Your Blog Sucks. Here’s Why:

This may be hard for some to hear, but all blogs are not created equal. Yes, I know you think your story, your experience, and your POV is important, but how do your readers feel? When it comes to blogging, there are some tricks of the trade to ensure your blog doesn’t suck. Let me help you find your way when it comes to writing and maintaining your blog.

The What

When it comes to blogging, you must have something to say. This may sound silly since blogs are obviously about something, but your something is important in more ways than one. This begs the question: what is your blog about? And more importantly, does your topic suck?

If your blog is all over the place, covering multiple topics at a time, or it covers a niche topic that not many people can relate to, it can cause your readers to stray. Why? Because most people are looking for something on the web—something specific. Maybe they want to learn a new skill. Maybe they want to feel connected to a personal topic such as mental health or LGBTQ+ issues. Heck, maybe someone wants to start a new career and needs advice.

It’s important to pick a blogging lane and stay in it, especially when you are just starting out and showing people who and what you are. By sticking with one topic, your blog will take shape and attract followers who will want to stay engaged with your writing over time.

However, topic is just the first step. Next, we need to talk about your audience.

The Who

There are various types of blogs, and knowing your type is key to ensuring your blog doesn’t suck. Check out the 3 types of blogs below and see where yours fits.

1.       All About You: Maybe your blog is like a live journal where you write down your thoughts and feelings. If this is the case, cool. There isn’t much else to say here. When it comes to blogging and documenting your life, it’s really not about the audience. However, if you are trying to use the blog space to connect with others, making it interactive with a comments section, social media connection, or email blast might help bring in traffic and keep readers engaged. If you want to build traffic, you need to consider your voice, your purpose, SEO keywords, and why followers should continue to follow you.

2.       All About Your Business: If your business website hosts a blog page, you can pull in a lot of extra traffic using SEO keywords. First, figure out who is coming to your page and why. Thinking like the person on the other side of the web can help you figure out what to say and how to say it. In this case, your audience, products/services, and mission/brand will drive the personality of your blog.

3.       Pick a Topic, Any Topic: Sometimes our blogs house our hobbies, our passions, and even our side work. If this is the case, make sure your blog stays on topic. If you run a blog about DIY crafts, that means your readers are there to learn how to turn milk crates into shelving, not about your recent breakup. However, if you can use the breakup to engage the audience by adding in some self-care DIY ideas, then you’ve found a real way to connect with your readers and share the tricks of your trade, too.

No matter the type of blog you are writing, it’s important to stay up to date with your postings and your information. When new information or data becomes available, make that post! To learn more about when to post, keeping reading.

The Goldilocks Approach

Look, writing and curating your blog doesn’t have to be super serious, but there are some tips and tricks if you’re looking to gain followers and keep them. Think about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You want to make your blog “just right”.

• Say/Post More: I am guilty of this charge. I don’t post nearly as much as I should/want on my blog, but I use my Instagram as my main source of interaction. If you are running a business or focus on a specific topic through your blog, AND it’s your primary source of engagement, you need to stay up to date. Posting at least once a week is a sure-fire way to find and maintain readers. You can also ensure readers know what to expect and when. Picking a day or two a week to post gives readers a timeline to follow and engage. Let them get excited about your weekly post!

• Say/Post Less: Now, let’s find that Goldilocks middle. If you are posting multiple times a day and posting novel-length essays, you might lose your audience. Think about teasing your readers. Give them a few pieces of information a week, and make sure they are in manageable chunks of text. No one has time to read multiple novels on your website each week. Give them the information they need and keep each posting under 1000 words.

• Say It Right: If you want people to consistently read your blog, you need to make it engaging. What can you do to hook your audience? Tone is really important here. If you make your blog posts too formal, you may push some potential readers away. However, if you are a law firm or a medical professional using your space to inform, your tone may be more formal. Think about who you are and what you are looking to feature. Funny or formal, make sure you tone is “just right” when it comes to your content.

There is no one right way to create and maintain a blog, but posting too many times, not posting enough, and leaving your lane can all cause some major engagement issues. Figure out your lane, decorate it, and pull your readers to your page. Remember, you want the bowl of porridge that is just right!

Maybe blog writing isn’t your thing. Well, you’re in luck; it’s ours! At The Storyteller Agency, we’d be happy to create most/all of your blog content to ensure you are keeping the traffic up and your readers happy. Reach out and let us help you share your ideas with the world.