5 Keys To Becoming A Successful Blogger
Monday, January 4th, 2010Welcome back!
Becoming a Successful Blogger
Today, let’s take a break from information marketing, autoresponder sequences, search engine optimization strategies, and squeeze pages. Instead, let’s return to blogging.
As you know, there’s no shortage of bloggers. It’s unclear how many blogs exist, but Technorati reported over 100 million back in 2007. It’s safe to say that number has grown. The problem is that most bloggers never break out of their small circle and make money. That’s a shame. Blogging is one of the most important tools at your disposal for generating an online income.
Today, I’m going to reveal 5 keys to becoming a successful blogger. If you’re already blogging and have wondered why you’re not able to gain traction and build momentum, use the following list as a litmus test.
#1 – Authenticity
You want your readers to trust you. In fact, being able to cultivate that trust is the only way you’ll be able to draw people to you over the long run. I’ve seen many bloggers post wonderful information about cars, electronics, relationships, and more, yet lack a personal flavor in their writing. 
When people read your posts, they want to get a sense of you. They want to know what you’re about. That’s why John Reese, Jimmy Brown, and other marketers who blog can generate enormous interest. They’re authentic.
#2 – High-Quality Blog Posts
Being a blogger is partly about selling yourself to your readers. While authenticity is critical, you also need to give your readers something valuable to chew on. One without the other is a recipe for failure.
For example, suppose you blog about information products and earn an affiliate commission for each sale. You’re not going to convince any of your readers to buy the products unless you provide them with a thorough review.
“Value” doesn’t have to mean information. It can come in the form of humor, creativity, or sheer playfulness. If your 
readers find your posts entertaining, you’ll be a hit. For instance, I’ve mentioned dooce.com in the past. Its blogger, Heather, has a massive following who look forward to her entertaining posts. So loyal are her readers that her blog generates enough money through advertising for her to work on it full-time.
Remember, quality attracts attention.
#3 – Post A Photo Of Yourself
Sounds simple enough, right? A picture of yourself goes a long way toward drawing your readers in and gaining their trust. Yet, I stumble on blogs every day that lack a photo of the blogger.
Post a picture of yourself on your blog. It doesn’t need to be a professional shot. Any photo will strengthen the connection you share with your readers.
#4 – Promote Your Blog
You’ll need to get the word out about your blog if you hope to build a large readership. The only way to do that is through marketing and promotion.
I’ve mentioned guest blogging in the past. That’s a powerful way to attract readers because you’ll gain exposure to the host blog’s readership and you’ll gain valuable links back to your blog. But, don’t stop there. Commenting on blogs, participating in social media, and even advertising on popular blogs in your market can bring a lot of readers quickly.
Exposure is the currency of blogging.
Consider:
- Secrets of Guest Blogging
- Blogging for Money
- How to generate traffic to your site fast
- Using autoresponders to build traffic
- Link Building Tutorial
#5 – Learn To Communicate
Being able to write well is important if you plan to be a successful blogger. But, communicating with your audience goes far beyond good writing. You need to be able to “get through” to your readers with a writing style they find engaging.
Sometimes, that means violating rules of grammar. Like this. Other times, it means using a turn of phrase to drive a point home (for example, put a little elbow grease into your marketing or you’ll be back to square one). The goal is to connect with your readers. And that requires being able to communicate with them.
Related Posts for Recommendation:
Making Money Online With Your Blog
You’ll notice that I didn’t mention the types of products you should promote on your blog to generate an income. The fact is, blogging can support nearly every type of online business imaginable. You can promote your own information products or membership sites. You can review affiliate products, market your services, or build your authority as a professional speaker.
If you’re not blogging, now’s the time to start. You’ll find that once your blog gains traction and builds a readership, it can generate an impressive online income.
