Tag Archives: Blogging

How to Increase the Time People Spend Reading Your Blog Content

August 22, 2018 By in Blogging Tips Tags: , , , , , , , 41 Comments

As a blogger it’s getting incredibly difficult to sustain the interest of our readers. People have short attention spans and with social media it’s getting even shorter. You may work hours trying to craft the best blog content but if the level of engagement on your content is low then that’s not time well spent.

 

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However there are ways you can sustain your readers’ attention when reading your blog and encourage them to engage with your blog content.  If you’re having trouble keeping your readers on your blog longer then here are some things you can do to increase the time people spend reading your blog content.

 

  1. Make it easy for your readers to spot the value you give

Since people’s attention span is short, you need to make sure that you put value upfront. Make your content easy for your readers to scan through your content and spot areas of value. When you do this you’ll encourage your readers to stop on valuable points and read further instead of keeping them lost in a sea of words.

Here are ways you can achieve this:

  • Break up your content using bullet points, subheadings, subtopics or takeaways.Let each section focus on a single idea. This makes it easy to scan through and if they come across a section they’d like to know more about then they’ll read more about that bullet point.
  • Make use of quotes or call outs.You can creatively use quotes or call outs to capture the attention of your readers and encourage your readers to dive deeper into your content.

 

  1. Incorporate imagery

If there’s anything that captures people’s attention it’s imagery. Readers relate with images a lot better especially when the images compliment the blog content. Images don’t only engage your readers, they also make your blog content colourful and more visually appealing. This makes your content so much easier to consume.

There are many ways you can add imagery to your blog content. Here are a few you can get started with:

  • Break your content up with relevant images that enhance your content.Try placing images that represent the idea behind each sub topic. That way you’re creating a picture in the mind of your readers of the message you want to pass across in your blog.
  • Insert infographics. Infographics present data in a creative, fun and engaging way which effectively sustains the attention of your readers.

 

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  1. Add videos

If there’s anything that can keep your readers longer on your blog, then it has to be videos. People love videos. Videos can add more context to your content. Although it’s so much better to insert your own videos, you can place videos from other sources on your blog so long as the videos you choose are relevant to the content of your blog post.

Here are some types of videos you can incorporate in your blog post:

  • Instructional videos.These are ‘how-to’ videos which teach your readers something related to your content. Instead of going into detail about how a particular thing is done, you can insert a helpful video which does just that for you.
  • Complementary videos.These are videos which focus on enhancing your content like videos that give examples or summarizes the content in your blog post.

 

 

And remember to enjoy your blogging journey. It is a journey into the unknown.

 

 

Creating a blogging space in your home

June 21, 2018 By in Blogging Tips Tags: , , , , , , 21 Comments

For those of us who work from home, it can be hard to separate our living space from our working space. Which is why many experts advise us to have a dedicated office or home section for our work. I must confess, I don’t have a dedicated office space in my home. We were supposed to get our study up and running years ago. But life happened and keep happening, which is why the study does not look like a study. And why my blogging space is still a work in progress.

Although I don’t have a home office per se, I do have some spots in my home that I like to work in more than others. Being a blogger means I have a few gadgets to help me work effectively. And it can be tricky to have them all in one spot. So I tend to move around the house a lot when I work. Where I work in my home depends on my mood, the weather, where the kids at and what sort of work.

Create the perfect blogging space or spaces is easy once you have the right tools. Here are the most important you would need to blog effectively this 2018.

 

Get a writing desk

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Regardless of the sort of space you have, for you to blog easy, you would need a good writing desk. If you intend to blog long-term, then you need to invest in comfort. The last thing you would want is damaging your posture while working.

This Splice Writing Desk above is a perfect example of a great desk to use. I came across this sleek writing desk online, and the minimalist design and grey finish caught my eye. This would be perfect for working from home.

 

 

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Another perfect example of a great writing desk is this Gandino Writing Desk above. I also found this stunning desk while browsing online for home furniture and I was blown away. The design is such a beauty. It would look amazing in my home.

 

Pick a great spot

If you have the option of picking a spot to work in, make sure you go for a great spot. A spot with a view and ventilation is great. You would also need an airy room with a some place to move around.

I like things being tidy and organised, so I won’t be able to work or live in a house with clutter everywhere. That would be a massive distraction. And we all know how expensive distractions can be when you work from home.

 

Have all your gadgets

For blogging you would obviously need a reliable laptop and a smart phone . Having a reliable tablet is also a plus for when you can’t get on your laptop. If you can afford to, having a great camera would be ideal. I know some bloggers take photos only on their phones, but if you plan on taking your blog seriously, you would need to make some investments, one of them being a camera.

You should also have some photo props to make your pictures look extra pretty. Wall papers are great for this. Fluffy rugs, flowers and anything else you can think of could also work great.

 

Have you created a blogging space in your home? How did you go about it? What do you think of the writing desks above?

 

 

 

6 Tips for Business Owners who Blog

March 31, 2018 By in Blogging Tips Tags: , , , , , , , , , 19 Comments

Business owners have tuned into the benefits of owning a blog. A blog not only acts as a means of sharing information, it’s one that would help build the authority of a business and increase your customer base. But it all depends on how you use it.

 

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The truth is that a blog can help make or break a business, so you need to be careful with how you use your blog. It will take a lot of work to make a blog successful. However, if you commit to it, it’ll be worth it in the end.

Here are my 6 tips to help you and your business through your blog.

 

Stick to a schedule

You can’t expect to build a loyal audience who’ll turn into interested customers if the rate at which you create content is sloppy. Serious bloggers stick to a schedule or editorial calendar and they create blog posts consistently.

You may not have to blog daily like I do. However, if you can consistently publish content at least once a month on the exact same day every time, then chances are that you’ll have more dedicated readers than you would have if you published a blog post any time you feel like it.

Plan out blog topics for the whole month, note it in a calendar and stick to it.

 

Know your audience

A blog is nothing without its readers. Before you can even go into creating content, you should know your audience inside and out. Who are they? What are their problems? How does it make them feel? What’s holding them back? Answering such questions will give you an idea of the type of content they would be interested in reading.

 

Create valuable content

Your watchword as a blog owner should be “value”. The key to great content is value. Create quality content that your audience will love.
Valuable content helps solve your audience’s problems, informs them about the latest trends and gives them useful tips and tricks.

 

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Share your story

It’s easier to connect with a person than with a brand or business. Don’t be afraid to give your content a personal touch. Tell your brand story and what matters to you. Write about incidents that happen in your life and relate it to your business.

Showing your human side makes it relatable to your audience. It gives them a point of connection with you. So, chip in a story or two and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable sometimes.

Engage with your audience

You not only have to ensure that you provide quality content, you also have to get people involved. Engage with your readers in the comments. Build a list so that you can establish a lasting relationship with your audience.

A good way to get a conversation started in your blog is to write an engaging call-to-action at the end of your blog posts. An engaging call-to-action will encourage your readers to comment thereby giving you a chance to connect with your readers.

Distribute your content

Valuable content gets shared all the time. As you impart your knowledge and expertise in your blog posts, you should also do your part to share your blog posts online as well. One way is to share them on social media. But I must warn you that you don’t get spammy when you’re doing this.

Another way to distribute your content is to write guest posts for bigger blogs with a larger audience. Your guest post should have links to your previous blog posts to direct readers there.

Are you a business owner? Do you run a blog? How are you finding it?

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