Sunday, November 28, 2010

Article: Improve your blog

 I've had some people ask me some ways to improve their blog, so here are some things I've thought of!
  1. Turn off the music! I've been thinking about this for a while, and Louise's post just confirmed it for me! Music is great! I'm a huge fan of it! It's not that I have an objection to music, it's just how it's being used. Think about it, do you really like it when you go to a new blog and the first thing that {literally!} jumps out at you is LOUD music? I'm always scrambling around for the 'mute' button, or to at least turn it down! I think it would be great if you gave your readers an option to listen to your music. That way, if the reader is alone, and really wants to dance and listen to some cool music, you have a great playlist right there for them! And they can read your great blog posts while listening :) 
  2. Have a great blog design! Blog designs don't have to be expensive! The Cutest Blog on the Block has some great blog backgrounds... for FREE! They have some adorable designs! And if you can afford it, having a professional design is the best route. But that's not for everyone! But really, the first thing I look at when I go to a new blog is the design! Honestly, whenever I see a design with the old minima template, I'm not very impressed. Their content may be AMAZING, but the design still stops me from right away clicking that 'Follow' button. So do all you can to get a great design, that YOU love! You can have a beautiful design, but if you don't love it, it's not worth it. Get something you love. 
  3. Comment! I was absolutely HORRIBLE at that! But I have gotten better :) I had lots of people comment on my posts and I thought 'Aww! That's so nice of them!', but I never did anything about it! I should have gone to their blog and told them that I loved the comment! Things like that will without a doubt boost your blog views... Want proof? Click here! I just posted about my blog views. I got over 100 page views in ONE DAY after I had linked up to a blogs post and then commented on another blog! Commenting IS powerful! So go do it! :)
  4. Post Regularly. Unless you let your readers know that you will be going out of town for a while, don't just disappear from the blog world! I went on a week long trip this Summer, but I let my readers know about it so they weren't left wondering 'Where is Emily???' :) And before this question surfaces in a question or a comment, I know I don't post here much :) I will say two things... #1: Touche :) #2: This is not my personal blog. Some blog designers will OFTEN post on their design blog. But I've noticed that they don't have a personal blog. And I've noticed that these people will sometimes post blog design related things, but most of the time, they will post personal things. Back to the article! :) So anyway, post regularly! I had followed numerous blogs who almost never posted. So I tossed them! I didn't want the never-posters sitting in my Google Reader box! So posting often, posting good stuff, will ensure that you're not tossed out for being a never-poster!
  5. See you blog from your eyes. Visit your blog! You don't know how this has improved my blogs! If I'm making a new blog design, I will set it up on my test blog, and then take a day off from designing it. Then I will go look at it. I will often find little glitches that I didn't see while designing it. It is good to see your blog through your visitors eyes! 
I'll have more for you later! :)

3 comments:

My Diabetic Sweet Life said...

Commenting (especially responding to them) is my number one best tip. After all, why will visitors return to your blog if you don't make them feel welcome and valued. As my blog has got bigger I have founf it increasingly hard to respond to EVERY comment, so these days I have to reply in batches of 3 or 4 comments a couple of times per thread, but it's better than nothing.

As for the music, well my heart rate might just have returned to normal now...until the next shock! LOL

Great post byt the way :)

My Diabetic Sweet Life said...

I once made some templates for TCBOTB....wonder if they're still up...just rambling now LOL

Chloe Hawes said...

Hello,
I just thought I would let you know that I love your blog! It is so encouraging.
Love In Christ,
Chloe~Jane
P.S Here is my blog:
http://lovinglife777.blogspot.com/