“Build it and they will come!” Is that what you believed when you launched your blog? This statement couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to online marketing. It is amazing that some business and marketing leaders still believe this.
It is critical to understand that social media is not a quick fix that is going to make you rich and famous overnight. Did you know there are approximately 5700 tweets sent every second? Yet I hear many business leaders state things such as, “I’ll just send out a few tweets and let people know about my blog.” Sorry to break the news to you, but if you have only 50 followers, the chances of those 50 Twitter followers helping you build a readership for your blog are simply slim to none.
Building a solid blog readership and community using social media takes time. It requires planning and goal setting. It takes investment in understanding your audience, and aligning your business goals and objectives to your online execution.
Be patient and focus on the needs of your audience. Provide them the most compelling experience you possibly can. Show them value. Deliver them relevance, context and a unique experience and content they can’t get on the million other blogs out there.
I tend to be one of those people who simply tell it like it is. I don’t like to over sugar coat the facts. This blog post fits right into that category. Read it knowing I am being quite blunt with you to help you, not make you feel stupid or hurt you.
Below are 10 of the top reasons nobody reads your blog.
1. Your blog is ugly. Yes, I said it. Your kid is ugly. The colors don’t match. Brand architecture? You likely don’t know what that is. Your fonts are hard to read and nothing flows. When your ideal customer looks at your blog it does nothing for them visually. You have approximately 5 seconds to inspire your audience to stick around from the moment they visit your blog. You better make it visually delightful or you will lose them at hello. If you don’t know how to make your blog not so ugly, call us. Get help from somebody, anybody. Don’t let your blog continue to be ugly. Read-> How to Build a Brand That is a Sweet Orange in a World of Bitter Apples
2. Your blog is not mobile responsive. Did you know 90% of people have their mobile device within arms reach 100% of the time! Yes, that read 100% of the time. If your blog is not mobile responsive and does not look good on a mobile device such as an iPhone, Android and tablet you are wasting your time in even creating a blog. If your blog looks ugly on your mobile phone, it’s not looking any better on anybody’s phone who visits your blog or website!
3. Your blog is all about YOU and you know it. As much as you state you are about your community and helping other people, your blog tells a different story. Every blog post is about you, what you have done, what you are going to do, what you sell and why you are so awesome. Quit telling us how awesome you are and prove it to us. Instead, help your ideal customer solve their problems, period. Quit filling your blog titles with the million hashtags you are using that do nothing but try to get you attention and drive us nuts. You may think we’re stupid and naive to your tricks, but we see right through them and we don’t visit your blog or share your content with our friends because of these things.
4. Your titles are over the top and oversold. Using words such a world class, magical, extraordinary in every blog post leads us to believe NOTHING on your blog is really magical. Give up the titles and quit disappointing us on every post. Instead focus on amazing content and a rockin’ title that supports the content and will connect with your audience. I believe titles are very important but overselling them is hurting you more than helping.
5. You have too many pop-up ads. If I have to click 3 times to get past your pop-up window, let’s just say I am never going to get to click number two. I know there are many people out there who believe in pop-ups and rave about how wonderful they are. Personally I can’t stand them. If I know a site has them and I have to click at minimum two times or it is hard to get the pop-up shut on a mobile device, I am likely going to never visit your blog again.
6. Your content sucks. There is nothing on your blog that resonates with me or your ideal customer. You are basically babbling about nothing. You may even be regurgitating the same content every other blogger in your niche is blogging about. There is nothing we haven’t read before and nothing that is actually helping me or your ideal customer solve problems, feel empowered, learn or be better in our life and business. Read-> 28 Attributes of Good Content Marketing
7. You don’t know your audience. If you don’t know your audience, it is going to be really hard to write content that inspires and connects with them. You must get in their head, know what keeps them up at night. Know what they need from you and how you are going to help them solve problems. Read and watch this video-> 10 Things You Must Know About Your Audience
8. You are not consistent in your blogging. People like to know that you are going to be blogging more than once or twice a year. After developing a plan with goals and objectives and having a full understanding of your audience, develop an editorial calendar. It will help keep you accountable and ensure you are providing the highest value possible consistently for your readers. Download-> Content Marketing Editorial Calendar Template 2014
9. There is no community. You have left off one of the most important aspects of social media and online marketing and that is community building. Be sure to include social commenting capabilities, social sharing buttons and more. You must take time to nurture relationships. You can never go wrong by investing in communities and the human beings within them. Read-> 30 Tips to Invigorate Your Blog or Website Now!
10. You are waiting for perfection. Remember perfection is the enemy of good. Sometimes good is good enough. Embrace the imperfect perfection in your business and blog. Be humble and take your readers along with you on your journey. If you share your ups, downs and learnings they will be part of the community that builds you. Then when you start succeeding as a business leader and blogger, your audience and readers will celebrate with you as they feel as though they were part of the development process. Give up perfection and get your dang blog launched in a big way! Read-> Marketers and Business Leaders, Embrace Imperfect Perfection
Bonus Tip: Nobody knows about you or your blog. You could have the most rockin’ blog on the planet but if nobody knows about it, well it won’t do you much good. If you just launched your blog, please be patient. Be sure that you have a solid plan to build awareness, nurture community and grow your readership over time. Your site must have adequate SEO and SMO (social media optimization) infrastructure and planning built in from the start. Building readership that helps you achieve business results requires both art and science. If you don’t know where to start with any of this, call us. We help people with all of the problems listed in this blog post and more every single day. It’s what we do!
What You Say?
Isn’t it time you quit making up excuses why your blog is not succeeding. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and do what you need to do to achieve a positive ROI in your investment in online marketing. If your blog is already rockin’ what tips can you give others?
