In the digital age, almost everyone has a blog. But some stand out more than others. In the vastness of the internet, a blog is just one in a hundred million. On WordPress alone, bloggers publish 64.8 million new posts every month.
On another blogging platform, Tumblr, nearly 100 billion posts have been shared since its founding in 2007. Millions of businesses, especially those with limited marketing budgets, rely on blogs to connect with their customers.
So, how can you reach more people? Here are some tips to increase traffic to your personal or business blog.
1. Find Catchy Topics
Choose an intriguing topic that interests you, and create content that answers the questions people are looking for.
- Use Quora to discover what questions people are asking about a topic.
- Try BuzzSumo to see the most-shared content related to a particular keyword or domain.
- Set up Google Alerts to stay updated on what others are saying about a topic.
Once you’ve chosen your topic, engage with individuals who will read, share, and discuss your content:
- Follow online forums and popular blogs related to your topic.
- Tap into existing social networks like Twitter conversations, Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, Google+ communities, and Instagram hashtags.
- Don’t neglect face-to-face interactions. Attend industry-specific conferences or other in-person events to broaden your network and ideas.
2. Understand SEO
By mastering SEO (Search Engine Optimization), you can use relevant keywords to drive traffic to your blog via search engines.
- Use Google Trends to discover trending searches or learn how often specific keywords are searched.
- Check trending topics on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn Pulse.
- Incorporate keywords into your titles, URLs, and content. Don’t forget to name your images with relevant keywords, as Google’s algorithms also scan image names.
3. Keep It Concise
There’s no fixed rule for how much of a blog post readers will consume, but studies show it’s usually very little. Long posts often see only 20-30% completion rates.
- Marketing guru Seth Godin is known for his ultra-short blog entries, proving brevity can be powerful.
- If your content is engaging, don’t overextend it—focus on quality, not length. Remember, backlinks and social shares depend on content value, not its length.
4. Post Consistently
Like content length, there are no strict rules for posting frequency. However, consistency is key.
- Create a content schedule—whether it’s once a week or every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—and stick to it.
- Inform your readers about your posting schedule, so they know when to expect new material.
