Bloggy Basics - Growing Readership in 5 Steps

So, you already have great content.  You are working really hard to make your blog look good.  Now why aren't people reading your blog? Sure, you have family and friends that stop by, but other than that, you've got minimal traffic.

To grow your readership, you are going to have to do some work.  The more you put in, the more you will get out.  Here are 5 tips to get you started.  Come back over the coming weeks for more in-depth discussion of some of these topics.

1. Visit other blogs.  Leave great comments.  Check out this past post about networking.  I am turned off by the bloggers who leave comments like "Great blog. Come follow me at....." I generally won't visit their blogs.  I feel cheap. Used.  Great comments interest me. I WILL go visit those blogs and spread the word to my friends.
2. Make it easy for people to comment on your blog.  If you are using word verification (or Captcha), turn it off.  If you are concerned about spam, moderate your comments.  Don't make readers pass a test before commenting.  Make it easy to find HOW to comment - use a comment button or capital letters.  Consider using an alternate comment system.  Wordpress has a decent comment system that allows you to reply to comments and to collect email addresses to follow up with comments.  Blogger has yet to introduce a comment system that allows replies and follow up.  I use IntenseDebate with the CommentLuv plugin (so the blogger's last post is displayed to share the commentLuv!).  It was an easy install on blogger.  I also recommend Disqus as an alternate comment system.
3. Spend time in forums. Ask questions, join discussions, just be real.  Get to know other bloggers.  Visit their blogs.  Try the forum in the RediscoveringDomesticity community for starters!  Just come over and say hello!  Join BlogFrog!  Add the recent visits from my friends widget to your blog.  Visit those who visit you.
4. Change your way of thinking.  Bloggers tend to be a pretty humble group - not inclined to toot their own horns.  To gain readers, you have to TELL people that you HAVE a blog and what your blog is all about.  Try putting a link to your blog in your email signature.  Mention it on Facebook.  Make up some free business cards from VistaPrint and hand them out (or leave them for your waitress along with a GREAT tip).
5. Link up.  Join memes like Works for Me Wednesday, Gratituesday, Menu Planning Monday.  Google for a wide variety of memes.  To link up, simply write a post that fits with that meme and follow the meme's linking guidelines.  Most require you to leave a link back to the meme from your post.  As a courtesy, don't just link and run.  Leave a comment for the meme host.  Visit a few other blogs on the meme and leave them comments.

Basically, treat others the way you want to be treated.  Have confidence in yourself and your blog and let people know about it!

Read more from the Bloggy Basics series which started on my other blog here:

• Explanation of Bloggy Basics
• Networking
• Create Your Own Blog Button in 5 Steps

This post is linked up in Works for Me Wednesday because, ya know that growing readership works for me!