Keeping It Relevant Will Bring People Back

Gone are the days when posting a blog was considered new and different.  It seems like any idiot with a keyboard is now writing a daily blog about his love of Britney Spears or the consistency of his bowel movements.  With all the noise on the internet, it’s certainly difficult not only to create a blog that is new and interesting, but to bring in the readership that will allow you to market yourself effectively to advertisers looking to invest.  So how can you get the traffic you want on your site and keep them coming back for more?  Simple…keep it relevant.

Now, this is a fairly vague notion.  You’re probably asking yourself what, exactly, this marketing buzzword means and how it applies to you.  In laymen’s terms, you want to create a blog that encompasses a topic that is interesting not only to you, but to a large audience.  Maybe you can write a new article every day about the fascinating life of the African Dung Beetle you keep in a jar by your bed, but who will read it?  So relevancy means, first and foremost, writing about a topic that is current and widespread.  I hate to say it, but the more mainstream your blog is, the better.  Take for example the current trend towards websites that focus on celebrities sightings.  In tough economic times, it’s not uncommon for people to seek escape by going to the movies or to find comfort in the consumption of stories that outline the woes of others (namely, down-trodden celebrities).  So these blogs are both entertaining and timely.

Secondly, keeping it relevant means mixing it up.  To do this, you need to find inspiration from outside sources, and I don’t mean your dad (although I have to admit, “S*** My Dad Says” is hilarious, if not very topical).  Keep abreast of current events, as any news story can trigger a topic that relates to your blog.  You can also try to incorporate ideas from sources such as film, literature, and music.  Even practicing other types of writing can inspire you to do something different with your blog, so keep up with your other creative pursuits.  Who knows, listening to Billboard’s Top 10 or working on your memoirs could spark an idea for your next blog post.  It’s important not to overlook any media outlet as a possible source for your writing.

Finally, don’t phone it in.  If you’re having trouble writing a daily blog, maybe it’s time to consider cutting back on your posts.  If you’ve begun to notice some repetition in your articles, there’s a good chance your readers have caught on as well, and this does not bode well for their faithful return to your site.  To ensure incoming traffic, you have to keep it interesting, and this may require a bigger time commitment or the incorporation of guest posts to spice it up.  Don’t hesitate to do whatever is necessary to keep your readers coming back, even if it means relinquishing some of the daily duties.  In the long run, you want to keep your readers interested, entertained, and even involved.  This will guarantee that you reach your goals when it comes to promoting your ideas and earning the revenue needed to keep your blog in business.

Guest post by Sarah of Maxi Dress Mania.

About the author

Terri Brooks helps entrepreneurs “overcome the overwhelm” of using online and social media marketing for their business. She understands their fears and feelings of confusion when it comes to marketing on Facebook, Twitter and blogs and shows them ways of Tasting The Internet…One Byte at a Time.

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