When you write a blog post, what do you want it to do for you? Engage visitors? Encourage them to return? Share and bookmark your posts so that you can generate Google-worthy social signals, right?
The question is, does your blog actually do that? Or does it get lost in the virtual sea of information? A blog that doesn’t generate social signals for you is not getting you the ROI it should.
How To Create Effective Blogs?
The following are the top 5 tips for creating Blogs that will be worth your while (and probably more):
1) Get newsy: Write about something that is trending or generating controversy. You’ll then have a good chance of getting noticed. For example, newsy keywords are not very competitive, so a well-written search engine optimized blog post can easily feature among the top results associated with the keyword. Second, a newsy blog may get featured in Google News and Blog alert notification e-mails, thus sending targeted traffic your way.
2) Make it personal: Articles and blog posts are two different forms of content; you must not forget the distinction. Blogs establish a better user connect because they have a personal touch, unlike articles which are written in third person. So, when you write a blog post don’t forget to share your own insights and experiences.
3) Get people talking: Comments don’t just create a buzz around your blog; they also encourage people to return. After posting comments most readers subscribe to the thread, to keep track of any replies the post may receive.
This means every time a new user posts a reply, they will get an e-mail notification. An active comment thread can thus get you several repeat visitors. Needless to say comments are a good indication of user engagement.
The question now is, how do you encourage people to comment? The following are among the most recommended techniques:
- Ask an engaging question associated with the post in the end.
- Create a poll associated with the subject.
- Mention something controversial and divisive in your post.
- Share your own opinion about a controversial subject. Make sure though that you do not say anything that your target user base is likely to find offensive.
4) Keep up a good pace: As per Google Webmasters guidelines, updating your blog frequently is an excellent user engagement technique. Moreover, adding new high-quality content on a regular basis will not only give you an excuse to post your site’s links on social sharing platforms (without looking like a spammer), but would also increase the chances of your content being shared and bookmarked by users.
5) Organize your toolbox: Social sharing widgets are an essential element of any website’s toolbox. Installing buttons of popular social sharing sites will make it easier for visitors to share and bookmark your content. Needless to say, you too will be able to share new posts on your preferred social networks at the click of a button. The following are among the most recommended social sharing tools:
- Sharethis: The button code is available on the official website. If you are on WordPress, you may even select and activate the plugin through your dashboard.
The advantage of installing ‘ShareThis’ is that it allows users to bookmark content to several popular social sharing sites including Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, Stumbleupon, Blogger, and many more, through a neat and simple interface.
- Addthis: The tool is similar to Sharethis and allows users to share a post on multiple sharing sites through neat and customizable interfaces. You may choose either of the two tools based on the interface you prefer.
- RSS Button: This is an essential tool for every Blogsite. This button will be essential for increasing the RSS subscribers and get updates whenever there is a new post.
A well maintained blog can prove to be an excellent brand building and SEO tool. Yes, it takes effort to put up interesting posts, but the rewards that informative and engaging blogs yield are often worth every bit of that effort.
This article is written by Brian Nixon. He is a search engine optimizer who writes for Pitstop Media Inc a top rated SEO company in Vancouver. If you wish to write for HBB, kindly check this.
Social Buzz is important for any sites to catch quality traffic on regular basis.Nice lines with explainations.Thanks HBB
Creative topics are most important way to bring the attention of the readers you have given some valuable points Thanks
I personally think people love controversy. if we can produce something that is controversial than we must lay rest assured as social buzz will be created about the blog.
Hello Brian, thanks for mentioning RSS button in this list. Even now, I search for RSS button on blogs and Websites I like much, its a habit for many geeks like me.
I think talking directly to our readers helps a lot. It makes everything interesting. Again, about promotion I think we should write less and promote more. Thanks for the post.
Something has to be worthy of promoting in the first place, otherwise no matter how much you’ll promote it, it won’t go viral. Writing a lot increases the chances of actually creating something worthy 🙂
I think the very first think which attracts the reader is title. if the title of the post is relevant to the reader who is seeing the post . Then he/she will definitely share it with their friends. Else it will be like a dog in the cows herd
Share this, add this? These stuff have become old i guess. The new stuff is the customized sharing buttons which bigger site like mashable, TNW and tech crunch are offering. More eye candy stuff is what is always working since ages.
You are right, Mashable Social Widget is great to increase connections of our social pages. Again I think diggdigg is a cool sharing plugin that we should use for more exposure.
sharethis and addthis are just a couple of suggestions. Nowadays there probably are tens of them.
When any blogger post their blog he/she wants to watch too many visitors and comments on that and no doubt in that it could be if you have good knowledge to attract people. From my opinion if you will always remember “”Niche”” of your readers then i don’t think so any other option will disturb you in your work.
social circle is needed for better engagement and traffic to your blog.
Great tips to do well in social media websites. Love your tips, Brian.
I think my presence in social media websites is still very week, despite my efforts since the last few months. Well, I have learned some new tricks from you today, hopefully they will help boost my social media presence. Cheerios!
Thanks, Jasmin. You seem to be present on every blog 🙂
Do blogs count just like twitter when it comes to Social Media presence.
useful information thanks @brain
Great Tips Brian, Post Penguin, SEO is focuses on social media signals, These tips are really useful for beginners
Hi Brian
nice post .. you have mentioned some very interesting points in your article. writing about trending topics and controversies will surely create a buzz in social media. besides as you mentioned updating your blog regularly with quality materials will one way to ensure you engage with your followers
thanks for sharing this
Great post as we really need social buzz to attract quality readers to our site back again………
Bryan, you’re welcome.