Back when I started this blog, I decided I wanted it to be a place where I can share my thoughts without devoting much of my attention to who will actually read my post. So many bloggers fall into the trap of trying to please their readers to the point that writing isn’t even an enjoyable experience anymore. Don’t forget what sparked your blogging passion! I’ve made a habit of writing about whatever comes to mind, whenever it does, so if I don’t feel the itch to blog for a couple of months, I don’t. Simple as that! It takes off a whole load of stress that comes with choosing to write for people, rather than yourself.
That being said, finding a way to write for yourself AND other people is a great combination! Getting the perfect balance between entertaining the writer and reader can be pretty difficult as a beginner blogger though, so I’ve put together a little list of ways to engage your blog readers without sacrificing your freedom to write what you feel passionate about.
– keep those personal touches: If you’re writing for yourself, you’re probably also writing about yourself a good chunk of the time. I love reading posts that incorporate personal stories and experiences, because they’re usually relatable and keep me tied in! So don’t forgo the little personal touches that somehow end up in your posts, because you might catch a reader that has a similar story!
– pictures, pictures, pictures: One thing I’ve recently realized that I just love about reading other blogs is all of the pictures I find. It’s so interesting to see how a blogger takes their perspective of something through the lens, and the creativity out there is endless. Using pictures in your posts not only engages your readers, but it gives you an excuse to photograph random things all day long, because “it’s for the blog”. I’ve used that phrase at least a hundred times.
– link to another blogger’s post: Scrolling through other posts from my blogging community always leads me to some great reads, and oftentimes its those posts that inspire me to make one of my own. If someone else has a post that ties in with your topic, linking over to them is a great way to connect! Links are the perfect addition to put in your posts for extra engagement, and using one from a fellow blogger is always a bonus.
– use your voice: Something that always bothers me when I find it in a post is a monotonic voice that just sounds like it came from a robot. This usually happens when I’m reading a product review, which is kind of understandable, because it’s hard to sound overly enthusiastic when your writing about the newest and greatest cheese grater. But when it comes to your personal writing, try your best to keep your own voice in those words. You’ll almost always come off as more engaging to your readers, and well, you should sound like you!
– ask a question: By the time I’m done writing a post, there are usually a few curious thoughts floating around my mind about how another person might connect with my words. This is usually how I come up with a question for the end of my post, because it’s a super simple way to encourage my readers to comment and continue the topic with their own opinions. I love hearing my readers thoughts, and it’s one of the easiest ways to get to know your readers!
what are some unconventional ways you engage your readers?