Jennifer Stinnett

If you’re a blogger, you’re fighting the competition to be successful. And competition is tough. I know what you’re thinking, if you could only figure out what would would make you stand out from the crowd, you would stop what you’re doing and take notes. Well competition is what makes you and I better. It makes you step up your game and increase your productivity. Why am I mentioning competition? Well if you’re reading this, you are looking to get an edge over your competition. Don’t worry, it’s natural to want to have the edge over everyone else. And I’m going to tell you how to get the edge over the competition.

“If you’re going to play the game properly you’d better know every rule” – Barbara Jordan

There you have it. That’s the key to success. You need to know the rules. And since you’re looking for the rules to make your blog a success, I will list a few of them for you.

• Successful bloggers understand their readers and demographic. They understand why their sites have sustained readership and they publish content that their readers want. For example, if your blog is about vintage sports cars, you will want to maintain the topic through out the site. As your readers spend time on your site, you should take notice what posts are the most popular and most commented. This will give you an idea of what your readership enjoys reading. This will not only help you for future content, but it also helps you with your advertising and site sponsorship strategy.

• Successful bloggers write on a consistent basis. One of the first things I learned about blogging is post on a regular basis. With my busy schedule, I attempt to write 2-3 times a week. It’s better to post on a regular schedule than to post 5 days this week and then 2 times over the next month. The way I spread my content out is I use the schedule function on my Wordpress admin panel. I usually write content on Sunday afternoons. Then I schedule my posts for the rest of the week. This allows me to post my content on a consistent basis.

• Successful bloggers are passionate about their topic. Having passion will bring growth and flavor to your content. You have to love what you write about, because it takes time to build a successful blog. For example, the last time I had lunch with Dan and Jennifer from AskDanandJennifer.com, we spent 2 hours talking about their site development. Don’t get me wrong, it was an enjoyable Sunday afternoon. But they love their site and their content. I knew within 2 seconds that it was their life passion to discuss dating and relationship issues. After several years, they are still enjoy what they do.

• Successful bloggers interact with their readers. A blog is a communication tool. It allows the writer and the readers to communicate with each other. There are plenty of times when I read a blog post and I post a question. The writer can reply to my question. My question or comment is probably one that others are thinking. As a result it creates a sense of community. It makes the writer more approachable. And if you’re interacting with your readers, you are able to build personal connection with your readership.

• Successful bloggers are masters at branding. Branding is what sets you apart from your competition. Blogs gain large readerships by building a brand. By following a few simple rules of creating a online brand, you can set yourself apart from the competition. Building a brand starts with your domain name.

• Successful bloggers love social media. Social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin have created another way for you to connect with your readers. I spend a few hours a week on Twitter. This allows me to share helpful links, daily thoughts, famous quotes or just silly jokes. Social media allows bloggers to become personal with their readers. It also gives me the chance to get real time feedback from my audience. Which allows me to understand what is important to my readership.

About the Author: Mitch is a Wordpress expert at IDW Publishing. You can find him @theworkingdad on Twitter.