Blogging is a great way of developing your hobbies and interests into something that appeals to a dedicated readership, and can even become a source of income. There are many great student bloggers out there with their fingers on the pulse when it comes to content creation, but there are also many examples of terrible student blogs. By now we’re all familiar with the process of setting up a blog on the web, but what is it that sets apart a successful endeavor from a damp squib?
Commit To Your Content
As with so many things in life, dedication sets apart those that succeed and those that fail. It can take time and effort to build up a readership, and you have to make sure you keep creating good content regularly even if things seem a little slow at first. This is harder than it might sound, especially because you have to ensure your content is appealing enough to entice people, and interesting enough to keep them on board. It helps to really have a feel for what you’re writing about, and to have a strong idea of what your blog is addressing, so that any visitor knows what they’re in for at a glance.
Make Real Connections
To generate interest in your blog, it’s a good idea to reach out to other people who can help to promote your writing. This can mean approaching sites with high readerships and offering your services for free with a clear and concise boilerplate pitch. It’s potentially even more effective if you can reach the ear of a respected web influencer and get a mention or a link from them. But remember to be respectful – don’t post links in comments sections or forums against the host’s wishes. It’s unlikely to get you anywhere with your readership, and doesn’t make your blog look good. It’s also crucially important that the addresses on your subscriber list are genuine. Utilising real time email verification is a simple way to reduce your ‘bounce rate’, and means you’re not penalised for inadvertently using fake emails in your circulations.
Engage, engage, engage
Everything you include in your blog should aim to engage people. This is what sets apart successful online endeavours from vanity projects. Addressing recent trends, including videos and interesting links, and utilising social networking discussion all helps to get your blog ahead. Use interesting titles and graphics to gain readers’ attention, and make sure there are direct address prompts to encourage them to take part in the discussion, or to let you know what they’d like to see in your blog. Also make sure to pay attention to online comments – it makes your readership feel included, and also means you can keep on top of any hostile comments that are spoiling the discussion environment.