Revitalize your blog

Request a reader review

In this age of paid reviews, or often times more appropriately entitled paid opinions, it can be difficult to find a reader who is willing to do a through, free, and honest review of your blog. Those people are however out there. Find one of them and ask that they write and honest and through review of your blog. Both good and bad. Once the review is completed take what they had to say to heart and implement some changes if you see your blog needs it.

Both the fact that you were willing to subject yourself to a review and that you actually pay attention to it will get you huge “points” with the folks who read your blog.

Have a few guest posts a week

As well as you write if you’re the only one writing on your blog you are boring. Yes, I did say boring. Redundancy is boring. Even if I write about 10 different things a day it’s still boring. Mix it up a little bit. Try to get a few guest posts per week. Don’t try to get the A-List bloggers to guest post right away. Work on those people you know who have small, but high quality blogs. Some tips for attracting a guest writer for your blog:

• Simply ask (If you’re interested in guest blogging on A Blog about Nothing please let me know!
• Let people know you are interested
• Hold a contest the winner of which will be allowed to write X number of guest posts. Smaller blogs might have trouble convincing people this is worth the effort
• Offer something relevant in return. Perhaps write a few guest posts on their blog, or it could be that you will drive more traffic to them by virtue of the size of your blog.
• Offer money. This is what I would consider the least attractive, but it’s not something that should be overlooked if you have the budget for such a thing.

Request to write guest posts at a few other blogs

It might take some effort but eventually you’ll find a blog that is willing to let you do a guest post or two for them. When you are asking around and showing off your work keep in mind a few things.

• Put your best foot forward. In other words show off your best work if they ask you for a sample of work. Even if they don’t somehow make sure they see it
• Respect their right to say no. Sometimes that’s hard to do because it feels like a personal rejection. That’s rarely the case it just happens they aren’t interested in a guest post from you at that time
• Prewrite the article you want them to publish on their blog. Send them an excerpt from it and see what happens
• Protect your reputation. Word travels fast online. Don’t forget that your reputation is really all you have online. When you ask someone if you can guest blog on their site rest assured they’re going to find out whatever they can about your reputation.

Facilitate an active community

Invite comments and invite interaction not only between the readers and yourself, but also readers and other readers. Set up basic ground rules that things will operate under, but for the most part let the community grow as it wills.

Comment on other blogs

If I’ve heard it said that comments will get you more traffic I couldn’t agree more. How much more is diretly proportional to the quality of your comments, the frequency, and just general attitude.

Content, content, content

If you don’t have strong, regular, and through content why would I want to read your blog? Some tips to good content.

• Good content is timely
• Write regularly
• Occassionally get off track and write about something totally different than you normally write
• Use your content to open up conversation not preach a lesson
• Ask questions

Has anyone ever tried any (or all) of these ideas? If so how were your results? I’ve tried a few and been quite pleased with the return for my investment. Just a reminder if you think you’d be a good fit I am looking for a few guest bloggers who are willing to put out high quality content on a fairly regular basis (at least 2 times per week). If you’re interested please let me know and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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