Whether you’re a seasoned content creator or a newcomer, increasing your web following is probably a priority for you. However, knowing how to grow your blog isn't always easy – after all, the internet is a constantly changing platform. Fortunately, this does not necessitate a blind search for the next best strategy. Understanding various strategies to grow your blogs allows you to mix and match them to find the best combination for your needs. This article will go over various strategies to grow your blogs. We'll also give you some pointers and examples along the way to help you get started. Let's get right to the point!
A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Your Blogs
Do you want to market and grow your blog in the same way that the big players in your niche do? You can turn your blog from an "also-ran" to a champion with a little know-how. Now let's get down to business.
1. Invest in a High-quality Host
Let's face it: a website isn't much without a reliable host. If you can only offer slow load times, potential new fans may look for another site that meets their needs. Increased speed also means improved search engine optimization (SEO), which means more readers will find you. Fortunately, even low-cost hosts can provide impressive plans. Try to find one that offers high-quality service while remaining within your budget. Don't be afraid to invest in this area of your website; it's the foundation of the user experience.
2. Don't Dismiss Featured Images
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Featured images are a quick and easy way to grow your blog as it allows readers to see what your content has to offer. They can also be shared on social media platforms, which means they can attract new visitors. We recommend selecting images that are consistent with and complement your brand. For instance, we use a standardized, informative approach. Don't worry if you can't afford a graphic designer. Canva and Crello, for example, make it simple to create eye-catching featured images right in your browser.
3. Create an Email List
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Email marketing is a subtle but powerful strategy for growing your blogs. You can build rapport with readers by contacting them regularly. You're also making it simple for them to share your content with others. Getting started with email marketing is simple, regardless of the size of your site. It's also relatively inexpensive, with a high likelihood of return on investment – so if you're wondering how to grow your blog, this is the logical first step. You can even find free email marketing services to help you get started.
4. Involve Your Target Audience
Engaging your audience can be difficult, but it can also be very effective. Likes, comments, and shares, in particular, can be a simple way to organically spread the word about your blog. Increase these metrics by incorporating a call to action (CTA) at the end of your content. Consider the following example from our article on hiding the WordPress admin bar: Simple questions like these can elicit more participation. To avoid overwhelming readers, limit yourself to a single CTA per post.
5. Make Effective Use of Internal Links
Internal links are the simplest way to provide access to additional content. If a reader stumbles across an article by chance, they can use these URLs to dig deeper. This can lead to them becoming more knowledgeable about your blog and active users. For maximum impact, make these internal links as natural and relevant as possible. This strategy can also aid in the improvement of your SEO.
6. Include Excellent Navigation
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Nobody likes a difficult-to-use website. A poor user interface may even turn off users who would otherwise become devoted followers. As a result, if you want to learn how to grow your blog, start with excellent navigation. Try to keep your category hierarchies as clear as possible if you have a large blog. Furthermore, blogs of any size can benefit from ensuring that no URL is more than three clicks away from the home page.
7. Research Your Niche
It is critical to define a clear niche to grow your blog. It aids in focusing your efforts and attracting the right audience. As a result, we recommend keeping your niche in mind for every design element, from your content to your theme. However, don't let your niche confine you! Consider new ways to investigate relevant topics that will pique the interest of new users. Keep an eye on the competition for ideas as well.
8. Connect Your Social Media Accounts
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
It is critical to have your own website. That is not to say you should avoid social media. These well-known platforms can help many people find and share your content. We recommend sharing your work as frequently as possible on these sites. This simple click-to-post feature has the potential to increase social sharing. You can also use a social media plugin to make the process easier.
9. Change Up the Format of Your Content
If you're still wondering how to grow your blog, this next piece of advice might surprise you: don't be afraid to branch out beyond text. Using various format types can help to vary your content and make it more dynamic. Try combining a few different types, such as:
- Long-form, in-depth articles
- Colorful graphics or flowcharts
- Videos of interest
We recommend that you check in on your archives regularly. If they appear too similar, it may be time to publish content in a different format.
10. Conduct Keyword Research Regularly
Maintaining relevancy is essential for attracting new readers. It's also an effective strategy for keeping your current audience. That is why you should consult keyword research tools like Google's Keyword Planner regularly: Don't be afraid to use the keywords that have been suggested. They may create new opportunities for content creation. Just keep in mind how much competition you can reasonably expect.
11. Work with Other Bloggers to Create Content
You gain access to each other's audiences when collaborating with other bloggers. You'll also have more opportunities to create new content to grow your blog. Don't limit yourself to only working with creators related to you. Working with a blogger in your niche who has a slightly different focus could be an effective way to reach audiences who don't even realize they'd enjoy your work.
12. Provide Tangible Value
This is a simple but critical concept: most blogs must provide a tangible benefit to their visitors. This can range from answering pertinent questions to making recommendations. The approach you take to delivering value will be determined by the type of blog you run. However, one tip that applies to most niches is to answer the question "Why should my readers care?" as early as possible in each post. As a result, new readers will be more likely to invest in the solution.
13. Make Responsive Features a Priority
You probably don't need us to tell you that mobile users make up a sizable portion of your target audience. This is true for both current and prospective readers. As a result, making your content accessible to those readers is critical. Hence if you are looking to grow your blog, it should adhere to the key principles of responsive design. The goal is for your posts to look as good (and usable) on mobile devices as they do on desktop computers. Incorporating mobile-friendly features also allows users to have a consistent experience across all versions of your website.
14. Provide a Sitemap
A sitemap is a file containing data about your website. Google uses this information to explore and comprehend your blog. As a result, it may influence your search engine rankings. If you want to make the most of this resource, you can submit it directly to Google Search Console.
15. Run A/B Tests on Your Landing Pages
A/B testing is the process of comparing one version of a page to another. It analyses traffic and conversion data to determine which version is the most effective. You can increase your chances of getting more visitors and conversions by conducting this type of research.
Furthermore, you are not limited to landing pages. Everything from blog layouts to your home page can be A/B tested. If you're not getting as much traffic as you'd like, use this strategy to figure out how to increase it.
Introducing Strikingly
Image is taken from Strikingly
In 2022, Strikingly will be one of the fastest-growing website-building platforms. It provides a user-friendly editor with a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create web pages in minutes and offers numerous templates for you to use as your web design. Strikingly maintains its own blog, where new articles are published daily. We believe in content marketing and promoting our customers' businesses by mentioning them in our blog posts.
The Strikingly blog covers a wide range of marketing-related topics. We primarily cover digital marketing topics, emphasizing the significance of having a website and a solid online presence for a business to grow in today's world. We know the most recent blogging trends and statistics and keep them in mind as we strive to grow your blog. We pride our knowledge base and are experts in our field, as evidenced by the vast array of information provided in our blog articles each week.
Conclusion
If you're trying to figure out how to grow your blog the best way possible, all of the options available can make your head spin.
Fortunately, this procedure does not have to be mysterious. You can start expanding your user base right away if you understand some of the fundamental strategies. In this article, we discussed various methods to grow your blogs. While you won't use all of them, we recommend starting with a few that are best suited to your audience and niche, then returning for more ideas whenever your blog becomes stagnant.
