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How to Attract Readers to Our Blogs

Let’s be honest. Most of us want to have people read our blogs. There aren’t too many of us who publish a post, sit back, and say, “There. I hope no one reads this.” After all, blogging is live, public, and worldwide. We expect readers, otherwise we’d contain our thoughts in a journal.

No, most of us write our posts hoping others will read them and engage with us. We want validation that our written words are impacting others in some way.

The longer I blog, the more I similarities I find between writing for publication and blogging. Some of the same techniques we use for drawing readers to our books are the same principles we can use to draw readers to our blogs:

1. Remember the Reader.

Yes, blogging is for personal expression for most of us. We like the creative aspect of being able to write about whatever we want. And the same is true of our books. A huge part of the joy of writing is that we can let our imaginations run wild. And yet, anyone serious about publication, knows we also have to keep the reader’s needs and desires in mind.

The same is true in our blogging. We should ask ourselves who do we want to read our blog? Family? Friends? People who share our hobby? Other writers? Future reading fans? The answer to that question can help give us direction with what we share and who we’re attracting because of it.

2. Capture the Reader’s Attention.

Think about how much care we put into crafting our titles for our books, the opening paragraphs, or the tag lines on the back. We think, “How can I hook the reader into buying my book.” We want to draw attention to it, help it stand out, so that it gets the chance it deserves.

When I plan my blog posts, I try to come up with titles that will draw interest. And I don’t want my first few sentences to be boring, because that might be all someone will read before deciding the post isn’t worth their time. Likewise, I want to keep them engaged throughout the post by making it easy to read with short paragraphs, headings (when possible), or bullet points. I always consider breaking up a blog post into 2 days if it exceeds 700 words.

3. Engage the Reader.

How do we draw readers into our books so they feel like they’re engaging with our characters or with us as the author? There are lots of ways we do that—through real stories, genuine sharing, humor, vulnerability, passion, depth, clarity, compelling topics.

When I write my blog posts, I never claim to know everything. I just share my opinions in hopefully a clear, concise, compelling way. I pour my passion, my experience, and my suggestions into the posts, stir them together into a conversational-style, and then give readers the opportunity to interact.

4. Offer the Reader Something.

When a reader closes our book, they take something away. It could be something as small as getting a break from the reality of their problems for a couple hours. Maybe the message of the book helps them through a struggle. Whether pure entertainment or life-changing, our books give our readers something of value.

I definitely want my books to be worth the money someone spends on them. And I also want my blog posts to be worth the time people invest in coming over and reading them. Maybe we can’t offer anything earth-shattering, but we can give inspiration, encouragement, insight, entertainment, knowledge, help, etc.

Summary: If we want to attract more readers we’ll have to use some strategy. We can do other things besides what I’ve listed—comment on other blogs, tweet links to our posts, continually make new cyber friends, broaden our web presence, etc.

But. . . to attract readers AND keep them coming back takes a little time and a whole lot of savvy. We’ll have a head start if we use some of the same techniques with blogging that we do with our books. Remember. Capture. Engage. Offer.

Are you struggling to attract readers to your blog? What are some of the techniques you’ve used to draw more readers?

53 comments:

  1. What a insightful post. Your advice is gold!!

    I just try to be honest and hope that readers will connect with me through my thoughts, beliefs, and dreams.

    Wonderful post.

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  2. Definitely great advice, Jody! I haven't started a blog yet, but I'm always on the look-out for great tips to save for when I do, and this is a post worth keeping. Thank you...

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  3. I have been thinking very seriously about all that lately and trying to brand my blog if you will with my purpose. I have always written what is in my heart, it just tool me a little while to figure out why people follow me at all. I think I get it. I try to offer hope and inspiration. And a different way of looking at the world. There are some many blogs doing a wonderful job of talking about the mechanics of writing, and that has never been in my heart to talk about. Now I get that too. Because the mechanics of writing has never been my blog purpose.

    More and more the people who visit and return to my blog are looking for what they find there. That is my purpose. Write. Arise. Hope. Fly. That is what I want to offer and say on my blog. I am trying anyway :)

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  4. Great advice, Jody. As I am new to blogging this post is of immense help to me.

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  5. These are great points. I think people return to most blogs to see what's going on with the blogger they have come to appreciate.

    I appreciate your blog and your helpful posts.

    Teresa

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  6. Hey Jody! I'm sorry I haven't been by. You know how much I love you and your blog. You know I never queried. I decided to go in and make some major changes. And I'm so glad I did. Anyway, NOW I'm getting ready to query. Query letter is spit shined, and synopsis is too, thanks to Jill K. So agents here I come! =)

    Anyway, this post is SPOT ON, my friend. You know I left the blogging world and am just now diving back in. So I lost some readers, but I just felt like I had to spend the time with my book.

    Savvy. That says it all. Thanks for all your excellent advice. It is always so dang timely for me, too. How do you always know what I need? *hugs* I have missed you. :)

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  7. Thanks for this helpful post. I'm in the process of "redecorating" my blog and trying to decide what to focus on that will be helpful and entertaining to my readers and keep them coming back. I'm always open to suggestions and feedback.

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  8. Well said - and well written! Something I see far too often is poorly written or grammatically incorrect prose in a fiction writer's blog - the blog entries need to be as polished as the manuscripts we're submitting!

    Does this take a lot of time? You bet! A workshop I went to at RWA by an A-list author a couple years ago surprised me - she spends half her work hours writing, and the other HALF marketing. Fifty percent! I was impressed - and you can bet I stepped up my marketing efforts.

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  9. Great post! I'd love readers,of course, but I'm also realistic as an unpublished unagented writer. I had no desire to feel like middle school again in the blogosphere. I just try to be myself, not enter a competition. But this isn't the place to go into my blogging goals. :)

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  10. Thank you Jody for sharing some tips for us ;) I admit I do not put as much thought and care into my blog titles as I do my books or prize pieces. However, I do see blogging like journaling and I do like engagement to make it more fun and filled with community fun! I am learning lately that connecting is certainly a skill. I find that coming here to your blog, you have always given your best and offered something to your reader, and that is why I naturally return. Thank you for this reminder that it can also be this way for us in our own niches. hugs, have a happy week! ;)As always, I appreciate you and your posts! xx Jenn

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  11. You always do a great job with your blog Jody. I personaly like questions at the end--I enjoy good writing on a blog but sometimes struggle with how to comment after a long sermon like post.

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  12. Guess what, Jody? I saw your book in my CBD catalog last week! Release is just around the corner...:-)

    ~ Betsy

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  13. Excellent points, Jody. I also like your new background.

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  14. I like pictures. ;)

    Just thought I'd throw that out there.

    I love how you broke it down. Remembering the reader is why I blog.
    ~ Wendy

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  15. Excellent tips,Jody. I wish I'd read them two years ago, before I started blogging!

    I love to use images that fit with my text, keep the posts fairly short, and offer prizes. Oh, I throw in humor as often as I can manage, too.

    And I blog hop as time allows, to comment on others' blogs.


    Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
    Jen

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  16. I totally agree with you.
    Readership has steadily increased at my place, I think because I have made bloggite friends and faithfully visit their blogs.

    It really does give me a reader community! I'm so grateful.

    patti

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  17. Excellent points. Enjoyed the post and find it most helpful.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  18. Excellent advice all around Jody!

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  19. Another great post! This topic has been on my mind lately. I decided to do a series of posts on special topics I hope will be useful to my followers.

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  20. Jody, this is great motivation to encourage writers to blog. Not only does it help you connect, the act of writing for an audience on a more frequent basis helps YOU as a writer. The great part about blogging for an audience is that the feedback is immediate, too. Sometimes when we work on a project that's more long-term, we don't get feedback as often as we need it. Thanks for the post!

    Marissa

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  21. I think it is always a struggle, especially when people are so busy. The blogger needs to come up with something that is worth the readers time. I am not sure I have accomplished that but I will keep plugging away.

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  22. Great advice. Sometimes I think we need to go beyond what we might consider our "target" audience. A great way to do this is to participate in larger events in the blogosphere (Got Books? was a recent event I participated in). As Christians we should never dilute our message, but this also gives us an opportunity to draw in and witness in the process to those who might not normally come to our blog. Most of the people who entered a contest I held through Got Books? I believe do not normally read Christian fiction. So these are also opportunities to share our faith, the reason many of us write in the first place.

    Another thing that I think helps is to find a "pulse" in your area of the blogosphere. Know who's who in the world of book blogging, writing blogging, or whatever. Keep your eyes on them and you might learn something :)

    I'm a new blogger (since March) and have a lot to learn, but most of what I have learned is by observing other bloggers.

    Thanks for an insightful post as usual, Jody.

    P.S. I'm writing this as my daughter practices her handwriting :)

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  23. Great advice! So when is your website going to be revealed?

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  24. Great advice as always Jody. I'm trying to add more value to my blog. At first I wanted to prove to myself that I could blog in a somewhat consistent manner. Now that I believe I can, I'll take your advice about making it something people want to read.

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  25. A lot of things to ponder here. Thanks for your thoughfulness and dedication to your blog. You always offer insight and education.

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  26. A lot of things to ponder here. Thanks for your thoughfulness and dedication to your blog. You always offer insight and education.

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  27. This is the point I've made so often. You know what it is! We write for someone else. The only time this isn't true is in a private journal.
    Even when we write about ourselves and our lives, we are writing it for someone else to read. We are sharing our experience with the reader.

    All good writing is collaboration with the reader. Always.

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  28. Good post, Jody. I love the organization of your posts. They always hit on a few categories within the subject, make great points and are easy but helpful to read.

    I have to admit, I haven't been as focused on blog writing as much as I was in the past. I feel like it's time to dig into my writing and work on the craft. But one thing I would like to do more of is cater to a wider audience, like more readers instead of just writers.

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  29. Great post, Jody!

    I did a post on this recently where I mentioned keeping your blog posts short and usually sticking to one topic at a time. Most people are limited with time/ attention when it comes to blogs, and the easier we make it for people to read and comment, the better!

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  30. Great post!
    I've been struggling with this area of my blogs since I started my "365 Days of Blessings" project. I want to honor the call that I feel God placed on my heart with that project, but I am hoping to open it up so it isn't just about me counting up my blessings. I am trying to work on how to encourage others to share their blessings, and foster an attitude of gratitude that is so fun that more readers will want to join in.

    Definitely something to pray, and ponder over.

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  31. Great post Jody. Let's face it, blogging is writing. I think writers (myself included) neglect the tools they've developed when it comes to blogging. This is a good reminder to stretch your muscles whenever you're using a keyboard.

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  32. This is great advice Jody. I'd say I've learned that you get what you give. And ain't the truth in life? Have a great day!

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  33. Wonderful advice and so true. I love reading your posts. They are always insightful and make me think. :)

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  34. Anyone who visits and leaves a comment or follows my blog(s) I try my best to reciprocate. I visit MANY blogs a day. I try to be active. I try to offer interesting, short posts that will help other writers. And I just keep going.

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  35. I used to wonder what to blog about, but now I notice that when I share something I'm experiencing with writing, others feel the same way. Or, if I've learned something new, I like to share it with others. Or if I seek opinions, others offer it.

    Mostly, what I've learned with blogging is that I'm not alone, and that I don't have to bore my poor husband with writer talk. I do that with all of you!

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  36. That was a great post because instead of focusing just on giveaways and commenting on others, you focused mainly on content and how to make it good. Thank you!

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  37. Hi Jody -

    You have a knack for communicating what all of us need when we need it. Thank you for your consistency in blogging and visiting other blogs. I appreciate your faithfulness.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  38. Saw your book advertised in christian book distributors...wow!!! How very exciting..congratulations!

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  39. Thanks for the great post, Jody!

    This helps :D

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  40. Thank you! I have been trying to figure out the right formula for getting more loyal followers and your post was just perfect. As an aspiring author, building a loyal following before publication is so important. Thanks again for sharing great advice!

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  41. ah, you do a nice job of laying out your post and making it very readable.

    I have a hard time because...if I start thinking too hard about making every post perfect, I'm much less likely to post at all, lol. I just keep telling myself that right now my blog doesn't matter, that it's just an awkward little place for me to babble, but it gets more important all the time to make it actually worth reading, haha!

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  42. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I try to make my posts personal and of interest to writers. And I try to visit blogs that I like to read but I never have time to get to them all.

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  43. Another outstanding blog post. The ease in which you share your knowledge brings a smile to my face every time I visit. Thanks for the tips. :-)

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  44. Jody, your post was filled with some very worthwhile information. Thanks.

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  45. I'm offering free monkey giveaways on my blog! Really, I swear. Ha, ha. So that's not what you meant by offers, right? :)

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  46. This is a great post! Thanks so much for sharing all that information.

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  47. You are an expert when it comes to giving your readers something, Jody. I often feel like I need to take notes when I pop over, making sure I don't miss anything. LOL! :-)

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  48. Jody, wow, when did you make these beautiful design changes to your blog? I love the new look -- just beautiful! Wow! Not that your words needed a lift, but it's even more visually appealing than ever. As to the question, I think when you started your blog, from the start, you were very focused. I have brought in different elements of my life into my blog, three main themes. I can't imagine not writing about one of them. And I've gotten more organized with how I present those three themes. But I'm sure it's made my blog a little more diverse and less focused. Making my writing blog separate has been a good change for me. I love how it's more focused but that I still have a place to share about faith and family. Jody, I love how you make it so much about the reader, and how you connect writing a blog with writing for any publication. You're doing such a fabulous job of transitioning into the life of a published author. You are putting much more into the marketing and connecting with readers than many authors I know. And I know it's going to pay off big for you. Look at you, 700 readers. I'm still at 100, and I started well before you. I do love my group of readers, but you have tapped into something big. I'm proud of you, and in awe, always. :)

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  49. Another great post, Jody. One thing I'm going to try with my blog is to encourage friends and colleagues to lead off the commenting on each new post. Everyone is afraid of being the first one on the dance floor so it helps to give them a nudge.

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  50. You new site is beautiful. What a lovely expression of yourself and your writing.

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  51. Thank you for this insight. It was reaffirming in that I feel I do offer quality content to my readers with titles that attract, etc. I think where I've been lacking is getting out there and connecting with other people and their blogs and building relationships.

    I can work on that.

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  52. I've found that epic silliness and a stunning lack of propriety work well to draw readers too. Not that this would necessarily work for *you*, Jody, since you seem a respectable type, but I just thought I'd throw that out there.

    Oh, and, um, excellent post, good lady. Yes.

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  53. The explosive growth of your blog proves the wisdom of your words. I have had to cut back. I simply can not keep up with the time required to blog as effectively and grow a following. You have balanced everything quite well. Good job.

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