Blog Content That Gets Shared. Nice!

Over the due course of time, our blogs may hit a flat patch when we aren't able to gather more readers. If you are looking forward to getting quality readers, then you need to create content that's shareable. The more you create content that is lapped up by the audience, the better position you are in to revamp your blog and get the stats moving.

Here is how you can get people talking about your blog -

Converse: Not just talk

When you converse with your audience, you get their attention for a longer period of time. Create meaningful relationships along the way and you will soon have readers recommending your blog to their circle of friends. This will definitely help your cause to say the least. When you thank them for commenting on your blog, make sure to give it a personal touch by being friendly and direct. They will definitely love it.

Consistency

So, you have created that awesome content. But what now? Creating an awesome content helps you get to your readers, once. However, in order to sustain their attention, you need to up your game and consistently provide content that is relevant to your niche and audience. If you aren't consistent enough, then you will soon lose readers over the due course of time. Back up your data with ample research so that they get an impression that what you tell them really functions.

Brakes are Good

Being passionate about what you love can really work wonders. You may have loads of ideas that you are waiting to share. However, you need to take a step back and provide small, bit-sized content. This way, you will definitely win your customers' attention. Remember, there are tonnes of posts that your reader comes across. Be sure to provide the essential information first.

Share

Use tools and widgets at the right part of your blog to make it shareable. If you want readers and followers, then you need to put the widget on the top half of the blog. This way, the chance of you getting a reader dramatically increases. Use as many plug-ins as possible that allow you to share the content.

The Ending

A content that ends well, sells well. The better your ending is, the better are your chances of getting a reader/customer/follower in the long run. Post questions that intrigue you. Use a lot of action words. Your readers will love it. Definitely.

Question of the day - Have you created your Google Plus Business Page? How is it helping you?

Blog Prob 5. Less or No Revenue

If you have Google Adsense installed in your blog, then chances are, you want to earn from your blog. However, you must know that blogging won’t pay you so early. Many bloggers don’t earn that much in the first few months or may be even a year. But do not be disheartened if you don’t see money, let alone profits from your blog.

The right strategy will help your earn from your blog

Less or No Revenue

Many people agree that blogging does pay you. There are bloggers who earn hundreds and thousands of dollars every month through various means. In order to earn like them, you have to follow certain rules and abide by them diligently.

Addressing the issue

• Never lose hope – Blogging requires patience. Blogs which start earning in the first few months are either related to some hugely popular brands or they employ shady means to achieve the target. Chances are, bloggers write quality content but when they don’t see profits they get discouraged and ultimately discontinue their work. Have some realistic goals and work hard to achieve these goals. And above all – have patience.

• Plan – In the previous blog, I discussed about the importance of planning. There are various ways of earning from one’s blog – Ad Sales, AdSense, Affiliate products, memberships, premium content, products sales and promoting services. As your blog grows, you may change your monetizing plans but overall, you need to draw a proper plan beforehand. Before asking others to buy your premium content, you need give them premium content beforehand. Build your reputation and create an audience ready to pay for your work.

• Never rely on one source – Keep your eyes open and create as many sources of income as possible. As your blog becomes popular, you will find new income opportunities headed your way. Decide properly as to the ones you need to pay attention to.

• Become a problem-solver – This especially holds true for business houses carrying out a blog. When you write on topics related to a specific industry, you know your audience is interested in your products/services. They will ask you to help them out in solving a problem or a solution. Help them and become a problem-solver. This will help in getting you loyal readers.

With these points, your blog, business or otherwise, will soon help you earn money. All you need to do is stay focused and keep blogging the right stuff! 

Image Source - AmitBhawani.com

Blog Prob 4. Lacking Genuine Audience

If you want your blog to enjoy long standing success, you need visitors to come back to your site over and over again. Without a genuine audience, your blog traffic may not rise significantly. They are like the foundations of your blogging success.

Genuine audience is crucial for your blog's success

Genuine Audience

People who regularly comment on your blog and keep returning to your blog site from time to time fall in this bracket. If you don’t have them, you are throwing stones in the dark.

Addressing the issue

• Encourage Subscriptions – A reliable way to get a quality audience is by asking them to subscribe to your blog. Gather email-ids and ask them to subscribe through RSS. Set these buttons on prominent locations on your blog. When subscriptions reach a healthy number, display it on your blog site. Also, another nice way would be to ask them to download eBooks.

• Newsletter – Now that you have their mail-ids, make them feel special. Send them beautifully designed newsletters with quality content in them. Make them understand that they are special to you.

• Design – There is always room for development. Upgrade your blog-site’s as well as website’s design in order to catch the attention of your audience. A unique design is the first thing that catches readers’ attention and they will feel the urge to subscribe immediately.

• Regular posting – Publish your posts regularly. But don’t overdo it! Publish post on a specific day of the week and on a specific time of the day. They will start expecting you to publish on that particular day of the week and so never let them down.

• Bring them to a conversation – Ask them to interact with you on Facebook and Twitter. This is a great way to develop quality audience and make them a part of your blogging success. Ask them what they would like to see from your blog. Give them what they want! 

 Keep the above points in mind when looking to develop a quality audience for your blog!

Image Courtesy - The Narrow Gate

Blog Prob 3. No Clear Strategy

Blogs have their own purpose and if you still are writing just because "They" are writing it, then soon you will find yourself in a difficult spot, if not already! 

Blogs need to have a clear strategy. When you are writing a personal blog, you write in a way to communicate your thoughts to your friends and family members. When you are carrying out a business blog, you need to set your priorities right.

No Clear Strategy

In case of a business blog, you need to create content that will not only welcome your visitors to whichever post, but also help sustain the momentum. They must feel excited to visit your blog again later on.

Addressing the issue

• Draw a Battle-Plan – You need to understand very clearly what you want from your blog. Will it just communicate your thoughts and aspirations? Or will it be written for highlighting your product and business?

• Content is King – Whatever you do, you need to write it in a way that will build your reputation over-time. Readers will start to take you as a guaranteed source of inspiration only when you give them quality stuff.

•  Design – Design speaks a lot for your business. Ensure to have a design that will welcome your visitor and allow them to go through your content seamlessly.

•  Aim high – You must have come across some of the industry leaders’ blogs during the course of your own. Aim to create content that will match-up to their standards.

Follow the above tips and you will see more visitors in the due course of time. 


Image courtesy - truliablog.com

Blog Prob 1. Less or No Comments?

Blogs are the cornerstone of any company’s social media campaign. Many companies believe they are better off carrying social media marketing on various social networking sites. They overlook one simple fact – SMM is nothing without blogs.

A blog is like YOUR VOICE. There are many who believe that with the advent of micro-blogging sites like Twitter and others, blogging is dead. But it is NOT the case. A blog has many advantages. Those will be discussed later. This blog essentially discusses the reasons why your blog isn’t drawing audience and how you can rectify it.

No Comments

When you dedicate a lot of time to your blog, you need comments that will help you understand the needs and wants of your customers/readers. When there are no comments, then that means you have serious issues with your blog. You need to address this issue immediately or else you will find your entire social media marketing campaign, crumble.

Addressing the issue

·         Comment on other blogs – Let others know that you are there. Comment on their blog and leave your web link there. Also write meaningful comments that will get them to click through and visit your site.

·         Respond – Make sure to capitalize on whichever comment you receive. Ensure to reply on the comments that you get from time to time.

·         Controversial topics – OK! This may not be the brightest of ideas but hey! Any publicity is a good publicity!

·         Ask questions – Ask questions at the end of the blog that will make your readers comment on it. Readers generally comment on questions or points that they find interesting. So, work accordingly.

Stay tuned to this space for other problems that bug your blog and learn how you will be able to fix them as well. 


Image Courtesy - http://moblogsmoproblems.blogspot.com/

Links to your peers' blogs

To locate the list of PR student blogs from other universities (both in and outside the U.S.), check out the Teaching Social Media page of the New PR Wiki, or click on the links on this post from Dr. Russell at the University of Georgia.

You can also leave comments for your peers enrolled in the PR survey course since they are blogging this semester. Their blog posts can be found here.

Remember that you are supposed to leave 2 comments a week.

Learning from the 2007 PRSA Conference & Conference Blog

Today marks the end of the annual Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) international conference. Although the conference might be over, the discussion surrounding some of this year's hottest PR topics continues at the PRSA conference blog.

If you are still wondering whether or not we are in the middle of a technology revolution and whether PR professionals really need to understand new social media technologies, take a look at this year's session highlights and at the conference theme: "PR Evolution: Innovation. Collaboration. Influence." Conference highlights included:

- Campaigning on YouTube and in Second Life
- Video Blogging to Build Brand Reputation
- New Media, New Metrics: How to Survive in the New Consumer-Driven Media World
- Strategic Blogging for Successful Marketing
- Understanding and Influencing the New Influencers

The neat thing about this year's conference is the conference blog which is supposed to carry on the conversation about all these issues online. So take this blog as your chance to catch a glimpse of the conference and join the conversation.