Think about why you started your blog. Was it to get web traffic so you can make money from advertisements? If so, you may need to rethink the purpose of your website. While a good blog post can, indeed, bring you lots of web traffic and advertising money, your main goal should be providing value to your readers. Remember, your readers have virtually unlimited choice when it comes to finding content to read on the Internet; if you want to be heard through the noise, you must create value by crafting posts that continually build upon and expand the subject you’re blogging about. Below are just a few simple ways to add value to each and every blog post. Using these tips, you’ll not only see more traffic to your site ad potentially earn more money, but you’ll also position yourself as an expert within your niche by creating a base of useful content on your blog.
Make Your Blog Indispensable
Great content solves problems. Spend some time thinking about why your readers are coming to your site. Then, create content that directly addresses your audience’s questions and challenges as they relate to the blog topic. Another great way to find out what kind of content people would like to see on your blog is to survey your readers.
Add Your Commentary to Videos
Not everyone has time to watch a video. Consider adding a commentary or summary to videos for readers who may only have a few minutes to spend on your site. You can also add value to video blog posts by making any resources mentioned in the video clickable. When time-pressed readers know that they don’t have to invest a lot of time in watching a video to get the information they need, they’re less likely to click away from your blog.
Create Pinnable Graphics
If your blog has no images, you’re missing out on a ton of social sharing on social networking sites like Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest. Make your blog posts easy to share by creating pinnable graphics with quotes or highlights from the article. You could even go a step further and build a Pinterest resource board for your blog. When creating pinnable graphics, keep in mind that the more compelling the image, the more likely your readers are to want to share your content.
Offer Downloadable or Printable Resources
Adding downloadable ebooks or printable resources to your blog will help boost your web traffic, newsletter signups, and conversion rates. Offering printable spreadsheets or compiling some of your most useful blog posts into an ebook are smart ways to provide extra value to your blog readers.
Answer Your Readers’ Questions
Creating posts that respond to questions and comments from regular readers can provide an endless stream of useful content for your blog. Every now and then, go through your blog comments and choose one to craft an article around. Remember, if one reader has a question, many other people may need clarification on the topic. While the post may not garner as much traffic as other topics, you’ll know that your article is valuable to at least some of your readers.
The best SEO experts strongly recommend using valuable and unique blog content in order to pull in more visitors, engage them, create a strong awareness and connection with your brand.