Attracting and keeping blog readers

Q. How can I get more readers to my blog?

A. Basically, you get more readers by promoting your blog, reaching out directly to potential readers, and writing compelling posts that make them want to visit. Here are some strategies you can use:

1. Find out what search phrases people are using to get to your blog, and, assuming that those phrases are relevant to your blog’s focus, write more about those topics.

2. Comment on other peoples’ blogs, being sure to include your blog URL when filling in the comment submission form.

3. Link out to other peoples’ blogs from your posts. You’ll attract the other blogger, and your blog will probably indicate in that blogger’s comments that your blog has linked to them – attracting people who read that blogger’s comments to see what you’ve written.

4. Find a discussion forum related to one of your primary topics, and begin participating in it. Set up a “signature” on your forum profile that links out to your blog. This ensures you link to your blog in an unobtrusive way.

5. Learn what kinds of pages/posts do well on social bookmarking sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, etc. and write to those audiences. (Hint: Don’t always Digg or Stumble your own pages if you can help it – find a friend to occasionally do it for you.)