How to find readers for your blog
When you start out blogging for the first time the expectation of some bloggers is that thousands of people will come flocking to your blog to read your words of wisdom.
This is not the norm.
Yes it can happen, but it’s rare. My experience is that even after eight months of blogging on this blog I am averaging about 75 visitors a day. Hello everyone!
My birding blog is doing considerably better averaging over 130 visitors a day, but that has been going for over a year now. It takes hard work, consistent posting and good content, among other things, to generate good traffic. Time is also relevant; few blogs are overnight successes.
Darren Rowse on ProBlogger has featured several articles in recent days where he has compiled a series of articles from his archives. They are well worth reading because they include many useful and proven hints on how to improve your blog and generate traffic and a loyal readership.
Link:
- 34 Tips for finding readers for you blog – this is a series of 4 articles.
On spelling and grammar
I am not a good speller.
I know it’s a weakness in my writing and something I have to be eternally vigilant about. I think this weakness comes from three sources:
- Lack of confidence at spelling as a child. A classic example: in my final year of primary (elementary) schooling, I had a total mental blank during a test as to how to spell “who.” (Stop laughing; this is serious.) I ended up having a go: “hoo.” I was mortified. What if I was having a very early onset of Alzheimer’s? At age 12?
- A fear of making mistakes. That goes for many aspects of my life.
- Correcting so many pieces of writing over my many years as a teacher of emerging writers in my classes at school – to the point where I sometimes wondered just how some words were actually spelled.
A dictionary is my constant companion. I work hard at getting the correct spelling. I know I make mistakes, but I try to spell correctly.
I struggle with correct grammar.
Another weakness.
I would like to say that this is also the result of so many years of hearing and reading the woeful attempts at the use of the English language made by the young students in my classes. If language abuse was a reportable crime I’d have hundreds of names of potential candidates on my Word Crimes list.
I work hard at getting my writing as grammatically correct as possible. I know I make mistakes, but I try to write correctly.
Many Bloggers cannot use the English Language
I am astounded by the vast numbers of bloggers who cannot seem to spell basic words, nor can they string together more than two words in constructing a comprehensible sentence. Most, with a little effort, could make their writing far more accessible and interesting by following a few basic rules.
Related articles:
For an excellent, comprehensive article about correct grammar check out
- Top Ten Grammar Errors that Haunt Web Pages written by Robin Nobles.
Books and Writing
Sherryl Clark, an Australian writer, has a blog called Books and Writing. I have just recently discovered this fellow Australian’s blog but at my first look it seems a useful blog to read and refer to for writing hints and ideas.
Sherryl writes in her blog that, “I write, I read and I teach writing. My blog is about all three.” My first impression is that she does all three very well.
Sherryl also has a very colourful website (click here) which would be very attractive to young children. According to her “About Sherryl” page, she has had over 20 books published.
Just a thought: the trouble with work
“The trouble with work is that…. it’s so daily.”
Before retiring from teaching a few years ago, I too was burdened down with the daily grind of work. Yes, it is daily. It is a burden. It is a grind. For the vast majority of people there is no choice. It is necessary for survival. Granted, many people love their work. That’s great – enjoy it if that describes you.
The thing I like about writing and blogging is the freedom one enjoys. If I want to write for ten hours one day and then take the next one off, I can. If I need to water the garden or go for a walk, I can. If I want to read the paper, do the crossword, read a novel or just watch the roses growing, I can.
There is a danger in all that freedom, however. Productivity can fluctuate wildly, according to one’s mood, feelings or the interruptions of others. A writer’s life needs to have a certain amount of discipline if it is to be productive and successful.
In my case, I set definite goals for the year, the month, the week, and each day. If I need to give a little slack one day I know I can give a little extra effort the next day and catch up. I set goals for the number of posts I write on my blogs, how many words I write and how many hours of writing I want to achieve. This helps me keep accountable to my harshest boss of all – myself.
Remember –
- read every day
- write every day
- take time for yourself every day
Good writing.