What would you say has allowed you to be successful at blogging?
Did you notice? I have officially moved to Tuesdays. Instead of posting every Monday, you will now find me on Tuesdays. Make sure to come back every Tuesday for Blogging Tips and Tricks here at R & R Web Design LLC.
I am so blessed. I have some of the greatest bloggers as readers. Yes, I’m talking to you, all of you! I LOVE how you all take the time to offer great advice and input.
So, I would like to know what you think.
If you could put into words the one big thing that has made you successful at blogging, what would you say it is?
Is it your ability to produce great content? Or, how you’re posting every day? Do you have witty headlines or do you have great conversations in your comments?
There is SO MUCH information out there that claims can make you a great blogger, but, I have the best resources right here.
While you are considering what makes you a successful blogger, let me share with you a little research I did.
The Headline
If you missed the series on How to Write the Perfect Headline Every Time, please check it out. Copyblogger reported that 8 of out 10 people will see your headline but out 2 out of 10 will read it. Is a great headline what we need to be successful at blogging?
Content
Have you ever heard of Social Triggers? Well, the author posts 2.7 times a month and has subscribers in the hundreds of thousands. What does he say is the key, his great content? He doesn’t post to post and admits that he loses out of the SEO factor, but he says his content is so good that his readers become lifelong readers.
Easy To Read Factor
How many blog readers as skimmers? I know that I have a huge tendency to be a skimmer. Is it your ability to write easy to read articles that makes you successful?
Here Is What I Think
The reason why I love reading blogs is that I love to see the heart of the author. I love reading an article and somehow feeling like I just had a good cup of coffee with the author. I like to have just enough vulnerability and just enough personality. When you add in great content, a witty headline and the easy to read factor, you may just have the most successful article ever written.
I haven’t even touched the SEO or the marketing. See what I mean about SO MUCH information out there?
What do you think?
Now, more importantly, what do you think? What makes a blog successful?
Christine King is a staff writer at R & R Web Design LLC. She is passionate about writing and loves what blogging and businesses can achieve. Armed with her degree in social work, she brings the unique ability to motivate readers in every blog article she writes. She specializes in creating content and writing blog articles for a variety of businesses at R & R Web Design LLC.
We were thinking along similar lines today, I see – and yet how different our posts! 🙂 I think I could use a little more personality and humor in my posts, which mostly tend to be “how-to” types. These are very popular, but I’ll work on it. Those are great tools and yes, I’ve been working hard on improving my headlines because you are so right – they matter!
Alisa, Great minds think alike. 😉 Humor and personality can add just the right flavor to a blog post. “How to” post are popular for a reason – everyone loves them! Would you say that being able to write great “how to” articles is your “it” factor?
This is a great post with some great links I’ll have to check out!
I am still trying to find the “secret sauce” to be a successful blogger! I have discovered one thing – I really like writing! But reading is still my passion, and curating a close second. The blogs I like the best are where the writing comes from the heart…you can tell when a writer really enjoys their topic, vs just having to regurgitate what they think their audience wants to hear.
Thanks for the helpful tips!
Jennifer, maybe your “secret sause” is your passion! You are so right, when an author loves what they write it shows. Genuine passion is contagious. I couldn’t agree more.
Well, Christine, I hadn’t thought about it that way, but yes, I guess it is! I used to to a lot of technical writing, and I really enjoyed taking complicated tasks and breaking them down so that anyone could do it.
I guess that is what I’m still doing! Except now, I’m writing about social media instead of phone systems – thank goodness 🙂
This is a great list for reference Christine! I find the more I blog, the more of my personality and feelings are expressed in my style of writing. This attracts me to keep going back to certain blogs but I also like blog posts that are informative and to the point, when that is what I’m looking for. I’ll be bookmarking this as I plan to do more blogging this year.
Shannon, it sounds like your “it” factor is personality with informative content. I think those components make very successful blogs. 🙂 Thanks for commenting and bookmarking!
Hi Christine! I think you make great points on all counts. All of the things you mention are important, however, I personally like to make my headlines catchy and my blog posts relatively short and easy to read (because I’m a skimmer and have a short attention span, so that’s what works for me!).
Carrie,
I love it! Easy to read with a witty headline. I would say that is the stuff successful articles are made of. 🙂 Thank you so much for commenting.
Thanks for mentioning easy to read factor! That’s one of the reasons I stayed long enough to read your post. It was short and to the point, easy to read, and bonus! I got the time to comment on it 🙂
Delia,
You are amazing. I love your comment. I’m so glad that was able to capture the easy to read factor or else I might have lost you! I agree, the easy to read factor is crucial for a successful article. Thanks for commenting.
If you love to blog, you have to love the gift of writing as a form of self-expression. I’d say the challenge is posting with a creative twist and thinking of stimulating topics. When you realize all of the millions of blogs in the world, one wonders if everything has been covered and the only alternative is to rehash what already has been said. Of course, that is not the case since we all think differently and translate our thoughts and opinions in different and unique ways.
Lisa,
I agree, there is such uniqueness that comes with writing blogs. While at times it can be difficult to ‘keep up’ that uniqueness, it is really fun isn’t it? And to put yourself out there time after has to come from a place of passion. You are right on. Thanks for the comment.
The title gets me every time! Once I get going I am pretty good at writing the article, but then I have NO idea what to call it.
Sarah,
Headlines are a beast. Have you check out our headline series? Check out this article for a few tips and tricks that might be it easier.
You Too Can Write the Perfect Headline Every Time
I love your point about seeing (and feeling) the heart of the reader. A great article definitely allows you to connect with an author in a very real way. A great headline might reel them in, but it’s the content that will keep them there and coming back for more!
Rebekah,
I’m with you, if you don’t have quality content you’ll may never gain the trust of your readers that would turn them into followers. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
I felt so validated reading this blog. I started blogging last year as a form of self-expression to hopefully inspire others about starting again, reinventing oneself, finding your passion. It was relatively easy while sharing my own journey & telling my story. My style is me talking to a friend over coffee.
Now my content direction is shifting & my motivation for blogging is marketing a product. Not sure how I will proceed, where my inspiration will come from & I will be reading many blogs to stimulate my own ideas. I am a beaded jewelry designer who has belonged to a group of writing friends for 15 years, so this could be an interesting continuation of my journey.
Roslyn,
I wish you the best of luck on this new direction. Thank you so much for sharing.