Everybody and their cousin has a blog nowadays, and that is great. The internet is amazing in the sense that it provides a -mostly- open platform for any kind of content. The downside of this is that if you are not careful, your content will get lost in a sea of similar blogs or websites. So, how do you make sure yours is the content that people want to click on and read? Follow these simple ideas and start building a blog that people will read.
1. Find a niche
“Write what you know.” This ubiquitous piece of advice, attributed to authors as famous as Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, and Mark Twain, fits perfectly in this case. But we can make this quote better: write what only you know. We are all experts at something: perhaps you know all about the latest trends in fashion, or you have the best tips for dry skin, or the best way to do yoga and meditation. Perhaps you know everything there is to know about your favorite sport, your city’s best drinking spots, or traditional recipes.
It doesn’t matter. Find the one thing you really know a lot about and share it with the world. You will be surprised at the number of people who will want to read that specific fact that only you know about!
2. Learn to use SEO tools
This is one of the most important skills to develop if you want to build a successful blog. At first, it might seem intimidating, all that technical jargon and all those terms! But be patient, and consider this a new challenge, one that will teach you how to reach your desired audience.
There are plenty of easy-to-follow how-to guides on this subject, and there are also webinars you can take that will guide you through the basic ideas of Search Engine Optimization, which is just a fancy way of saying “how to make sure people find your content” while they are using a search engine. Try one, or several, find one that is easy for you to follow, and try all their suggestions on your own content!
3. Post at least once a week
As with any other medium you want to use to make your voice heard, a blog takes time; and your followers will appreciate knowing that there is always something new for them when they click on it. One very good practice that many experienced and successful bloggers recommend is to post content in a consistent and periodical manner, pick one day of the week and try to stick to that schedule.
4. Build an email list
Make sure your blog has a subscription button. This way, you will be able to build a loyal audience who you can reach with new posts, your involvement with other projects and requests for donations or to promote your work in other media. Also, it’s important to read up on legal issues, like the laws about what you can and cannot send to your email list, such as spam and other commercial communications.
5. Publish in other websites
Finally, this might seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually a great way to attract readers to your website, and to grow your network of professional contacts. Many websites are open to publishing new writers who want to try their hand at guest posting, but you have to weigh in carefully if it will benefit you and your readership. Look for a website or blog that is well-established and has a strong and loyal readership. Look for relevant and original content that matches up with your own.
So, there you have it. Five skills you can start working on right now that will help you build an engaged audience and grow your number of followers! But wait… Do you already have a blog? Are you thinking of starting one right now? Do you have a whole file -or several- in your computer with your never-before-published articles? Cultura Colectiva is looking for you!
We are the fastest growing media platform in the United States. With an audience of over 50 million viewers, and over 3 billion video reproductions per month, we have been ranked amongst the World Top 50 digital publishers
Come be a part of our Storyteller Project, an international team of creators in an engaging and stimulating conversation about what makes the world tick! We want to hear your story.
Please read carefully these guidelines before sending your submission:
Please send all your submissions to storyteller@culturacolectiva.com
If your work is published, as compensation for your submission we will include a link to your personal website, gallery or blog, plus you will get an invitation to an Online Coaching Session with our editors and a Letter of Recommendation from our headquarters.