This is part of the Grow Your Blog Series. Read more posts from the series here.
If you want your blog to grow, you need your readers to come back for new posts on a frequent basis. There are some things you can do to help ensure they do come back. Some of these are repeats from the 12 Tips to Grow Your Blog, but I felt they should be mentioned here again because they are so important.
7 Things Your Blog Needs to Keep Readers Coming Back
Contact Page
Have a clear, easy to find page or space on your blog where people can contact you via email or social media. I have my email on my “About Me” page, my “Start Here” page, and my “Advertise” page.
Great “About Me” Page
I love getting to know the person whose blog I’m reading! Anytime I visit a new-to-me blog and I just love it, I want to find out more about the person who is behind the awesome blog! It doesn’t have to be your life story. If I put my whole life story on my about me page, it would be wayyy too long, bore you in some places, and drop your jaw in others. I will be honest, I am not good at “About Me-s” at all! So, I use photos in my About Me page to help tell my story. Lauren, over at The Thinking Closet wrote a great post about revamping your “About Me” page. Check it out here.
Clear Categories / Labels
Make sure you categorize every post with your labels. Keep your categories clear. Example categories may include: DIY, Crafts, Makeovers, etc. Display your Categories/Labels on your sidebar where they can be easily seen. Mine are in the cloud format, rather than the list. This is just a personal preference. I like how it makes the labels bigger that have more posts.
Social Media Buttons
I said it in the 12 Tips to Grow Your Blog, and I’m sayin it again. Make sure you have social media buttons where they are easily seen on your blog. This allows people to quickly follow you and stay up to date on your posts.
Easy to Read Titles, Fonts, & Colors
Don’t use fancy, swirly hard to read fonts. You may be able to read them just fine, but others may not. Use fonts that can be easily read and keep your colors basic! Don’t use reds, yellows, blues and other colors for the majority of your posts. Its hard to read, and will keep many people from finishing reading a post.
Turn Word Verification OFF
Make sure Word Verification is turned OFF on your blog! This is when the box pops up after someone writes a comment asking them to type in the letters and/or numbers. It is so annoying and will keep many people from leaving you comments! To change your comment settings (on Blogger) go to Settings > Posts & Comments and its all there.
Keep Your Blog Clean and Easy to Navigate
Do not clutter up your sidebars! Keep everything neat and organized. Have a section designated for sponsors, ads, etc. Also, your sidebar is prime real estate! Use it to showcase your most popular posts to keep people around on your blog longer! Make it easy for people to find something they are looking for. Have pages designated for certain topics (I have Seasonal Decorating, Home Tour, etc.) Have a search bar for people to easily search your blog.
READ MORE OF THE GROW YOUR BLOG SERIES:
7 Things Your Blog Needs to Keep Readers Coming Back
How to Grow Your Blog with Pinterest
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