Five ways to improve your blog right now
April 29, 2008
Your blog is awesome. It’s terrific. I know, I’ve seen it. You’re generating traffic, forming a vocal and loyal community and attracting new subscribers left and right. In a word, your blog rocks.
And it could be better.
Here are five simple things you can do in fifteen minutes to make it even better.
1. Prominently display your RSS feed.
I’ve seen so many sites with their RSS feed linked at the bottom or with tiny text that’s easy to miss. Here’s a tip about human nature: People will always choose the path of least resistance. In other words, “Don’t make me work!”
Most readers will only spend a few seconds looking for a link to your RSS feed. If they can’t find it, they move on. So, put it in a spot that they just can’t miss. I prefer the upper right hand corner.
Also, use the standard orange icon. You can download the icon for free right here, as well as snippets of code to help you get it positioned perfectly on your blog, all with a simple copy-and-paste.
2. List your most popular posts
When I visit your blog as Joe Average Blog Reader (Joe A.B.R. for short), I’ll check out the first couple of posts. Of course, if I like what I see, I’ll look around for more.
Let’s say that I, as Joe A.B.R., visit your blog for the first time on a day when you’re got less-than-stellar work on the front page. Hey, it could happen. I’ll probably be turned off. However, if I find a list of your very best work, your most popular posts, I’ll check them out and forgive the 1,000-word litany on how cute your cats are.
3. Include images
Aside from a great headline, nothing grabs hold of a reader’s attention like a great image. Include an image with every post. Find something that illustrates your point in a funny, meaningful or indisputable way. Besides, people just like looking at pictures! Remember how disappointed you were when, as a kid, the books you read had fewer and fewer pictures (or was that just me?).
There are several places to find great photos. You can look on Flickr, as long as you use images with a Creative Commons license. This means the photographer gives permission for non-commercial use as long as you credit him/her as the photographer.
You can purchase photos through sites like iStockPhoto, which offers a huge number of images across several categories. Each comes in several sizes and the prices are very low.
4. Clean up that sidebar!
We have to talk for a minute. Just you and me. Blogger to blogger.
You know all of those flashy badges, widgets and other accoutrement you’ve got in your sidebar? The things that blink, display the weather and play music? I know that you love them, and you added each one specifically, but I’ve got to tell you something.
They’re horrible.
The human eye is designed to be attracted to motion. So, when I see those items in my peripheral vision, I get distracted. In fact, I’m more likely to look at the flashing rain cloud than your stationary words. By keeping your sidebars neat and tidy, you’re helping to ensure that my gaze is where you want it: On your words.
5. Highlight important points in your text
Blog readers are a fickle bunch. I can say that because I count myself among them. Most give you only a few seconds to catch their attention, scanning your text for words or phrases that interest them. Accommodate the scanners by highlighting the text you want them to notice (see how I did that there?). Once a reader sees several key phrases that grab his or her interest, s/he’ll be more likely to read the entire post.
There, wasn’t that easy? In the amount of time it takes you to order and receive your favorite drink from Starbucks, you’ve made your blog significantly better.
If you liked this article and really want to get the most out of your business blog, hire me as your one-on-one blog coach. There are several packages to choose from. I look forward to working with you!
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Comments
15 Responses to “Five ways to improve your blog right now”
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good valuable advise
Nice.
yeah.. nice ideas
Thanks, everyone!
I think your advice here leads us back to the six million dollar question: “what exactly am I trying achieve through this blog?”
And that is worth asking every day. Because your focus shifts, and the reason your blog exists now is most likely quite different to your reason a year ago.
What are you hoping to provide your reader? And what do you want them to do? I blog therefore I am.
Zowoco: Excellent question. Check back Monday for my reply.
Good, simple points. I’m going to start adding pictures!
Randall: Super! It’ll dress up your site, draw attention and even be fun. I certainly enjoy looking for that “perfect” photo!
I’ve used stock exchange (www.sxc.hu) for photos. It has a lot of royalty-free, high-res images submitted by users. Many allow use without restrictions, or sometimes with just a credit line.
Bryan
Nice resource, thanks! Perhaps I’ll post a round-up of image sources!
Thanks, Dave! Great post
Thanks, Jessica! Glad you liked it!
Yep, I really didn’t need that ‘Google translate’ widget did I.
Otherwise, I’m there. Thanks
Thnks for your valuable advice. My site doesn’t have enough readers. Although the contents are short and with pics. Please help me..