By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Do you feel like your blog is dying?
No comments.
Unsubscribes.
Traffic is nearing zero.
Don’t quit. I’ve been there, and watching numbers fall is not pleasant. It’s downright depressing. Especially when we spend hours creating content, a catchy title, the perfect meme, and a tweet with just the right hashtag.
In case you haven’t figured it out, I’ve been right where you are. I have a weekly blog that’s just for readers. When I scrambled to learn what I was doing wrong, I started at ground zero.
Every blog is about the reader, meeting needs and offering information that will satisfy her and entice her to return again and again.
So what was I doing wrong? I thought my posts were a variety of topics that appealed to my readers?
But had I asked them what they wanted in a weekly blog?
Nope. Hadn’t occurred to me.
So I composed a blog with the title: Dear Reader, It IS About You. I explained my desire to write topics that appealed to them and gave them 23 ideas and requested they add to it. Oh . . . and for every reader who responded with a suggestion, that person was entered into a random drawing for a $30.00 Amazon gift card.
The response was incredible. Readers commented on my list and offered amazing topics. There were so many that I entered the topics on a spreadsheet for the next 18 months of blogs. Thrilled best described me, so I drew for two Amazon gift cards instead of one.
The comments have continued because I’m providing what they want. My readers have a stake in the topics. We’re a team, and I’m keeping my blog alive.
What tips can you give us to keep our readers happy?
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country.
DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannmills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills or any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
The Conversation
DiAnn, I love your idea of getting topics from readers and including them in a giveaway. I might use it. I desire to find a few bloggers and write an article or two for each others blogs. Thanks for all your great ideas.