Returns
Keep in mind that your readers:
• Will be in a hurry to surf on.• May give your blog a minute or less of reading time. (Look at your stats.)
• Want a payoff (funny, informative, inspiring).
• Might be researching.
• Could be reading on smaller screens (iPad, iPhones).
• Want to read the fewest possible words to get the information.
Encourage your readers to come back to your site by using these tips:
• Keep your word count around 300. People begin losing interest in reading Internet content around 300 words.
• Don’t ramble – get to the point.
• Mix up paragraph lengths.
• Vary sentence lengths.
• Use short sentences as a paragraph which will give the reader a breather or build tension for the next point.
• Use bullets to make content easy to read.
o Use numbered bullets for telling ordered steps for instruction.
o Use unnumbered bullets to list when no particular order is needed.
• Use headings and bold them or use a different font. Headings are clues to the reader that a change is about to occur. This might give the reader reason to linger.
• Get the reader to your blog by creating an interesting title.
• Get the reader to your blog by creating an interesting title.
o Use keywords from your post
o Keep it under five words- say more with less
• Use helpful links to other sites.
• Make your site easy to navigate by setting up a Home link.
• Include your sources (know your copyright laws).
• Use an image for visualization.
• Develop a blog schedule.
Finally, leave a part of yourself in your posts. Readers are interested in the person who used words to influence their return.
Don't forget, if you comment you will be entered in the drawing for the blackbird pillow (can be seen on Monday's post).
You can read Small Community on my blog The Ruralhood until Saturday when a new article will be posted.
Sources: http://libstaff.mit.edu/webgroup/writing/index.html, http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/facultyopinions/tips.html
http://blog.listpipe.com/2009/post-length-how-many-words/
Comments
Thanks for sharing, Teresa.
Another one could be: Keep your posts short.
Have a lovely Friday!
B xx
Alex, We keep coming back because you have an interesting blog.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Your tips are indeed quite helpful and I found that I am not practising any of these
CD
Good tips.
I fall out of the slot though! However I seem to provide something of interest for people to read & learn from .. and I get support - so I visit one blog which is my relief .. it's a good read, some nice pictures and is about food and wine, as well as vineyard development.
I like to think that people come for a little entertainment which has some content that's informative & a break for them from their blogging/ commenting schedule.
It seems to work. However your thoughts on clarity, shortness of sentences, paragraphs are so right .. it must be easy to read, kind to the eye etc ..
Thanks - have a lovely weekend .. Hilary
I remember the first time I took psychology class and was assigned a book to read and report on it was so dry and boring. I just could not relate to anything in it. Then my teacher gave me "To Sir with Love". I could not put the book down and can still tell you what it was about all these years later. A reader likes to relate on some level with the writer don't you think?