Since starting this blog, I have made one post per day, everyday. While this may not sound like a lot, it is a goal that I take very seriously. I strive to make sure that readers have something new to think about everyday of the week; even Saturday and Sunday. After about 60 days of doing this, I think that I am finally ready to step up to two posts per day. There are several reasons that I am considering this.
First off, I have received a lot of positive response from readers, and many of them are asking for more posts. Since I like to keep everybody happy, I would love to increase my daily output. I feel that I have the time to do this, and even if something came up, I could always take a step back to one post per day while getting back on track.
Additionally, I have a backlog of topics that I really want to write about. Writing is what I do, and having so many great topics staring me in the face makes me anxious. To me, coming up with new topics has never been a problem, and it seems that I add a few new ones to my list everyday. If I am ever going to get through them all, increasing my output is essential.
Finally, I am hoping that adding more content will help with traffic; both from returning visitors and search engines. If this happens, I can then move forward with some of the other goals that I have for this blog.
I am not totally sure if I am going to make the move to two posts per day, but it is on my mind. By later this week I will definitely have a decision!
The biggest complaint that new blog owners have is that they cannot attract an audience. In other words, they feel as if they are writing, but nobody is reading. While this can be a difficult problem to overcome, it is one that every blogger has to deal with early on. Your goal should be to increase your readership day in and day out. Even if you only make small strides, this is better than standing still. Small successes will lead to bigger ones in the long run!
But remember, you are never going to increase your audience if you do not give people a reason to read your blog. Readers need to have a reason to visit your blog. If you give them one, it is safe to say that they will come back time and time again. If not, you are going to struggle to reach even the smallest of goals.
So why should people read your blog? If you cannot answer this question, nobody else is going to be able to either. For me, the answer to this question is short and sweet: readers should visit Chrisblogging if they want to learn about or make money with freelance writing and/or blogging. With each post that I write, my goal is to stay within this “reason for reading.â€
Any reason to read your blog is a great one. Some blogs get tons of traffic because they are controversial, and others attract readers because they have pictures of scantily clad celebrities.
No matter what, you need to have a hook that will draw people in. This way, as word spreads about your blog, traffic will continue to increase.
There is a fine line between monetizing your site, and taking things to an extreme. If you are going to look into monetization methods, you need to make sure that this does not negatively affect the way that readers perceive and read your blog. In other words, if your revenue streams are getting in the way, you may be doing yourself a disservice in the long run.
I have found that monetizing a blog too early is one of the number one ways to put readers off. Day in and day out I come across blogs that have a couple of posts, but advertisements all over the front page. What does this tell me? Simply put, it tells me that the person is more interested in making money with their blog than providing good, quality content.
I am of the opinion that monetizing a blog, if done at the right time, will not put readers off as long as it is done appropriately. As mentioned above, this means that your revenue streams should not interfere with the navigation or overall look of your blog. While it is impossible to monetize a blog without changing its look, you need to make this transaction as seamless as possible. Upon arriving at your blog, you want readers to notice your content first and everything else after that. If your ads are sticking out all over the place, you are going to have a difficult time retaining and attracting new members.
Also, keep in mind that monetization is not a vague, generalized term. There are so many ways to set up revenue streams that you are sure to have your hands full. As you can imagine, the monetization methods that you choose will have a lot to do with the way that your site looks, and also the way that readers will react. If you have a blog with steady traffic and comments, your visitors will be sure to let you know if you have done something wrong.
The key to monetization is making sure that your blog is ready. When you feel that the time is right, make sure that you choose the best ways to make money, and that you never turn readers off by overcrowding.Â
