Have you ever run into a problem while installing a new blog template? Have you searched for hours to find a WordPress plug-in only to come up empty handed? At RedesignMozilla, we are all about making the Internet functional for you again. From shortcuts on your web browser to web design tutorials; we’re covering it all. Check our news feeds for the latest tips and tricks or read our articles to learn more about how to make the Internet really work for you.
Increasing Blog Followers and Readers
Do you have an existing blog that you have worked hard on yet you still don’t have a large number of readers? Are you frustrated by how other blogs seem to be lacking the amount of information that you give on your blog yet they seem to be more successful? Here are some tips that you can use to increase your blog readership.
1- Utilize Search Engine Optimization Techniques- You can find many resources for Search Engine Optimization in the Internet and it can easily be implemented onto your blog.
2- Take part in blog hops and parties- One of the best ways to draw in new readers is to get referrals or recognition from an already successful blog. Take the time to participate in blog hops, parties, and circles where you can link one of your posts to a blog that is largely followed. Their readers will spend time surfing through all of the blog hop participants and you stand to gain a fair share of new readers.
3- Take the time to comment on other blogs and posts in a similar field- By spending time investing in relationships with other bloggers, you stand to gain a lot! You can benefit from their knowledge, you can open yourself up to some constructive criticism when needed, and you stand to gain a referral from another blogger that could greatly increase your blog’s traffic.
4- Set a regular schedule for how often you
will be posting and make sure that your readers know it. For example, set a standard for posting every morning, or posting three days a week, or posting only once a week. Let them know what to expect so that they won’t be surprised if they don’t hear from you.
Blogging Tips for Beginners
Blogging is a competitive field and requires a certain amount of dedication. Hundreds and even thousands of new blogs are began each day, and each of these are fighting to gain new readers and success in the blogging world.
First, make sure that your blog is based on a subject that you are knowledgeable in and can consistently offer new ideas on. For example, if you are really interested in restoring and repurposing old furniture, it will be an enjoyable thing for you to blog about. You will be interested in sharing new ideas and techniques and completing ongoing projects that you showcase on your blog to your readers. If you think that a good blog would be on recipes and meal planning yet this is not an area that you have any experience in, and you don’t like to cook, this type of blog would not be a good choice for you.
Second, make sure that your blog looks good before you go ‘live’. Check each of your links within your blog to make sure that they function as intended. Put up some visually appealing photographs and graphics that will draw in the reader’s attention.
Third, include informative copy. Give your readers new information that they may not have heard of before. Make sure it is reputable!
Lastly, utilize all of the search engine optimization techniques that you can. There are a multitude of free Search Engine Optimization resources available and most of them are free. They will help educate you on how to use these techniques on your blog with your readers and how to increase blog traffic because of them! The time you invest in this will pay off tremendously!
How to Draw in New Readers to Your Blog
If you are looking to attract new readers, one of the most important things you can do for your blog is to focus on your content. It is extremely important to have a blog that is visually appealing, but it is also equally important to have a blog with content that is worth the reader’s time. There are thousands and thousands of blogs in existence today and their topics range to cover almost anything you can think of.
For example, there are probably over one thousand money-saving blogs for moms who want to learn to shop using coupons and special savings and deals. If you want to create a blog of this same type you need to consider how you will differentiate your blog from one of the others. What information will you offer that separates your blog from the rest? What new information do you have to give them that will benefit them more than another site?
It is also important that you stay true to your blog’s overall theme. If your blog is about gardening, then it would seem odd if all of a sudden you started blogging about gymnastics or Olympic swimming. You are trying to create an overall image and if you don’t stay true to your blog’s intended purpose, you stand to lose readers to other sites.
The blogging world is extremely competitive and requires a commitment from you. Posting regularly is essential to blogging success. If your readers are coming to your page daily and are never receiving new content, you stand to lose readers and also their loyalty. Commit to a regular schedule that you will be posting on, and let your readers know the schedule.
Where to Design Blogs
There are a variety of blog hosting sites available. Every day thousands of new blogs are created and new information is being released. Many of these blogs are hosted on free blog sites such as blogger.com, wordpress.com or tumblr.com. Although the format of each of these sites is very different, they each offer a relatively easy format and a free domain to host your blog on. There are other sites that you can design that will charge a fee for your page but allow you more freedom and flexibility in the design and functionality of your website.
Should you choose to use one of the free blog hosting sites, there are a multitude of benefits that you can reap. These sites are widely known and their formatting is easily recognized by most all browsers as well as blog readers on the market today. They offer interesting plugins that you can install on your page to perform specific functions such as a blog counter statistic, the option to follow the blog by email, the option of having a photo slide show appear, and much more. If you are interested in using one of these free sites but would like to have your own domain name that doesn’t include their ending, you can purchase this each year as well. The cost is relatively low and usually averages between ten and twenty dollars annually.
Should you choose to design your own blog website from scratch, a lot more work will be needed initially. The benefit is that you can design the page to function exactly as you choose and you will have complete freedom and flexibility to alter code as you desire.
Importance of Visual Design on Websites and Blogs
One of the most crucial factors in a website’s or blog’s success is hinged on the beauty of its visual design. If you have outstanding information, beneficial topics, and crucial techniques for your readers, it still will not be fully utilized or followed if your website or blog has a lacking design.
There are many websites and blogs out there that have great information; Information that could benefit the lives of readers and to improve their quality of life. However, that information will never be delivered to its fullest extent unless it is accompanied by a visually appealing design and an easy to follow website format.
When designing your website or blog, be sure to include clear and attractive photographs or pictures. This will not only capture a reader’s attention, but also help to create your overall theme of your site. The opposite side of the spectrum is also detrimental; if all of have are beautiful graphics and photographs but no informative copy to accompany it, you are also in danger of losing readers.
Make sure that you have an overall theme for your website or blog that flows well from page to page and from design element to design element. For example, let’s say that you are designing a website for a pool installation company. It would be wise to use a variety of soothing colors such as blues and greens that will make people think of cool, refreshing pool water. If several pages on your website are full of flashing red and yellow graphics, this would not fit with the overall theme and flow of your site. By making a beautiful site, your readers will be sure to stick around and receive from the valuable information you are giving them.
