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Topics & Tactics for Recruiting New Readers Getting the attention of overloaded individuals can prove difficult, especially within the blogosphere. With so many bloggers vying for attention, it's important to find the right bait to draw your readers in and get them to bite - hook, line and sinker. To do this you'll need a plan for content, delivery and outreach in your tackle box. Consider the content: |
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Start by thinking of common things that impact your audience. Consider:
- What's important to them?
- What "hot buttons" have come up in face-to-face conversations?
- What are common questions that come into your customer service team?
- What changes are being announced that might impact how they work with you?
- What content excites existing readers enough to compel comments?
Let these guiding questions assist you when tailoring your blog content to your audience. Don't be afraid to expand your content beyond the topic at hand by linking to other blogs that provide relevant content of interest to your audience.
Dare to be different in your delivery:
If you want to break out of the text mold you can deliver information in an alternate format. You might consider the use of video blogging, also known as "vlogging," in which entries are made using video links with supporting text, or embedded video. This blogging medium has become more and more popular, as seen through the continued rise in popularity of sites like YouTube, MSN Soapbox, and Flickr.
Another effective medium is the Podcast, in which syndicated audio files, created by a podcaster, can be subscribed to and downloaded automatically as new content is added. This is an excellent feature, as your audience will be informed and connected in real time, on their terms.
Leverage small degrees of separation:
It is highly likely that what your readers find interesting is also of interest to their readers. Consider reaching out by linking to some of your existing audience members' blogs. If you take time to visit their blog, and leave insightful comments, members of their community are more likely to explore your blog and comment. It's a good idea to keep a blog roll of all your favorite bloggers too. All of this cross-linking will not only broaden your audience but also will bolster your search rankings, making you more visible in general.
If readers find your content really compelling they might go as far as to Digg you, Tag you, or Tweet your post, exposing you to an entirely new prospective audience. You'll increase the likelihood of this extra exposure if you make it easy by including the appropriate badges or buttons on your site.
Last but certainly not least, be prepared to KEEP YOUR READERS! Offer a variety of easy ways to subscribe to your blog updates so your new readers never miss a beat! This allows them to receive content from you in the format that works best for them.
Learn how Monica Guzman of Seattle Pi's Big Blog engages her audience in conversation.
