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Saturday, July 20, 2013

WHY NO ONE READS YOUR BLOG ANYMORE


Victor Standish here to help the dozing Roland out again ...

And the FIRST REASON no reads your blog any more is related to the above picture

1. It's Boring

There are countless awesome blogs out there and in order to stand out, you need to create an edge.

People need a reason to want to come to your blog. So if your blog has:
  • all text with no or few images
  • monotonous writing or academic sounding posts
  • a sitting-on-the-fence approach to a topic
SOLUTION?

The laws of attraction works. Give your readers what they want to read, or benefits to visit your blog.

A blog is a two-way communication unlike traditional print.

Write your posts as if you are talking to your readers.

Let them know that there’s a person behind that blog of yours. Engage them by fielding questions and asking for feedback. Also, response to the answers you get.

2. YOU ARE ANNOYING

 You “mention” your readers or “DM” them on Twitter with your latest post link almost every day.  Your favorite words are I and ME.

3. YOUR BLOG IS FILLED WITH EMPTY CALORIES

People read your blog to see what is in it for them.  They want entertainment or info on how to make their dreams  come true.

With so many blogs screaming, READ ME!  Your blog must rise above the crowd by being entertaining and informative or risk sinking beneath the cyber-waves.

4. YOUR BLOG IS A CONSTANT SHOUT OF GIVEAWAYS AND COUPONS.

I know some bloggers who upon seeing the words “Rafflecopter giveaway” cringe and veer away from the post.

Too much of a good thing is poison.

5. YOU ARE LIKE THE NIGHTLY NEWS

You're depressing. 

Each post is so full of whine there should be a wedge of cheese to go with it!

Being heartfelt and open is one thing,

but if you never have anything positive to say about your life,

you might need to spend more time in therapy and less on your blog.

OUCH!

Alice just kicked me for having all the compassion of a hot rock -- but I'm just trying to help you guys get as many visitors as possible.

6. YOU BOUGHT INTO THE BIG DELUSION

Which is?

THAT PEOPLE WILL SEEK OUT YOUR BLOG.

Hunters set up their duck blinds in the marshes.  Readers will not seek your blog out unless you go where they go:

GOOGLE SEARCH WORDS -

     Have "hook" words in the titles of your posts. 

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING

     Match the "hook words" with actual content in your post.

BE LIKE A GOOD BOWEL MOVEMENT

(Ouch! Would you stop kicking me Alice?)

     Be regular. 

     When Google comes to your website to check in with its bots, it can see if you have a new blog post each week,

and will grant you a better search ranking because your content is not only on topic, but fresh.

7. NO NIBBLES ON YOUR HOOK

Visitors look to see if anyone has commented on your post to measure the quality of it. 

Honest. 

You want guys to be intererted in you?  Be seen with a good looking man.  It's human nature to want what the other guy (or gal) wants.

Roland calls it engagement evidence,

and if you want a sure-fire way to grow your blog,

increasing your engagement evidence by getting more quality blog comments is a must.
    
Before people write blog comments, they’re looking for two things:

      Comment-worthy Content –

       You already know that you must write great content, but you should invite conversation by being open-ended and conversational.

Proof of Life

Your commenters want proof that you care about your blog. They also want confirmation that you care about your readers and their opinions, too.

Respond to comments, ideally, as quickly as possible.

Don’t write a simple “Thank You,”

but instead, respond as if the person was in the same room with you. Read what they wrote and then offer them value in return.

Remember, you want those who comment to think “wow, this guy/gal really cares!”
You can pile on the value by:

      Expand on a point you made in your post to give a commenter more insight into your strategy.

     Empathize with your commenter and give them a word of encouragement or advice to their specific situation.

     Refer the commenter to another resource and blog that could offer them more help

     Ask your commenter a follow-up question to encourage them to open-up and engage further.


Uh, oh.  Alice's stomach is growling.  Sfumato!  I have to wake Roland up now and ask him where the worst part of town is here in his city. 

You know Harry Potter never had this kind of problem.  Alice!  Stop looking at my fingers like that!

12 comments:

  1. Good points for tweaking the blog, Victor. Hope Roland is getting some rest.

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  2. Engagement is so important. So is consistency. It creates a rhythm.

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  3. damn you... damn you... again you hit it on the head or heads. you speak to me again or at least the pointed finger. i find that i sometimes go over the top to tell you what my readers all ready know. yes i sell stuff, yes i have t-shirts, books and cd's. i really try to not make that "who-ha" of my site, but... when i find myself in a financial bind or like on friday lot's of cool releases from the label i assist. i find that people don't stop over as much on those days, just like the anime photos... those get lots of looky-loos, less comments.

    so again, damn you... for being so smart and on the ball.

    you are the best at seeing the writings on the wall, are you physic?

    ReplyDelete
  4. D.G.:
    Roland is doing solo duty over the weekend PLUS being on first call. Ouch. So no rest for him.

    How are things going in your neck of the words. I heard something about flooding in Canada but nothing more. On the streets, they don't have cable. Let me and Alice know all right? We worry about our friends.

    Alex:
    Yes, exactly. I missed you on Friday -- unless my computer is playing tricks on me!

    Good sales on your next book!!

    Jeremy:
    I learn by bumping my toe on those invisible rules. Whenever I talk of my books or audiobooks or contests, my viewers sink and comments evaporate.

    Like you when you are in a financial bind, I want my audiobooks to be bought since I and others who trusted in me have put so much effort and money into them. Same with you and your items.

    If we don't talk of them, how will our readers know of them to buy? Yet, if we chase away visitors with talking of our products, the potential buyer pool dries up.

    I've found that posting a fun, informative article and tagging its end with my latest audiobook works well. Perhaps you could do the same?

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  5. Good points, Roland. I know a lot of writers don't bother commenting back on the blogs of their readers who leave comments, but I make it a priority. Don't always have the time to respond to each comment, though. Does that really matter, do you think? Do readers bother to return and see if you've replied to their comments?

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  6. Milo:
    Many blogs have a check box at the bottom of the comment section to allow the reader to receive email confirmation of further comments.

    If you ignore a comment, it is like ignoring someone in a conversation.

    Besides those leaving comments read those replies from you, and they see you care about those who write you. They get a sense that this is a caring, warm blog.

    So they feel you will care about their comment as well. They feel validated and welcome at your cyber home.

    Something to think about for those who do not reply to their comments.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Roland - I liked your reply to Milo. It doesn't matter whether a person replies on their blog or my own. It increases reciprocity. It's a way of continuing discussion, not just being a blogger waiting to be adored. (prince or princess syndrome)

    To Victor: The flooding that I know about, was mostly in Alberta, with some flooding in the other prairie provinces, and storms back east. I live on the mild west coast in British Columbia, so we are blessed with serenity at the moment, as far as weather.

    I came back to see if you have replied and to read the other comments. I know some other bloggers do too.

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  8. D.G.:
    Thanks so much for relieving my and Victor's minds on that flooding. I will try to remember you live in British Columbia and the west coast.

    Victor, Alice, and I are heading into Hurrican season -- after our town being evacuated twice in the past eight years, this season is always a bit unnerving.

    It made me feel as if my efforts and thoughts were appreciated when you told me you came back to read my reply and others' comments.

    Alice told Victor he has the Clown Prince syndrome! :-)

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  9. Good points. Comment back! Even if it takes a day or so.

    I think another reason is that there are times when people are just CRAZY BUSY %~P I know I have been lately and I need more hours in the day.

    Good post!

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  10. Excellent post as usual, Roland... uh, Victor. Blogging is not about the blogger, it's about the bloggee (lol, I mean reader). Thing is, a lot of folks who blog don't want to exchange ideas. They either blog to promote, or because someone told them they should. If that's the case, hang it up!

    VR Barkowski

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  11. Great post. "Empathize with your commenter" What a concept! We're dealing with actual fellow humans. It's amazing how many people think they're in some kind of videogame where all they have to do is log off and nothing they said or did has consequences. Very nice overview of what a good blog needs. And thanks for your comment on my blog today!

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  12. Words Crafter:
    If there is anyone who understands a harried lifestyle, it is me and my job as a rare blood courier! 500 miles this weekend alone -- and solo duty. Whew!

    Giving the fellow blogger the benefit of the doubt is never a bad thing. Sadly, so many do not do that. Slight them by not replying, and they just go off in a huff.

    May your teaching run smoothly always! :-)

    VR:
    Too right. For many, blogging is all about selling or blowing their own trumpet. Anne in the next comment is right: since you cannot see or hear the consequences of your remarks (or lack thereof) on the internet, many feel a liberty to be thoughtless. We have to treat each living being carefully on the internet, for we do not know where they are emotionally and how fragile they might be.

    Anne:
    I was just bragging about you to VR above. :-)

    After writing my post of today, I went to yours and thought how well your post fit in with mine -- or the other way around! You always pack so much help in your posts that it is amazing. May your new week be healing and happy.

    A rural hospital just called with a blood run for me. Whew! Being a rate blood courier is certainly challenging -- especially at midnight!!

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