If your blog went viral it is likely that your ears are ringing since readers are talking about it to those within their circle of influence who are then spreading the word even further. Perhaps you posted an article or series of articles that caught fire in the blogosphere. What you don’t want is for this to be a one-time occurrence but how do you keep up the momentum so that readers will keep coming back and develop loyalty? Below are give strategies for keeping readers and engaged and coming back for more.
Strategy 1: Mix up the content
Rather than focus your blog on one style of writing (e.g. “how-to”, advice, opinion) mix-up the writing style so that your readers are attracted by the range of topics provided. For example:
v Use one posting to discuss various aspects of Web design. e.g., the cost vs. benefits of using templates.
v Post comments regarding industry trends, such as incorporating a shopping cart on ecommerce sites or the use of multimedia and how it affects downloading speed of content.
v Write a series of posts on one topic such as designing a Web site for a multicultural audience.
v Ask for comments from your readers, such as their favourite Web sites and why
v Expand on the topic of an article prepared by one of your competitors or provide an alternative perspective
Strategy 2: Use Videos
Videos extend the amount of time readers spend on your blog. Videos may be instructional in nature (e.g. how to keep costs low when building a Web site), provide an introduction to your services, or replay a speech you have given on Web design (and this last will do much to boost your rep!)
Strategy 3: Link your blog in email
Do you use email lists? If so, try and see if this might increase reader loyalty. In trying to generate email addresses a good idea is to embed the “sign-up” form in a prominent position on the page, such as the top of your blog page or right sidebar (so that readers see it when they finish each sentence. It is well known in the sales world that it takes a minimum of seven “touches” for a prospect to take action. With this in mind, the more times readers see the email sign-up form the greater the likelihood they will input their name.
Another suggestion is to offer a give-away for signing-up. This may be a free mini-eBook or some other promotional item. To build motivation, you might include a deadline with the offer.
Strategy 4: Use an RSS feed
Not all blog readers like to access content in the same way. Some prefer to receive messages via email, others on their social media profile, while still others prefer an RSS Feed. To reach the most people, it is a good idea to use each of these venues since you don’t know which method each reader prefers. Install a big RSS feed link on your blog, perhaps next to your email sign-up form.
Strategy 5: Get the Picture!
People get the most fun out of two things on the Net: videos and images. As a Web designer you have no shortage of images in terms of your portfolio pieces. You can also have some fun posting the images of your own favourite Web sites with an explanation of why you like them. Your image gallery should contain about 20 to 30 pictures and include a variety of design styles. Not only will this show the range of your skill but will provide a fun experience for your readers. However, to keep their interest it will be necessary to change the pictures on a regular basis.
As you can see from the above, there are several methods you can use to develop reader retention. Although they may have first visited your site because of the buzz one of your postings generated, you can keep these readers by using some creative imagination—and for a Web designer that is precisely your domain—pun intended!
Ashyia Hill is a small business blogger at CreditDonkey, where she helps web designers and bloggers find business credit card deals for their online business.
Add something of value, usually the posts I go through have so much wisdom to impart that I am lost for words…so I just say how much it taught me!
When it comes to blog one has to think of the content first and think how to attract readers and visitors to keep coming them. The information you have posted is really nice awareness making.
Good stuff lawmacs, especially number 2, video is extremely to Google.
It’s really a great tips to keep a readers in a blog.we should use a mix content in a blog,use a video,because video is a good way to express a things easily.people have no time to read a huge blog so use a rss feed in your blog.
Hi Lawmacs. Great discussion on how to keep one’s site popular once it goes viral. My blog on my anxiety experiences hasn’t gone viral yet; but, I have high hopes for 2012. When it does, the information you shared in your post should really come in handy. Thanks.
Ellie
Linking blog in email and use of videos can make your blog go viral and are best to opt for.
Find topic that is trending, stay on the topic and make it more interesting as posible and pictures. and give some freebies for their loyalty. thats what I think to keep your readers on..
Thanks for this list of strategies the one that looks the best to me it the second one. I think videos are very good way for the reader to understand the content and can be faster than reading.
Totally agree with you. Most blogs will tell you that if you want to be a successful in blogging, you should just write about one topic. But writing about the same thing usually would bore someone in the long run. It is fun to have different topics on the blog, it creates character. And true, blogs have to be visually appealing as well. For me personally, I get attracted more to blogs with lots of pictures (since I’m more of a visual learner) — maybe that is why food blogs are so popular. And last of all, the blog has to have great content.
Post regularly or you might miss some of the users. Posting regularly will keep them engaged.
I think videos are very good way for the reader to understand the content and can be faster than reading.
This site is really informative. Most of the post is informing you just lightly but this post is sending you all the knowledge in detail. In my point of view video clips are really demanding part from reading because people have no time in their busy she-duel to seat and read whole thing in the blog.
Great post. I think I have been following the very same on my blog. Only thing which I haven’t been using much on my blog – Videos. Need to work on it. But then I find it very time consuming. I think the best I could do is to create some tutorial videos related to my niche which would cover things like blogging, blogging tips, technology and related stuffs. Hmm..I will do it for sure in the times to come..Thanks for sharing these valuable tips. Keep writing..!
In my experience, it would also be helpful if you will post your content on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and StumbleUpon. It would make your content viral and at the same time build your reputation online.
Thanks for submitting your article to the Carnival of Creativity. It’s posted (see CommentLuv)
When you write a blog you have to keep two things in your mind , one is you have to write a good content and second thing is you make your blog more attractive and more interesting. Because it is really tough to attract your reader in a regular way. So the information which you say in your article it is really informative and i think people should become more aware about those things after read this one.
One way of keeping your readers and promote loyal readership is by being consistent in providing them quality posts.
There are a lot of ways on how you can attract and your readers hooked on your blogs. You just need to be creative and have quality contents shared with them so that they will not choose to live your blog.
Including pictures and videos are also a great way to keep retention rates.
In my experience, it would also be helpful if you will post your content on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and StumbleUpon. It would make your content viral and at the same time build your reputation online.
There are a lot of plugins that bounce visitors around amongst relevant posts. It might be good to do a follow up post on what plugins are best to keep visitors on-site.
Strategy no. 5 . will keep your follower engaged to your website. Also, it is important to link your post in facebook and twitter so that more traffic will come to your site.
UT then I find it very time consuming. I think the best I could do is to create some tutorial videos related to my niche which would cover things like blogging, blogging tips, technology and related stuffs.
But then I find it very time consuming. I think the best I could do is to create some tutorial videos related to my niche which would cover things like blogging, blogging tips, technology and related stuffs.
Hey lawmacs,
I am working in Web Designing but in graphical; and turning towards development in designing part. I don’t have an exact idea about how site should actually be. Your content really is helpful for me as I can get an exact idea of what are the demands for the perfect designing of website. Thank you.
If your blog has gone viral, it’s probably because your blog contained an article or subject which went viral. Find out what the subject was and then concentrate on providing some more content on that same subject matter. Maybe not the exact same subject but a variation. Then using your points covered in your article its quite possible you could get a twofer. Make your current readers happy and engaged and possibly going viral again! No thats good stuff.