There have been more articles written on the subject of blogging than just about every other topic. It's been beaten to death. So why in the world would I put a piece out there on the same topic.
Because I want to. And frankly, because there are still many people who don't understand the key to long-term success with their blog.
Following are several observations and pointers to help you make the most of your blog.
1) Publish original content
This may seem obvious to many people, but you cannot build a following if you don't have something to say. I've been beating the drum for original content for years. It's amazing how many people still ask me if it is a good idea to build a site using the stack of PLR content they just bought for a song. PLR content is fine to supplement a niche-site, but it should never be the primary source of content. When it comes to PLR, less is more.
2) Be real
We live in an age where authenticity is being touted as a key virtue. I'm glad to see that. Yet, there is still so many "me too" people who are attempting to duplicate other's success. I guess you could say they are authentic at being someone else!
It is my opinion that each person is created by God with a unique set of talents, passions, skills, personality and abilities. You will never be someone else. You are stuck with you. Be true to that person and mine the gold that is within. People will appreciate your unique voice and you will have an easier time creating content.
3) Be consistent
If you are serious about developing and maintaining an audience, blog regularly. There's nothing worse for a reader than to visit your site and see that you haven't updated in several days. There are plenty of other sites that regularly deliver fresh content. You will lose your readers.
I deliberately pulled away from my blog for a time with the full awareness that my traffic levels would be affected. It was necessary for a personal season in my life and I was willing to pay that price. But as I have become more consistent in posting content, I observe my traffic levels increasing.
4) Keep it interesting
I appear to break a number of the rules that I teach by writing about anything and everything on this site. After all, I have always said that your site should be focused on your particular niche.
People expect me to write about business, social media, adsense and blogging. But I also like to write about current events, movies, computer games, travel and iPhone apps. I've also been known to be a stickler for customer service stories.
But I won't pigeonhole my content into other's expectations of me. I'll write about whatever is on my mind. This blog is about whatever is interesting to me. Ultimately, if it is interesting enough to me, there is the thought that others will find it interesting as well.
5) Don't be afraid of controversy
Grab a big ladle and stir the pot every now and then. Talk about the issues that matter to you. Don't be afraid of what others might think or say. Controversy is great comment-fodder. It's unfortunate that raising the hackles of others is one of the best ways to instigate conversation. But it is what it is. We, as a people, like red meat. (No offense to my vegan friends.)
6) Use social media
Be sure to incorporate social media share buttons on your site so others can easily share your content. That reminds me. I still need to add Google Plus to this blog. Practice what you preach, Joel...
Those are just a few things that immediately come to mind. I could go on, but this is where interacting with you becomes fun. What are some of your ideas for maintaining a blog that generates and keeps an audience?
Please post your comments below.
Hey Joel,
You are right on the money. It's not unusual for the cobbler's children to have holes in their shoes.
Being real, consistent, and original has been the key to my fiddle tune a day project. I have seen my traffic grow 15 fold this year over last as a result of this project. You can check it out here:
http://www.vithefiddler.com/category/fiddling/fiddle-tune-a-day/
Keep it up, Joel!
Vi
Great post, Joel, and I appreciate the part about writing slightly off-topic content being ok.
Here's why: my primary income is as a professional singer, and I'm "niching down" to focusing on my Michael Buble tribute show. Putting a band together, and everything :)
(Site being built right now, so domain just redirects to main site).
I realise the importance of regular content to prove the site is updated regularly, that it's relevant, to give followers new info to interact with and to send social signals to the search engines, but there's only so much a guy can write about singing Michael Buble songs and tips for booking a singer, right?
Justin Brooke (the traffic strategist) gave me a good tip of seeing what fan sites are writing about, but also your tip makes me see that blogging about, for example, this sudden heat wave we're enjoying in the UK this week, is an ok topic too!
Cheers Joel,
And remember that you know who to come to for all your Buble Tribute requirements haha :)
My problem is coming up with original content on a regular base. I do a lot of research to find a good topic but it's not easy.
Maybe I will do something different and start writing down my own journey in this business with all it's up's and downs.
Thanks
Frank
Good points. Toughest one for me is #3 because I have too many irons in the fire (always, sigh). I especially like #2, Be Real. I think that's something a lot of new bloggers don't realize the importance of. It may take more effort than just slapping up quick, meaningless content or actually scraping other sites, but it's so much better in the long run.
Hi Joel
Another useful tip is to have a mobile friendly blog as alot of alot of folk read from mobile devices (me included) and it sure is hard if the fonts are too small
Cheers
Joel, I always get something very useful from your posts and this is no exception. I couldn't agree with you more on your blog points. I stay away from PLR, except to get an idea or two. I have never used a spinner for any articles that I write.
Like Laura above, I too have way too many things going on, but try to write 2-3 new articles a week. There are many late nights and very early mornings in my life..lol.
Thanks again Joel, you are a class act.
Linda
Joel, You're right about one thing, there is lots of stuff on blogs and blogging. Even though pretty much all has been said, we post it because we like it.
Thanks.
I've been doing all of these things since I started my blog. To have a blog that's only about five months old, I've been experiencing some awesome success.
Perhaps the topic, as you suggest, has been "beaten to death" but the message still needs getting out there. I agree with all 6 points and they are good strategies to follow. It takes time to build out content on new websites but consistent posting 3-4 times a week ultimately pays dividends. Many newbies give up too soon because it's too much like hard work. Others who subscribed to building 100s of flimsy 3-5 page micro-sites on the "set and forget" principle promoted by gurus saw their ranking disappear recently and the forums are full of their whinings. The reality, as you correctly point out, is to build blogs that people want to visit regularly because the content is worth reading and fresh content is added regularly.
Thanks for the article, it's true that we have to be original and authentic
Es verdad.. muy buenos topicos, yo tengo varios blogs y este de viajes es uno de ellos.
Basicamente busco hacerlo orignal, escribir sobre cosas interesantes de viaje.
Is True, so good topics, I have many blogs and this of travels is one of them.
I like write about interesting topics.
Very informative information and i verify all the points that are mentioned by Joel. The most important tip to keep trafic on your blog is to maintain the number of posts you publish on daily basis,every 3rd day or weekly. If you post 2 blogs per day then please maintain this pace, it will keep intact your traffic coming in on a daily basis.
good tips. I have a hard time coming up with something to write all the time.
If anyone can help me I have a problem. I have too much content. I am a professional MMA fighter who is also the owner of a fightwear/lifestyle brand, a polyglot and a writer. I cannot figure out how to organize a blog to git all of those things together. I also write about geopolitics and investing in stocks - two things I am very well-versed in. I am trying to figure out how I can create a blog that addresses my fighting, multiple foreign languages, writing and 2 completely unrelated topics. Any advice, I need it . PLEASE!!!!!
Maybe there should be a rule about not using acronyms without defining them. acronymfinder.com has a lot of suggestions about what PLR might be. Packet loss rate is my favorite, but Private Label Rights is top of the list.
Being consistent is one of the problems many face (including myself). Procrastination is often a difficult thing to overcome.
Once again, great post, bro! If I may be so presumptuous, I'd like to add one more point...
IMHO, there are only two legitimate reasons to blog - either you have the strength of your convictions and want your opinions heard or you have a genuine drive to help others. In either scenario you'll never run out of things to say, and both versions are easy to monetize.
On the other hand, blogging to make money is simply a modern way to create your own hamster wheel - and the faster you run the quicker you'll run out of topics.
I would probably put the fightwear brand onto its own website. Get a personal domain name (DaveMaswary.com) and put the other content on that, with WordPress you can easily separate and categorize posts/pages. Link to your fightwear brand-site and if you ever create a product or service put them on their own websites and link-to/promote them. Blogs aren't just 'web-logs' anymore they are ran as full content websites now.
Thanks for the reminder. About 10 years ago, I asked my mentor why he always repeated the same key points in meetings. He said humans have selective hearing and what you may hear today, you may not hear for another month or longer. A bad night's sleep or quarreling with your spouse or kids before work can disrupt a whole day.
I stopped writing anything new for the past 4 months and used Scoop.it and other resources to keep the content (blah blah blah) alive while I tried to re-energize my brain.
Now I go to the library or pick up magazines about health, Redbook, corporate annual reports, and Popular Mechanics. I pick up newspapers, weeklys, Westword in Denver, and coupon books. I've started writing down headlines, tag lines and keyword phrases. I'm an intuitive marketer and blog ideas just seem to jump out at me.
I was looking at Martha Stewart.com > Home and Garden > Outdoor Decor. Here's what I got out of three articles:
"Outdoor Decorating Details" > "How-to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog While on Vacation"
"60 Summer Decorating Ideas" > "I need 30 New Ideas for My Blog and Yours - Day 1" (a 30 day blog theme to elicit ideas and comments)
"Good Things for Outdoor Entertaining" > "Good Things Come From Blogging" - a Joel Comm diversion: (article or short thoughts about more time with my family, hiking, a weekend at the Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs, CO, and a lazy day at Coors Field watching the Rockies lose. These diversions are not about my blog but they are about me.)
Joel wrote an article a couple of weeks back about faith and it gave me pause to consider everything in my life I am thankful for. I posted a story in my voice on my blog today (first one in 4 months). I wrote about my son's new position in a fabulous restaurant and found my self talking about branding. It just came out . . . easy. What do you think? http://j.mp/CopperDoor
I hope some of these ideas help and would love to know how you come up with ideas. Help me help you and vice versa! Thanks Joel. Wait . . I just came up with a great blog idea to help bloggers from my rambling; I'll post it Monday
I agree with Joel that since God made each of us so unique that we need to write something with what God puts in our mind. I did mistakes in the beginning of my blogging journey and the ranking for so low , but later on I get to know the importance of original content and I starting to write something I like. Although the ranking may and traffic may not be as good as I expected. But it certainly build up my boldness to write about something that I like.It is happy to have something which is made by yourself rather than coping from others. I hope we can always enjoy blogging like this. May God use your unique idea to write something good and encouraging to the people in this century.God bless you, Joel.
Loved this, Joel.
Especially liked the way you reminded us all to "mine the gold that is within." Authenticity can get lost in all the noise, and it can be easy to chameleonize to blend in rather than looking for those special things inside of us that we can mine to impact the world.
Thanks for your voice, Joel.
Nice post Joel, especially on the constitency aspect. When you are not constitence, you lose your audience.
I'm all for having lots of irons in the fire! This is the day and age of information, creativity, and communication like never before and the very thought of limiting myself feels absolutely suffocating! I want to learn,sample, and experience a myriad of things, to savor those that appeal to me, and to share my most treasured gems with the world so that those who pass my way may select what works for them. I may not be "focused" as many choose to point out, but to me, they're the ones going through the world with tunnel vision. I have multiple streams of income and they add up to fit my needs. I love to sail where the current takes me and discover what I may. Keep it up Joel...your honest style is music to my soul!
I have the same feeling. I do not stay on the topic of my niche. I blog about a number of topics, the ones I feel like blogging about!
Good read
Hi Joe,
Your article encourages me to keep on writing my blog. I'll find interesting topic to write, both for the readers and me. Thank you so much.
Great tips are always worth repeating! There are always new bloggers around, and even those who have been at it for more years that Justin Beiber's been alive need reminders and encouragement to keep on keeping on.
Lately, the only thing on my mind is my daughter's upcoming wedding. When I should be writing, all I want to do is double-check lists, experiment with reception recipes, and look at wedding blogs! Your post is a great reminder to get my nose back to the grindstone and out of the glitz. Thanks!
the number 4 point is 'keep it interesting'. my last post on my blog was '10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TEA'. but after reading this post, i can see, my post could be written in more interesting way. thank you Joel.
Very insightful post. Having fresh and unique content makes a blog interesting and brings in more traffic.
Wow Joel.. your right on..so smart too.. the only thing I am.. is real..thats all I know how to be.. I love to write but I hardly ever do.. my plate is full with real life events.. not interested in what the world thinks. so that's why I never write.. too complicated. I love to comment, some people get under my skin, and if I started to write I know darn well many people will get mad.. too bad I say them. So keep on telling us how to be well and alive and so right on. I just love to hear the things you say and especially the me too crowd.. so original and genuine. gotta love it
Rufus
I guess my problem is I think using free blogging platforms will save me money, when in the long run I'll get more traffic by using my own site and hosting.
Thanks
Mark
Content is what is important when it comes to blogging. as blogging allows you with the freedom to write on which ever concept you feel like to then it becomes very important that what ever you write should be written in a unique and great manner. the content should not only have a proper understanding but should also have a kind of attraction when the readers come to it
I think a blog should be unique,informative and entertaining.Blogging is good for both readers and bloggers,for readers they get new ideas from the blogs they read while for the blogger they are able to express how they fell and share their thought
Great post. I've tried to encorporate Joel's tips and techniques, including the use of Adsense in my wine review blog.
WineStomp Wine Reviews
Hi Joel, you've shared some awesome tips on writing blog for fun and traffic!
The part I particularly like is "Be real" because I like to say that personally sells as easy as sex. The reason for it is simply because people appreciate when you are being honest and not hiding anything from them.
Funnily enough many people worldwide tend to hide their real personality being scared that if they try to be themselves, people will not like it. :)
Having studied and practised the seduction and pickup arts for the last few years, I have actually realized that the exactly same thing happens in the situations where men try to approach their target or desired women the way that they are hiding their true sexual or horny desires they feel about these women. And, it's proven over and over again that women absolutely appreciate, enjoy and crave for that congruent sexuality element in men's approach.
Hope you've found my comment interesting.
Please, feel free and welcome to visit my blog and post your comments there.
In advance thanks a lot.
Bruno Babic - Thinking BIG guy and Passionate Online Entrepreneur excited about leading a Luxury Playboy Millionaire Lifestyle supported by earning multiple streams of cash from an automated online business
P.S. Whether you are a publisher or not, the first post of my blog is titled: "Naked and shocking truth of my 7 year painful struggling to net my ever desired millionare playboy lifestyle based on running an automated online business REVEALED: Here I get up again to finally win the game of making money online" and it counts 1145 words.
However, the original first post of my blog that I initially published and then removed because it was astronomically too long has 6487 words and a much longer title...
Thanks for the Wonderful article on the blogging
That Make Great Content. Writing great content is a choice. You can choose to put in the time and work required to create great content and build a prosperous brand.
Or you can choose to take the easy path and write poor content – a path that ultimately will get you nowhere. It will only result in a waste of time, energy and resources.
Just my 2cent,
Winson Yeung
I think reading from this blog is really worth it.! :)
Thanks and Good luck Joel.