Every month at Communiqué PR, we celebrate the success of our blog and its contributors by sharing stats, including the most views and the average time spent viewing the post. Analyzing these statistics allows us to track the growth of our blog and determine which topics appeal to our audience. Building a committed and involved audience is a priority, however, this is often easier said than done. PRDaily recently posted an article providing tips on building a blog readership. This advice is not designed to gain one-time views but instead to build lasting relationships with the audience to ensure frequent and involved visits.
Consider the Content
This is advice that I never tire of hearing. Whether it’s regarding a paper for school or for a blog post, the content is the main priority to any type of writing. Content will not only capture people’s attention but also maintain it. Mark Schafer, a journalist at PR Daily, suggests using content that is “RITE”: Relevant, Interesting, Timely and Entertaining. By using content that meets this criteria readers will be more likely to share and comment on posts, which in turn will generate more views to the blog.
Build a Twitter Following
This is not only a fast technique when building readership, but also efficient. By spending 10 to 20 minutes a day tweeting, you will be able to build an established audience. Mentioning your blog in tweets will draw people to your site and encourage them to read your most recent posts.
Activate LinkedIn Groups
There are more than 1.5 million LinkedIn groups. This means that there are groups for every topic and area of interest possible. Find multiple groups that are relevant to you and your blog. Use your blog to answer questions or respond to different topics by posting the link to the group as a response. You will likely find people who not only are interested in that specific post but also the overall content of your blog.
Build a Blog Network
Find a group of bloggers that are willing to support each other. It can be difficult to get involvement, especially when first starting a blog. In order to generate more interaction, find bloggers who are interested in a similar topic and who are in a similar position. Comment, share and like one another’s blogs to gain more exposure. One way to find new bloggers is to look through the comment section of your favorite blog. Another way is to use a formal approach though a service like Triberr.
Make your Blog Similar to your Email Address
This simple step is often forgotten or unnoticed. Promote the URL of your blog everywhere you promote your email address. Place it on a business card, in an email signature, on PowerPoint slides, and in newsletters. People who are viewing these things are often high-potential readers and are likely to be interested in your blog.
Building a readership is not an easy task. I hope that with these tips you will be able to gain a strong following. Are there any other tricks you have found successful?