treat me like a fool.
Beware of barriers. I appreciate concerns about spam and privacy, but balance those against the need for readers to connect.
Make your comment form friendly and inviting. Allow me to use my preferred form of ID. With so many available forums, I’m likely to choose those that cater to my communication preferences. For example, some blogs force me to use my Google ID. Since I don’t access my gmail account, I’ll never see follow-up comments; why bother composing a thoughtful comment? I know there are ways around that, but why should I have to do extra work to contribute to your blog?
I find that many folks don’t like to leave public comments, but they love more personal contact. If you don’t want to provide an email address, consider creating a simple contact form.
It seems obvious. Fewer barriers, more connection, more readers.
That’s what I offered as guidance to get her pointed in the right direction. What would you add?
About the Author: Rich Dixon is the author of Relentless Grace. He blogs about issues related to adversity, disability, and faith at Bouncing Back.
Original Post:
Two Building Blocks of Successful Blogging
from Daily Blog Tips
