Hi, friends. Today’s post includes some tips for improving your blog posts and (hopefully) gaining loyal followers. My readers with an acute memory might see a few points rehashed from the past, but let’s be honest, do bloggers ever get tired of reading these types of posts? Not in my observation! Let’s get started.
Quick preface: I know that many bloggers I follow don’t abide by these tips or care about increasing their following. This is simply my advice for bloggers looking to grow.
Create an Informative & Intriguing Title
So many times, I have read an awesome post and thought the writer sold themselves short on a minimalistic title.
Let’s say that someone started writing a post near Thanksgiving talking about their blessings; maybe by the end, they realize that they primarily spoke about moving to a new house. “Feeling Thankful” is a vague title that might be easily overlooked. “Appreciating my New Home this Thanksgiving” is more specific and piques my interest…thus, I’m more likely to click on it.
Adding more details makes it even more enticing. Hypothetical examples:
- “From City Slicker to Country Gal: Appreciating my New Home this Thanksgiving”
- “Appreciating my Cats, my Husband, & our New Home this Thanksgiving”
- “A New Home & a New Philosophy on Life: Counting my Blessings this Thanksgiving”
You get the idea. Give ’em the old Razzle Dazzle. [Yes, I recently watched Chicago.]
Use Pictures
I’d say that you should select a featured image at minimum, but including pictures throughout a post is a good idea. People retain information from text better when it’s reinforced by images (Read more here). Also, do we need to look further than social media (esp. Instagram and Pinterest) to see that people simply enjoy looking at pictures? My favorite image resources are Pixabay and Unsplash.
If you use five or more pictures in the post, the post appears differently in the Reader. Posts with the images across the top will draw the eye more and probably get more clicks.
Share on Multiple Platforms
“Build it and they will come” does not apply to blogging (or almost anything besides drive-thru restaurants). The more you use social media to promote your blog, the more people will see it. Social Media Sharing Options:
- Snapchat
- Tumblr
- Etc.
Use Tags
Browsing through the results of tags is a way to find cool blogs (recommended for new/small bloggers), but whether you actually look at tags or not, using them will expose your posts to more people on WordPress. [Just like using hashtags on an Instagram photo brings more likes.]
Sidenote: If you are using the tag Humor, don’t literally type #Humor; type the word Humor and hit “Enter.”
Vary the Formatting
The more variation in formatting, the better. We have evolved past walls of text in 2018. Ways to Break Up Format:
- PICTURES
- Bullet lists & numbered lists
- Bolding & italicizing
- Blockquotes
- Sections with headings
- Emojis (use sparingly)
- Hitting “Enter” every few sentences
Do a Series (But Not in “Parts”)
Success almost never comes easily, so be forewarned that some of your series ideas will crash and burn in dismal interest. However, if you think of a series that does intrigue people, you will gain more return readers. Consider creating one featured image for the series on Canva to use for each post.
I caution you to make all the posts in your series stand-alone rather than having part 1, 2, 3, etc, even if the posts do have some chronological connection. Seeing “part #” in the title can be a turn-off (because it subconsciously sends the signal “this is going to take extra work”). Just my two cents.
Incorporate Your Personality
Readers return first and foremost when they like you. Let them get to know you by displaying your humor, your kindness, your witty sarcasm, your optimism, your vulnerability, your realness, or whatever makes you who you are through your blog. Don’t come across as distant and disconnected from your writing!
Network With Other Bloggers
Unless you’re already a viral sensation, you will have to work to build a readership. Read, like, and comment on other people’s blog posts. Respond to every comment you receive with individual care and attention. You reap what you sow!
Thanks for reading! What do you think of my blogging tips? What would you add or take away? Let me know in the comments.
Retrospective Lily 
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