Creating original content that your readers love – whether you have two or two million of them – is the most important part of blogging. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck for inspiration – or you’ve found followers dropping away – these 5 blogging tips gleaned from Imogen’s talk at Blogopolis will help with writers block and reaching out to your audience.
Blogging tip 1: Ask and Answer
- Look to your comments section to find out the topics on which your readers (a) think you’re a bit of an expert and (b) want more free advice.
- Post a facebook poll to discover what readers dig most about your blog – you may be surprised by where others feel your strengths lie and the information will help you create content that plays to them.
- Use social media to ask followers what they’d like to see on your blog.
Blogging tip 2: Use your Key Words
- Check the statistics counter in Google Analytics to discover what search terms have brought the most visitors to your site. You can use the most popular key words and related terms to build new content around.
Blogging tip 3: Look to the Media
- Magazines, headlines, images, and other blogs can all spark ideas for posts.
- Pluck out little bits of inspiration or get in on a public debate.
Blogging tip 4: Get the Calendar
- If you use WordPress I highly recommend getting the free editorial calendar plugin. It’s great for organising series of posts and keeping track of ideas-in-progress.
- Use the calendar to keep track of what’s happening in other parts of the world – you readers could be anywhere (Analytics will tell you more about that too) – so book in posts that take into account topics that are seasonally relevant for your entire audience.
Blogging tip 5: Invite Guests to the Party
- Guest posts are a great way to network with bloggy buddies and get fresh content up when you need a break.
- To encourage participation and make the whole organisational process easier on you, create a Guest Post page suggesting a simple format for would-be-guests to follow.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Looking at the key search words has been great, I updated some of my existing posts and they are being clicked on more and the calendar is brilliant. Thank you for reminding me about the others.
I have to admit, I don’t always check the key words myself yet… I love to just write what comes naturally. But the art of blogging is about making it possible for the most readers to get the most out of our content… so I’m going to have to put in that bit of extra effort I think! I’m really inspired by what you’ve found – that working the key words actually shows a boost in traffic!
x Catherine
Thanks for the helpful tips. I should start using keywords also- it just doesn’t feel right. But what is a blog without readers? No prizes for being the worlds best kept secret, unfortunately.
I completely agree… I’m working on a post on SEO now and I think it’s entirely possible to optimise posts using keywords and other tools without loosing points for style. Blogging smart is extra work, no doubt, but whats the point of doing it at all if you’re not able to share what you’re passionate about because no one can find you! Thanks so much for your comment!
Catherine x
Wasnt the conference great? This is a good summary. Thanks for reminding me. Followed you on twitter and thanks for your lovely comment about my quiche. I appreciate it.
Caeolyn
Thanks for the tips! I always find that sometimes I feel like none of my content ideas are working at all… and the n suddenly, I have a million and one ideas at once! When it rains it pours.
xx
Thanks for all your lovely comments … I’m so happy to know that you found the blogging tips useful and that you enjoy the Style & Substance series… it’s something I want to get back into on The Spring as I’ve discovered a whole host of fab new-to-me Aussie bloggers since the last instalment! x Catherine
Glad that you found my session at Blogopolis useful and it’s helping inspire lots of new blog posts.
I did find your session incredibly useful Imogen – and I’m super embarrassed because I realised today that I’d forgotten to link your blog in my post. I’m Sorry! I’ve put a link and a credit in now – you certainly deserve the recognition for having gathered and shared such a wealth of experience!
x Catherine
Hi,
I’m new to the whole blogging thing and absolutely love your work and the great blogging advise. I really wish London had the blog community that Australia has…or maybe it does have one and I just don’t know about it yet!
) Thank you so much for the great articles, I really look forward to reading many more and I hope some day my blog can be as successful as yours! x
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