Why Would People Read Your Blog?

Today guest blogger Crissy Herron is going to provide some helpful information on how to get people to read your blog.

There is no doubt about it, blogging is a  cultural phenomenon. In today’s society, you can find people who make their sole living by blogging, designing blogs, or teaching people how to blog. If you walk into a bookstore, you’ll find all sorts of books on blogging, not to mention books and movies that were based on a blog. Simply put, blogging is everywhere.

So, we know that people are reading blogs (in mass quantity). Now the question is how to get them to read your blog! But to answer that question, we need to figure out why people would want to read your blog in the first place? Or any blog for that matter!

Information

We all know that the internet can be a time sucker. We all get caught up browsing Facebook and Twitter, or  playing games like Farmville. But people are still using the internet to learn new things.

Whether it’s going to a site like this to learn about working from home or to a foodie blog to browse recipes or to a home improvement blog to learn how to install a kitchen backsplash, we all use the internet for information.

Entertainment

I personally read a “mixed bag” of blogs. I read several “work at home” blogs because I am naturally interested in that type of information. I read other blogs that teach me things – such as crafty or foodie blogs. And then I also read blogs that simply provide an escape. I am there purely for entertainment.

These are blogs where the blogger simply writes and posts pictures about their life and what they are doing. Why is that so darned interesting? Well, I don’t know. But it is!  Many “mommy bloggers” fall into this category. You would also find gossip bloggers (like Perez Hilton), celebrity bloggers, and so forth in this category.

Freebies / Giveaways

There are also some blogs that gain readership based on their freebies and giveaways. People love to get free stuff. And they will visit a blog everyday if the blog is offering something good!

How To Put This To Use On Your Blog

Now that  you know the main reasons people read blogs, it’s time to start incorporating these things on your own blog. The best part is that you don’t have to limit yourself to one category. You can use all three!

Think about your target market. What do they want to know about? If you’re not sure, start asking on Twitter. Find out what they need help with, and create informational posts that will help them.

Next, go ahead and add in some entertainment posts. Post about what you did over the weekend or post some photos from your vacation. Let them see a glimpse of your life. You don’t have to go overboard and tell them every little detail, but a few posts a month wouldn’t hurt.

Don’t forget to offer a giveaway or freebie once in a while. This can be based on what your readers are interested in. If you have a recipe blog, ask a book publisher to offer a cookbook giveaway. Or if you create your own information products, giveaway one of your ebooks  or classes.

The most important thing is to blog regularly. If you want people to read your blog, you have to give them something to read! And last but not least, you should be having fun with it! This is your blog that we’re talking about! Don’t treat it like a chore! Treat it like the fun, creative outlet that it is!

Crissy Herron is the founder of Indie Biz Chicks, where she provides business, marketing, and publicity information for women “who’d rather work for themselves, than work for the man.” She was involved in a car accident last week and is raising funds for a new car by offering The September Blogging Special for only $10. Participants will receive daily blogging tips and prompts, as well as other bonuses. Click Here to learn more.