Getting eyes on your blog isn’t always easy. When you put your heart and soul into your blog, it can be frustrating to know that your mom and a few Facebook friends are the only ones who read it. Over the past year, I’ve realized that there are certain strategies that can help your blog grow, and more importantly, I’ve learned exactly how to increase blog traffic to get the results you’ve been hoping for.
Before implementing blog growth strategies, my blog was at a stand still. I would post once a week and share it to my personal Facebook page and hope for the best. Fast forward a year, and I’ve learned SO much about the process of growing a blog.
RELATED: HOW TO GREW MY PAGEVIEWS BY 700% IN 6 MONTHS!
It hasn’t been easy and it’s taken a lot of time, effort and hard work. But if you want something badly enough, and you work your tush off for it, it will happen.
Check out 6 reasons your blog isn’t growing, and what you can do to change it.
1. You don’t promote it on social media
I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but hitting publish on a post and waiting for people to find it isn’t going to cut it these days. The blogosphere is saturated with bloggers trying to make their mark, and successful bloggers are promoting their content like crazy.
You don’t need to be on every social media platform, but choose two or three you’ll be active on to share your content. Every time you post a new blog post, promote across your channels. Your followers are there for a reason. They’re your biggest fans and want to check out your new posts! The more you share, the more possibility someone will be interested and click through to your blog. They may even share it themselves!
2. You’re not consistent
A great way to grow your blog is to consistently post content that you can share. If you post once every two months, you’re likely not going to see a lot of growth. Readers love to visit blogs where new content comes out AT LEAST once a week. A few times a week is even better.
If you’re only able to post once or twice a week, make sure your days are consistent so your readers know when they can expect new content from you. This also makes it easier for you to schedule and create your posts!
3. You don’t have an email list
Many bloggers underestimate the power of having an email list, but it’s one of the best things you can do for your blog. Your email list is yours completely. You have control over it, unlike social media platforms which can change their algorithms and throw off your traffic.
An email list is a great way to create a loyal fan base and repeat readers, which in turn boosts your traffic. The people on your email list love what you’re putting out and are likely to comment on or share your work!
How do you get people on your list? You can create opt-in freebies where you collect their emails! Are you a food blogger? Perhaps you can create a weekly meal planner they can print off and put up in their kitchen. Do you blog about health and fitness? Create a checklist that includes your favorite workouts to slim down before the summer. Think about what your target reader would get the most value out of and create an email opt-in with them in mind.
4. You’re not on Pinterest
Pinterest is absolute gold for bloggers. If there’s one thing I wish someone told me when I started my blogging journey, it would be to start using Pinterest as soon as humanly possible! Gone are the days when people used Pinterest as solely an image-capturing platform. Sure, people still use it to create inspiration boards, but they’re also using it to find tips, advice and blog posts on pretty much every topic imaginable.
Pinterest has been one of the most effective ways I’ve increased traffic to my blog, and I know hundreds of others bloggers who would say the same.
5. You don’t invest in yourself (or your blog)
If you want your blog to grow into something more than just a side hobby, it’s important to invest in things such as courses, classes, web design or coaching sessions to increase your knowledge about blogging and make your blog look awesome. From content creation and SEO courses, to one-on-one blogging consultations, choose something to invest in to help you grow.
Keep in mind, it’s important to do your research. There are a LOT of courses out there these days. Make sure to read testimonials and reviews on the coach or course, reach out to someone you know who has taken it, and compare it with other similar products/services available. You want to ensure it’s going to be worth your investment!
6. You don’t have a clear focus
A focus doesn’t necessarily mean a niche. You can niche down and choose a specific topic to write about, such as only paleo recipes, but you don’t have to just write about one thing. You can write about multiple topics as long as you have a focus.
The best way to find your focus? Figure out your target reader and who you are writing for. Are you writing for stay-at-home moms? You can write about anything from easy recipes to getting “me time” in when you have kids, to sustainable kids’ brands you use, to makeup looks for a date night out. As long as you can relate it back to your target reader, you’re golden!
Without a focus, you’re less likely to attract a base of loyal fans. Don’t try to write for everyone. This is one of the biggest mistakes bloggers make. They think if they write for everyone, anyone will find their blog helpful, but it usually works in the opposite way. Figure out your target reader and go from there!
Have you been blogging your heart out with no return on investment? Ask yourself whether you’re doing these 6 things and how you can rejig your strategy to grow your blog!
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