1. Consistency:

How many times have you visited a site, found the blog, got really excited by the post, and then were extremely disappointed to see it was posted in 2009 and has had no updates since? It is hard to trust a source that is inconsistent and seemingly out of touch. Just like nobody likes a flaky person, nobody likes a flaky blog. If you want consistent followers, you need to give them consistent information.You want people to remember your blog and visit it often. For this to be worth their while it is so important to update consistently, at least a few times a week.

2. Audience:

Keep it personal. Even though there may be thousands of people following your blog (woohoo!), individuals are reading it, and people like to feel important. Give them a reason to feel like you are communicating just to them. Keep your tone conversational, ask questions, provide insights, and most importantly…continue the conversations through comments. There is no greater feeling than knowing someone has taken the time to respond to your thoughts. Engage your followers and you will create fans.

3. Theme:

There should be an overarching theme to your blog that lets the reader know right away who you are, what the blog is about, and why that person should spend their precious time reading it. Having a theme also helps with consistency. When you have a focused goal, it is much easier to find topics to write about.

4. Resource:

Most people follow a blog because it gives them some sort of value. It might make them feel connected, provide them with valuable information, or just be an enjoyable experience. You have to find out what kind of a resource you are and be sure to always give that to your followers. And it doesn’t always have to be heavy, for example I follow The Daybook because she makes me laugh…like when she posts cute pictures of her newborn baby (too cute!). Makes me laugh, makes me happy, keeps me following. Be sure to also include links and information to other resources and blogs where applicable. This will show your readers that you truly are a source of information and value and will keep them coming back.

5. Visual:

People. Love. Pictures. It is a fact of life that we are physical, visual creatures. Anything you can add to your posts (whether it be charts, videos, or photos of cute babies in mustaches) will keep people engaged and interested. Plus, having a visual will also make your blog easier and more enjoyable for others to share via Facebook, Pinterest, Email and any other social media sources.

6. Sales:

Keep in mind: People hate to be sold to directly. As much as your blog can be helpful or even vital to your sales, it is important to not make this obvious. The focus of your blog should still be to provide value to your customers or followers. There are many ways (that we will discuss in future posts) to make your blog profitable without shoving it in your followers faces. One simple tactic for now is to keep your products visible throughout the blog post (usually on the sides) so that your brand and product or service is top of mind.

{Happy blogging!}