I have just started a new blog and am having trouble gaining an audience. Could you please give me some tips?
One of the best things about blogging – and what attracts people the most – is the immediate reaction you get to your work. You slave away at an article for a couple of hours, submit it with a click of a mouse and marvel at all the supportive comments pouring in. That’s the theory behind it, anyway. Of course, finding an audience can be a challenge for a newcomer. No one wants to pump out posts without any evidence that they are even being read – unless it’s a secret diary, and I have a few of those scattered all over the internet.
Last week I got to meet the alt porn star Joanna Angel (a female entrepreneur of BurningAngel.com fame, who pretty much runs the entire alt porn industry), and we ended up talking about her job. “When people ask for advice to get into porn, I tell them porn is not hiring,” she stated bluntly. “Porn doesn’t need any more actors and actresses – what we need is more promoters, people who will push it”. Funny thing is, I’m sure Johanna was told the exact same thing when she was starting out – except it didn’t deter her.
When someone tells you you can’t do it, it usually means one of the following: a. They have failed; b. It’s a test to ’separate the boys from the men’, to see how determined you really are. It all comes down to this: if you are fabulous at what you do, you will be accepted and embraced.
Blogosphere Circa 2009
If I were to paint an honest picture of the blogosphere today, it would resemble a Hieronymus Bosch painting: effin’ crowded. Everyone and their grandma has a blog – and, sadly, the good ones are far in between. Oversaturation causes people to become extra-picky – the real reason you’re having trouble gaining readership. The good news is that in such an abundance of talent out there, you’ll have lots to be inspired by. Yes, you may have to compete for attention, but I promise you that if you can upstage what’s already out there, you will come out on top!
Most successful bloggers have several things in common: quality content, some originality, and consistency. In other words: good writers who write about interesting subjects & put own twist on it. They build up expectations and consistently come through on them. The important thing to remember is that success doesn’t come overnight; most heavyweights of blogging have been at it for a long time. Christine of Temptalia – 2.5 years. Gala Darling – 2 years. Jane of Sea of Shoes – 2 years. I’ve been blogging since 2004 and was able to successfully transfer my readership to my own platform 9 months ago. I post 5 times a week and am not planning to stop any time soon.
Growing a successful blog
- Blog about what you know and are extremely passionate about.
- Make it as unique and as “you” as possible!
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with new subjects – you might just find your niche!
- Listen to your audience: your best guide.
- Think of your blog as a portfolio of works, a database of articles you’re seriously proud of.
- Spread the word: comment on other blogs, tell your friends, post on forums. For instance, I use MySpace & Twitter.
- Pick a posting schedule – be it 3 times a week or 3 times a day – and stick to it.
- Bad reasons to start a blog: “I’m bored”, “I need a tool of self-affirmation”, “I want to make money quick”.
- Good reasons to start a blog: “I love writing”, “I have something better to offer than what’s already out there”, “I cannot NOT blog!”.
Bottom line: do it because you love it & if you don’t love it, don’t do it!
For curious minds: Is Blogging For You?, How To Start a Blog by Gala Darling.
Deerlings: do you have a blog? How do you promote it?
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