[Working Moms Blog] Top 10 Tips for Blog Reader Optimization
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MomBlogger
Apr 5, 2009, 6:22:18 AM4/5/09
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It seems like everyone is so concerned about optimizing their blog for search engines… but many people have forgotten about the reader. What about optimizing the blog for the reader?
When researching a recent article, I found a great blog filled with fantastic information, but I couldn’t figure out how to locate any additional posts. It was a gobbledygook of tag clouds, widgets and color. It was a little scary.
So, here is my list of ways you can optimize your blog for your reader. You want to engage your readers and make your blog easy to return to, without any hassles.
1. Spell Check — This is one of my struggles. It’s not that I don’t know how to spell, it’s the typos. AND I promise myself that I will go back and spell check but someone’s in the rush of the morning… I forget. Even I, the typo queen, get annoyed when entries are riddled with spelling errors. It’s more frustrating than fun. So, don’t forget to spell check.
2. Offer Posts by Email — many of my readers don’t actually visit my blog. They are members of a Google or yahoo group that gets the posts automatically and once I approve the entry, they get the email too. My subscribe button allows the reader to select how they want to be notified of new entries.
3. Terrible Templates – sigh, I am as guilty as the next person. In fact, while researching this article I realized that I have tortured everyone enough with my colorful boxes and I am going back… sigh… back to an easy to read… nay, pleasant on the eyes template. The key here is you… the reader, not me the author. I want you to return, so I should make it as likely as possible that you will enjoy the experience.
4. Font – Along with the terrible template comes the font. I have read blogs that the font is so small that it hurts to read, and others that the font is so decorative it looks like another language. Remember, you are writing to be read, and if the reader doesn’t enjoy it… they will leave.
5. How you write — This blog is meant to be read quickly and hopefully time and time again. I take great liberties with sentence structure and different topics require different approaches. I also write a business blog for located at http://matthijssenonline.com and the style is completely different. It is more businesslike and authoritative.
6. Widget Overload — I like cool gadgets just as much as the next person, but too many can be too distracting. In addition to making it hard to read the blog, they can also make it hard to navigate.
6. Navigation — Don’t forget that you individual blog entry in the very least, is part of a bigger group of entries, and at the most may just be a small part of a much larger website. Without navigation, page tabs or buttons, the reader won’t know about any of those other places they can visit. Many blog templates bury the page navigation while others display them more prominently. Select the template that prominently displays the links.
7. Content — If I were going to put these suggestions in order of importance, I would have to say that content will rank around number one. Content is ultimately what is going to get you the readers and keep them coming back for more.
8. Post Often — The more frequently you post, the more likely your readers will check in regularly. If it’s the same old same old, several days in a row, they may not put you into their regular schedule. Posting often will also increase your page ranking… as it is referred to as ‘feeding the bots’.
9. Ping Blog Search Sites - when you add a new blog entry, you can let sites such as feedburner or Google’s blog search. I use ping-o-matic which allows you to upload your blog and select who you want to ping. The quicker you get noticed, the quick you get read… the more people will joining you regularly.
10. Buy your own domain — If for no other reason this keeps your domain name short… (chuckle chuckle) the other reason is that then you own your blog. You won’t have to worry about anyone shutting it down, or going out of business and closing up shop. It’s not easy starting over (believe me) trying to gain back readership to a new location is difficult. My first Mom blogger blog is located on http://mombloggerworks.blogspot.com and now that I own my own site, I have to blog in two places. Here (http://mombloggermoney.com ) and there.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this list of 10 tips for optimizing your blog for readers.
Please send me your suggestions or pet peeves….
Also, don’t forget to subscribe to receive updates!
Mom Blogger!
--
Posted By MomBlogger to Working Moms Blog at 4/05/2009 03:20:00 AM
When researching a recent article, I found a great blog filled with fantastic information, but I couldn’t figure out how to locate any additional posts. It was a gobbledygook of tag clouds, widgets and color. It was a little scary.
So, here is my list of ways you can optimize your blog for your reader. You want to engage your readers and make your blog easy to return to, without any hassles.
1. Spell Check — This is one of my struggles. It’s not that I don’t know how to spell, it’s the typos. AND I promise myself that I will go back and spell check but someone’s in the rush of the morning… I forget. Even I, the typo queen, get annoyed when entries are riddled with spelling errors. It’s more frustrating than fun. So, don’t forget to spell check.
2. Offer Posts by Email — many of my readers don’t actually visit my blog. They are members of a Google or yahoo group that gets the posts automatically and once I approve the entry, they get the email too. My subscribe button allows the reader to select how they want to be notified of new entries.
3. Terrible Templates – sigh, I am as guilty as the next person. In fact, while researching this article I realized that I have tortured everyone enough with my colorful boxes and I am going back… sigh… back to an easy to read… nay, pleasant on the eyes template. The key here is you… the reader, not me the author. I want you to return, so I should make it as likely as possible that you will enjoy the experience.
4. Font – Along with the terrible template comes the font. I have read blogs that the font is so small that it hurts to read, and others that the font is so decorative it looks like another language. Remember, you are writing to be read, and if the reader doesn’t enjoy it… they will leave.
5. How you write — This blog is meant to be read quickly and hopefully time and time again. I take great liberties with sentence structure and different topics require different approaches. I also write a business blog for located at http://matthijssenonline.com and the style is completely different. It is more businesslike and authoritative.
6. Widget Overload — I like cool gadgets just as much as the next person, but too many can be too distracting. In addition to making it hard to read the blog, they can also make it hard to navigate.
6. Navigation — Don’t forget that you individual blog entry in the very least, is part of a bigger group of entries, and at the most may just be a small part of a much larger website. Without navigation, page tabs or buttons, the reader won’t know about any of those other places they can visit. Many blog templates bury the page navigation while others display them more prominently. Select the template that prominently displays the links.
7. Content — If I were going to put these suggestions in order of importance, I would have to say that content will rank around number one. Content is ultimately what is going to get you the readers and keep them coming back for more.
8. Post Often — The more frequently you post, the more likely your readers will check in regularly. If it’s the same old same old, several days in a row, they may not put you into their regular schedule. Posting often will also increase your page ranking… as it is referred to as ‘feeding the bots’.
9. Ping Blog Search Sites - when you add a new blog entry, you can let sites such as feedburner or Google’s blog search. I use ping-o-matic which allows you to upload your blog and select who you want to ping. The quicker you get noticed, the quick you get read… the more people will joining you regularly.
10. Buy your own domain — If for no other reason this keeps your domain name short… (chuckle chuckle) the other reason is that then you own your blog. You won’t have to worry about anyone shutting it down, or going out of business and closing up shop. It’s not easy starting over (believe me) trying to gain back readership to a new location is difficult. My first Mom blogger blog is located on http://mombloggerworks.blogspot.com and now that I own my own site, I have to blog in two places. Here (http://mombloggermoney.com ) and there.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this list of 10 tips for optimizing your blog for readers.
Please send me your suggestions or pet peeves….
Also, don’t forget to subscribe to receive updates!
Mom Blogger!
--
Posted By MomBlogger to Working Moms Blog at 4/05/2009 03:20:00 AM
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