Business Blogging
Ten More Symptoms of a Failing Blog
Written by Jay Shapiro for Gaebler Ventures
Does your blog only attract a trickle of traffic. Do you rarely get comments. It sounds like things need a shake up.
You write lengthy posts on all kinds of subjects, you update regularly and yet your blog is still not working for you. Why? It could be for a number of reasons. Here are ten of the most common causes of blog failure.
1. Your subject matter is too varied. You'd think that covering everything under the sun would be a good idea. But it's not. Your blog needs focus and shouldn't be about all the things that float through your head. It should be about the reader.
2. You're not conveying benefit. Your blog needs to offer advantages to the readers. E.g. they earn more money since reading it, or they now shop online and save on grocery bills.
3. Do you feel your blog merits more interest than it's getting? Oh well poor you. The blog that deserves traffic will get traffic. Yours isn't because it's not cutting it. Improve your content. Just because something is free (and you blog is) it doesn't mean you can get away with it beings substandard.
4. You're too scientific or technical in your posts. Taking the technical approach is an instant blog killer. Scientific minds are notoriously passive, objective and detached. Not qualities that encourage rapport between you and the reader. Think like a 'people person' Apologies for silly term, but it's true.
5. You've not studied copywriting.
Ok, you don't need to be an English professor to write a good bog post but some knowledge of copywriting is a must. The more the better.
6. You don't know how your readers think. How can you aim your writing at your readers if you don't know them? Nuff said!
7. You don't love writing. Oh dear. If you don't love writing, then blogging isn't for you. That's not to say you shouldn't run a blog. But call in a professional.
8. You don't love reading. Oh dear again. All good writers love to read. Like chefs like to eat. If you don't reading and you want to blog then it's a bit like wanting to be an Olympic swimmer even though you're not too keen on water. Reading is part of writing. Never trust a so called writer who says they don't read.
9. You haven't communicated with a reader. If you've never had a conversation with one of your readers then you're missing a great opportunity. You can learn a lot about their needs by talking to them.
10. Your blog is as yet in its infancy. You wouldn't expect a baby to run before it could walk, so if your blog is new it won't be up in the top ten lists. It stands a better chance of getting there quick if your content is good though and you bear in mind the tips here.
Ok, time to crack those knuckles, put on your stoutest pair of writing boots, blow the dust off the keyboard and get on with it. Remembering that the old adage Content is King or even Queen is, despite being hackneyed, still true.
Jay Shapiro is a freelance writer based in the UK. Jay has a particular interest in the emotive aspects of the entrepreneur's character. "Alongside the nuts and bolts of business, the character of the person is often the ingredient responsible for success."
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