Businesses who publish regular blogs on their website have on average 97% more links to their website, thanks to backlinks from external and social media sites. Not only does this help to increase website traffic, but, also improves their visibility in the search engine.

It’s not just about who you know, but about who knows you. Blogs give you extra exposure and help to build your personal networks over time. The more you blog, the more you are being seen online and people will easily find you if they are looking for someone with your skills or products. Sharing your personal experiences or tips is likely to attract and keep your readers’ interest and help you build readership over time.

Blogs have come a long way since they were just a way of expressing personal views and interests to a niche audience. Over the last few years, they have become an essential part of a marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes across all industries. And businesses and individuals are not spending money, time and energy on blogging just because everyone else is doing it – they are doing so because they bring significant benefits on both personal and business levels.

High-quality content is essential, but writing is only one part of your success. You can have the best blog on the internet, but no one will read it if they can’t find it. So, in addition to creating a great looking blog with interesting content, you need to be promoting it to your audience, so they can find your site and keep coming back.

Here are a few tips to attract new readers and keep your existing ones interested:

1. Don’t be afraid to be niche

Just because the topic hasn’t been covered before doesn’t mean there is no audience for it. Quite the opposite. It means that there is a gap in the market. Your target audience might be smaller, but it will certainly be more relevant.

2. Think about how your readers search for information

Relate to your potential readers and the way they do their online research and give them useful, practical tips they can learn from and enjoy reading. The internet is built to provide answers to questions. People constantly search for answers and tips on topics they don’t know enough about, so position yourself as an expert by using blog titles that make your audience quickly understand that they have found their answers.

3. Focus on topics that remain relevant for longer

Keep your content evergreen. If you are writing about topics that are linked to the present time, the likelihood is that they won’t be interesting to anyone in a few weeks’ time. Try to think about topics that are timeless, such as tips, guidelines, how-to articles; and you won’t be short of relevant content.

4. Add visual content

Visuals are an effective SEO tool that will also make your blogs look better. Provide descriptions using relevant keywords and avoid using pictures that are too large as they will negatively impact your site’s loading time. With free stock photos available to use, it costs nothing to add a few visuals.

5. Break down your content into sections

Readers much prefer a clear structure to one long, text-heavy paragraph. Use headings or subheadings and if you are providing tips, consider using bullet points and numbers – they are much easier on the eye and your readers will be able to quickly digest the key elements of your article.

6. Encourage social sharing

Allow your followers to easily share your post and make it easy for your website visitors to find your social media accounts by having the icons visible on your homepage so they can follow your company for regular updates. Anyone sharing your post on social media helps you reach new people. Even better, as the share comes from someone they know and trust, it’s more likely to trigger their interest.

7. Promote via e-newsletters and blog alerts

Allowing your visitors to subscribe to an e-newsletter or alerts when a new blog goes live gives you extra exposure. Not only are you building a list of loyal readers, but emails can also be easily forwarded. An email also provides a quick reference point and makes it easy for the recipient to revisit your blog.