Every blogger, from seasoned veterans to fresh-faced amateurs, has one thing in common: they want more readers. More readers mean more connections, opportunities, and crucially – money! Unfortunately, gaining a wider audience is one of the most difficult aspects of running a professional blog.
Consider also that catering to a new market can sometimes alienate your current readership; and there’s little-to-no value in swapping one demographic for another.
Expanding and diversifying blog content is a practice that requires skill and patience, but if you manage to pull it off, the benefits can be massive.
Here then are four ways you can begin to build a more expansive blog –– no matter your experience level:
#1. Identify Meaningful Tangents
Most blogs start out by servicing a specific niche. A new blog might gain traction online because it focuses on a particular area of expertise, or a limited geographic area. Or perhaps the blog simply provides a unique perspective.
Remember, there’s nothing wrong with carving out a niche for your blog –– in fact, it’s essential to your initial success. But it is important to note that your original blog topics will limit which subjects you can cover later on.
It’s not feasible, for instance, to write about motorcycle safety tips one week, only then to shift gears and describe the many scientific uses of lithium heparin tubes the next.
Instead of jumping from one subject to something completely different, look for meaningful tangents that relate to your larger body of work. By incrementally adding blogs on new, yet appropriate topics, you can begin to win over more readers
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#2. Ask for Feedback
Having trouble figuring out what you should write about next? Don’t sweat it –– just ask your fans. There’s nothing unprofessional about conducting a social-media poll asking for consumer feedback.
What’s more, your current readers will probably have some great ideas you can explore that will help you expand your current base. Again, look for common interests and subjects you can explore in depth.
#3. Take Time to Read & Learn
All writers should read as often as possible. Not only does habitual reading improve writing skills, but it can provide ambitious bloggers with a blueprint for future success.
Examine how some of your favorite websites managed to grow over time, and apply those same techniques to your current situation. In addition, always seek out new material related to your industry or area of interest.
#4. Partner Up
Maybe you lack the experience, knowledge, or time to pursue a new angle for your blog. If that’s the case, consider partnering up with a fellow writer or soliciting posts from respected professionals in your field.
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For one, this will freshen up your content and offer your readership a different perspective; even if you don’t gain any new readers through this method, it’s still a beneficial tactic. Still, it’s likely that collaborating with someone new will indeed draw in fresh readers.
Just make sure to reach out to a professional you have a good working relationship with and who you can trust to create quality content!