Useful and interesting content is not all you should be creating for your blog. At the same time you need to be building your blog in other ways. Your content can attract new visitors, can help retain the visitors you have, and can bring you in links. Here are some tactics you can use:
- Flagship Content – Obviously you are going to need something for your sidebar, content that is an ambassador for your blog. These types of content can take a while to create but are a foundation to build your blog on so must not be overlooked.
- Link out posts – Build relationships with other bloggers. Get noticed in their referrers and trackbacks. Some will even link back to you or let the trackback through.
- Skim posts - For busy and distracted readers you will want posts with images, bullets and lists. Skim posts do not have to be short, in fact the longer lists tend to get more bookmarks. This means more links and a better chance of getting onto the front page of Digg. The key is to make it look like something you would want to come back to or can consume in a few minutes.
- Digg-Bait – It’s not just long resource lists as mentioned above. Top-tens, tips, tutorials, how-to’s, anything that will get social media attention and garner links
- Conversation - Build a loyal audience and develop stickiness by discussing topics with your readers. Rather than all your posts being “articles”, ask questions, gather feedback and you will create a community.
- Polls and Surveys – A type of community-building content and a great conversation-starter, but if the question is interesting enough and the results significant, can gather you links and attention.
- PR Events – Break out of the routine by doing something big to get attention. This could be viral giveaways, competitions, web projects, campaigns … anything goes providing it gets you attention, preferably in a good way.
You need a good mix of posts. Some posts will be informative, some will build community, others will be about getting noticed. The key thing is not to look at these specific tactics as a to-do list but to show when you are posting there can be other benefits as well as to inform and entertain 
Chris Garrett is here to help you and your business attract an engaged audience of people who grow to know, like and trust you.
Once again great post Chris. I like the popular lists in the sidebars when I go to a blog. For some reason I am more inclined to read the post in that list than just random posts by the author.
Once again great post Chris. I like the popular lists in the sidebars when I go to a blog. For some reason I am more inclined to read the post in that list than just random posts by the author.
Yeah I find the popular or recommended posts can have a big impact on rss signups too
Yeah I find the popular or recommended posts can have a big impact on rss signups too
Good suggestion on building conversation. I tend to think more in terms of articles, and I would suggest that many others do as well. The only issue I see is that to build the conversation you need a good audience base – it is a bit of a catch-22. That won’t stop me from trying.
Jeremy
Good suggestion on building conversation. I tend to think more in terms of articles, and I would suggest that many others do as well. The only issue I see is that to build the conversation you need a good audience base – it is a bit of a catch-22. That won’t stop me from trying.
Jeremy
I find the linking out approach, particularly for a new blog that already has some flagship content, works well to bring in new visitors, but you have to provide value and follow up to keep the momentum
I find the linking out approach, particularly for a new blog that already has some flagship content, works well to bring in new visitors, but you have to provide value and follow up to keep the momentum
Chris, as a new blogger, I read and follow a lot of your tips to make my blog look better and be more productive. I have a “Most Popular Posts” list in my sidebar but only have my top 6 listed. I just noticed that you have 15 listed on your sidebar. I have been making this list by going to Feedburner to see which posts are being read the most. I update it every week. It is exciting watching some posts move up and others move down the list. My subscriptions are continually moving up in numbers. Thanks for your great advice.
Chris, as a new blogger, I read and follow a lot of your tips to make my blog look better and be more productive. I have a “Most Popular Posts” list in my sidebar but only have my top 6 listed. I just noticed that you have 15 listed on your sidebar. I have been making this list by going to Feedburner to see which posts are being read the most. I update it every week. It is exciting watching some posts move up and others move down the list. My subscriptions are continually moving up in numbers. Thanks for your great advice.
Hey great post Chris!
I have only recently learn that my list posts are usually the most popular. And to make them more “readable” I make the lists in bold so readers can easily skim and only read what interests them. It’s such a simple idea but it really works!
Hey great post Chris!
I have only recently learn that my list posts are usually the most popular. And to make them more “readable” I make the lists in bold so readers can easily skim and only read what interests them. It’s such a simple idea but it really works!
@Patricia – I list the most popular that would make sense to new visitors. Probably I have too many, 10 seems like a round number, but they do get read
@Brad – Really the best thing is to take notice of the styles of posts you read yourself, I find I read a lot of lists even though people say they are getting tired of seeing them on digg etc
@Patricia – I list the most popular that would make sense to new visitors. Probably I have too many, 10 seems like a round number, but they do get read
@Brad – Really the best thing is to take notice of the styles of posts you read yourself, I find I read a lot of lists even though people say they are getting tired of seeing them on digg etc
Chris,
Thank you for excellent tips.
Rajesh Shakya
Chris,
Thank you for excellent tips.
Rajesh Shakya