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Ten Symptoms of a Failing Blog

Business Blogging

Ten Symptoms of a Failing Blog

Written by Jay Shapiro for Gaebler Ventures

Poor traffic? Few comments or none at all. Your blog is failing. Want to know why?

You write and write. You get the thumbs up from a handful of people. Still you're not getting results. Traffic trickles in, links are few and far between, and comments are virtually non-existent.

What's going on?

Maybe it's a question of patience. The traffic will find its way to you. Alternatively it might just be that your content isn't up to the mark. It's not easy to determine whether your content sizzles or sucks, it's a fairly subjective area. However, even if close friends and loved ones say they like it, don't take that as gospel. That's what they're obliged to say. They love you!

The 10 tips below will help you decide what's wrong with your blog. Be prepared to be honest with yourself though.

1. Do you think your content is good? On a rating scale of 1-10 where would you place your blog? Most blog writers settle for a 6 or a 7. Trouble is, content is either sizzling or it sucks, there isn't a middle ground.

2. Dear diary syndrome. Ok, blogs used to be online diaries. Now they're not. And they really shouldn't be if they're used for marketing purposes. Don't make it about YOU; make it about your reader.

3. No comments! If you're not getting any comments it can mean only one thing. The content isn't good enough. It isn't capturing the reader.

4. How long do readers stick around? Use Google Analytics to find out the average period of time readers stay on site. If they're scarpering away inside 2 minutes, you've got problems.

5. It takes you less than an hour to write a post. Unless you are a professional writer it's unlikely that you can write a good blog post in ten minutes.

6. You don't get nice email from readers! When you write good content people go all out to tell you. If you don't get fan mail, your content is lacking appeal.

7. You don't get nasty email from readers! There are bands of people online who are a bit like literary commandos. Even if you write excellent content they'll be sure to tell you they disagree with you. But hey, that's good news, you've piqued their interest. If you don't even get complaints then your content must really be dilute.

8. You are fixated by writing SEO rich content. If your main focus is cramming your blog posts with keywords in order to curry favor with Google then no wonder they lack readability. Write for your reader then think about pleasing the Google Goddess with little keyword gifts.

9. You think SEO is the key to your blog's success. See above. No matter how sharp your SEO strategies, none of them will really work unless you support them with stunning content. Write well and then look at how to optimize.

10. Wicked ideas up your sleeve. If you're saving your very best blog content for a time when your blog is popular, you may never get to use it. Use your best stuff now. In fact all your posts should be your best posts.

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."