Monday, January 11, 2016

17 Things To Do—Right Now—to Take Your Blog to the Next Level

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I have a lot of writers ask me about blogging. 

Some want to get a solid start. 

Others want to ramp up their connections. 

Whatever information you're looking for, today I’m offering small things that give a big kick. (I'm also including a printable version of the list at the end of the post.)

Many you may already be doing, but adding just one or two of these can make a significant difference.

Take Your Blog to the Next Level
1. Set a blogging schedule and stick to it. (NOTE: once or twice a week is a good solid schedule)

2. End every post with an open-ended question to encourage comments.
Answer the comments on each post.

3. Answer the comments on each post.

4. Don’t get caught up in the numbers—each one is a person who matters.

5. Avoid lecturing within a post—use I and we instead of you.

6. Keep your focus. An unfocused blog is an unread blog.

7. Format your posts with your reader in mind—with bullet points and bold headings.

8. Use a readable font, preferably a sans serif choice.

9. Pray for your readers.

10. Illustrate, don’t interrupt, posts with images.

11.Use the sidebar as a call to action and keep the gadgets/widgets in order of importance.

12. Remember to front-load posts with information.

13. Offer Click-to-Tweet options within posts so they’re easier to share.

14. Put your name and picture somewhere on the front page so people have a 
person to connect with.

15. Include other ways to connect with you in your sidebar (social media links).

16. Accept guest posts.

17. Write guest posts.

These are some simple things you can add to what your already doing. Don’t try to tackle them all at once, but add them in a few at a time. What are some things you’d add to the list?

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

TWEETABLE

As promised, my gift to you, here's an image you can print out with an abbreviated version of the list. Use it as you will!


9 comments:

  1. Great tips, Edie! I've learned so much from you about how to keep and maintain a blog. Thanks for sharing this, and happy birthday!

    Tessa Emily Hall
    www.christiswrite.blogspot.com

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  2. Edie, such great suggestions here. I have a couple questions for you:
    1) How do you know if your images are interrupting your post?
    2) Can you give suggestions for calls to action to include in my sidebar? I've never figured out exactly how I should do this for my blog.
    Thank you for sharing all of this! It's good to see what I'm doing right, and things I can change. :)

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    Replies
    1. Jeanne, here are the answers:
      1) An image illustrates a post if it complements it like a magazine layout. It interrupts it if you have say a block of text. The a centered picture below it. The another block of text.
      2) A call to action is much simpler than you think. A way to sign up for email updates is a call to action, social media follow buttons are call to action. A call to action doesn't have to be a call to buy something.
      I'm hope this was helpful. Blessings, E

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  3. These are great ideas, Edie! Something else that's helpful to do (for those with existing blogs) is to make sure your links are still current. The start of a new year is the perfect time to click through your pages and make sure your links are up-to-date.

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    Replies
    1. Kristen, absolutely! Thanks for the addition, Blessings, E

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  4. Great job, Edie. I've tweeted your blog and am printing it out right now to hang on the wall. (:
    Hugs, Elva Cobb Martin, Pres. ACFW-SC Chapter
    www.elvamartin.com http://www.carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com

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  5. Thanks, Edie. Great list. I started blogging about nine months ago. It's more work than I ever imagined, but I've grown quite attached to my readers.

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