Blog Survival 101

There are at least five million blogs for every subject. Or so it sometimes feels. So how do you make your blog stand out?

You may think social media, or SEO, or guest writers are the answer. They may work to some extent, but there’s much more you can do.

Make a Change

Don’t be afraid to mix things up in order to give your customers what they want. As Charles Darwin put it: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

Get Personal

Don’t be afraid to build a personal relationship with your readership. It can lead to a deeper connection with your audience.

Some bloggers are reticent about getting personal. Don’t fret; we’re not suggesting you invite your top commenter out for dinner (although you could). Simply incorporating some aspects of your personal life into your blog can set you apart from your competitors.

Play for Laughs

It’s a fact: people like to laugh.

Bringing humor to the table can be a tough ask, but if you can pull it off you’ll find readers coming back in search of the next joke. You’ll probably see your slice of the social media pie getting bigger, too. Who doesn’t love forwarding an LOL tweet?

One word of warning: don’t go on the offensive (unless that’s the nature of your blog, of course) or you may put people off.

Agree

That’s right, folks. Just like in high school, the quickest way to get in with the popular crowd is to agree with them.

If you can prove yourself as a voice of reason without upsetting anyone, you’ll soon find yourself with your very own tribe of “yes” people.

Go Pro

Don’t just make giant, sweeping gestures with your blog posts; get specific. Pick your industry and focus on a small but important niche. A few well thought out blog posts later and you can use your success as a springboard into the wider market.

Work Harder than Everyone Else

It’s obvious, but worth mentioning. There’s no point writing amazing blog posts if you don’t post often. As GoDaddy’s CEO Bob Parsons reminds us with a Chinese quote, “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

Put in the time and you’ll see the benefit.