It’s easy to think that super popular blogs get this way overnight, some lucky ones do simply by accident, but for most of us it’s all about hard work. It’s all well and good having incredible content, but it’s also all about curated images and relevant keywords. All you need to do is lay the foundations for people to keep coming back and then the hard work will almost do itself, so here are our tips for making your blog more popular!
#1 Target audience
You need to know who reads your blog and why. Knowing this will help you direct your content better, so give a little bit of thought to it. Who do you want to read this blog and what kind of content will they come back for?
#2 Be objective
Like good content, good design takes a keen eye, so if you don’t think it’s up to scratch then neither will your potential followers. Browse other popular blogs and use Pinterest to seek out design elements you like.
#3 Create
Sometimes it’s nice to get a break from curating, so make sure you’re creating original content every so often that will make people keep clicking back. It can be easier said than done, but even if it’s just a simple ‘Life lately’ post or a summary of your Instagram feed, it can be positive. People who follow you will also want a glimpse into your life.
#4 About page
Your ‘About’ page can say whatever you need it to say, and is often one of the first places new viewers will click. Direct this page towards your target audience, don’t bore them with facts and figures, tell them things that endear them towards you. A great post on creating an ‘About’ page can be found here.
#5 Social Media
It goes without saying that you’ll have to use social media to promote your blog posts, but are you reaching people effectively? Creating graphics and eye-grabbing headlines will get more people clicking on your links, and making your blog design cohesive throughout your social media accounts is also a great way to get more people to click. A great social media checklist can be found here.
#6 Freebies
Take advantage of free design tools and graphics. If you think your blog could use them, then go ahead and find new and awesome things to use. Pinterest really is the best place for searching, type ‘free graphics’, ‘free social media icons’, ‘free blogging resources’ and any variation you can think of into the search bar and be amazed at just how many beautiful things people are willing to share for free.
#7 Writing
It’s important to have a good grasp of spelling and grammar, but it’s also important to have a good grasp on your authorial voice. I always tell people to write as if you’re walking somewhere while on the phone to a friend. It’s incredibly specific but the point of it is that almost everyone can conjure up an instance of walking along and telling their friend a great story. If you’re walking and talking you skip over details that dress the story up too much. You want to tell your friend your story and keep them interested, but you don’t want to lose the essential parts or spend too long describing every detail. Unless your blog is writing and literature heavy you should try and keep your writing voice simple, cheery and a reflection of the way you speak. Your readers will be the voice on the other end of your phone.
#8 Be humanbr />
We all are, so admit your limits and don’t push yourself too hard. Be honest with your followers when you need to be, but maintain a distance between your real life and your blog life. It’s healthy to keep some things to yourself, particularly if your blog gets more popular.
How’s your blog doing? Do you have any tips for other bloggers? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram
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