Get Real Attention For Your Blog

Summary of post: How to Make Your Blog Get Real Attention
By Jacquelyn Smith of Forbes.com 8/6/2013


 Writing a successful blog is about getting the word out there and actually being seen by the public. A successful blog aims to serve the reader and not bombard them with marketing material and gadgets. The most significant way to develop a loyal online following is by creating useful content that readers will consume and share. Your blogging strategy should be about building and cultivating an audience- this cannot be achieved if your only talking about yourself.

1. Determine the purpose of your blog and stick with it- Start by defining for yourself what readers you want to serve and then build a strategy about how to reach them. Be true to the goals you set out for your blog. If a blog post is not useful or worth sharing it wont produce much value for any reader or the blogger, says Mike Merriman, vice president of marketing at Mzinga, a social services and software firm.
2. Leverage social media- Make the most of social media by including "share" on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Reddit, Google+ and Stumble Upon buttons on your blog. The easier you make it for people to share your content with their network, the more likely they will do so.
3. Make Sure Your Content is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Friendly- Identify the keywords for searching for a postings subject matter and think about the best way to incorporate those search terms into the title and body of the post. For example, "Hiring a Patent Attorney: Seven Things to Look For" will rank better than, "Seven Things to Look For When Hiring a Patent Attorney", because the desired keywords "patent attorney" comes earlier in the sequence.
4. Speak your audiences language- Sometimes when marketers start the blogging process they start typing words that sound more like a press release than a conversation. You benefit more from using terms that resonate with your readers. So do not use your blog to impress your high school English teacher, try to impress your customers instead.
5. Be a part of the conversation both on your blog and of others in your industry- Drive traffic to other blogs and respond as much as you can to both negative and positive comments about your own blog. Allow your blog to become a vibrant exchange of information and ideas with prospective and existing readers.
6. Post regularly- writing a successful blog requires a significant and sustained effort. The trick is to be consistent, whether that means blogging 10 times a day, 3 times a week, or once a month.
7. Mix it up- far too many people use the same exact format for their blog day in and day out. Make it a point to try out a new type of content once in awhile. Mix up your format, length, authorship and content.