On the theme of helping newer writers enter the busy and often confusing world of authorship, this week I have a guest post for you about blogging. In my personal experience, blogging is one of the best ways to connect with other authors and potential readers. After hearing that keeping a blog was such an integral part of the author platform, I began my own back in 2012, while wondering if I would enjoy it, and what on earth I would write about. Well, the good news is – I love it! And after ten years, I still do.

So, without further ado – here is a simple layout of the basics of blogging.

Photo by Daniel Thomas on Unsplash

For writers, the benefits of blogging are vast. Authors and writers can use their blog and guest posts written on other blogs to build a community of fans who are excited about their work.

Even if you wince at the thought, you nonetheless must “market” yourself as a writer. Blogs can help you gain reputation and readership, which in turn improves your “brand” as an author. They’re also a pretty effective way to meet other writers and influencers in the field.

Okay, I’m assuming you’re sold on the importance of having a blog as an author. And you’ve already seen our writing resource and know how to set up your blog.

Now comes the question that, I’m sure, will bake your noodle. How am I supposed to identify and connect with the right audience? 

The answer is simple. All you have to do is: 

1. Make it personal
2. Write like a friend 
3. Pose questions to your readers
4. Engage in the comments section

Let’s go over these one by one.

1. Make it personal

You can use your blog as a journal. The personal aspect of blogging is why it became so popular in the first place. Use your blog to give people a sneak peak into your life by sharing your writing process, your rituals, what inspires you, or interesting metaphors that you came across while reading. 

Make your blog about more than just “writing.” For example, you could post a review followed by a personal article every few postings. Had a recent vacation? Did you go to a writer’s event? It’s time to blog about it.

It might be as simple as sharing your original lip-smacking recipe or an intriguing conversation you heard or, ahem, overheard!

Maintain a light, humorous, and insightful tone.

Those who follow authors expect to see this sort of information on their websites or blogs, and it keeps them coming back. You look more human when you share your accomplishments and failings, and you can urge your readers to share theirs.

Your blog followers will likely also connect with each other. By fostering this engagement, you’ll give your readers and audience more reasons to come back to your blog over and over again.

2. Write like a friend 

Write your blog in a similar manner to how you would talk to your friend. Treating your readers like friends can help you forge strong connections. There are several benefits to writing this way, yet they are often overlooked.

You should greet your readers at the start of each blog entry. Pose questions to them (we will come back to this point later in the article). Use phrases like, “you have no idea!” or “you know what I mean!” 

When conversing with friends, we naturally use the words “you” and “us,” don’t we? It is better to write for one person rather than a hundred faceless readers.

As a general rule, use plain language rather than unnecessarily complicated vocabulary. But use jargon specific to your niche or slang that is relevant to your target group. This is a surefire way to allow your personality to shine through in your writing.

You should think of ways to get your readers to join in the discussion or conversation. On that note, let’s move on to the next essential step in finding your blog’s audience.

3. Pose questions to your readers

Writing about a lot of facts and data isn’t fun at all. It’s not fun to read either.

Aren’t you sick of bloggers doing that? 

See what I did there? I provided you with an opportunity to express your viewpoint.

When you ask your audience questions, you show that you value them and their opinions. This is an effective method of establishing a relationship.

Even a hypothetical question might pique the curiosity of readers.

And, of course, answer them on your blog as well. It doesn’t matter if the answer is just your point of view or opinion. You are giving readers a new way to look at things.

The more questions you ask and the more thoughtful responses you provide, the bigger your audience will be.

What can you ask? For example, if you’ve published a blog post on what type of music you prefer to listen to while doing the dishes, invite your visitors to leave comments on the music they enjoy listening to. It’ll likely garner some responses.

Asking questions is the best way to gauge your audience’s interest and attention span (if they even have one!).

The fact of the matter is your readers want you to make them take a stance. 

If you pose a question to your audience, you can count on them to react in the comments section.

This brings us to the next logical step.

4. Engage in the comments section

A reader who takes the time to post a comment is likely eager to engage in a dialogue with you. So don’t leave them out in the cold. Nobody likes talking to a wall.

The comments section is a great place to show that you care about your readers and are willing to help if they ask. It’s in keeping with the “show, don’t tell” principle: respond to your readers instead of merely stating that you care for them. 

I promise that if you interact with your readers’ comments, they will be more engaged, more enthusiastic, and far more connected. 

It doesn’t stop there, though. There’s also a bonus. 

In the long run, your interaction will help you come up with new blog ideas since you’ll learn more about your audience’s interests. 

As a rule of thumb, the more active your comments are, the more time people will spend reading your material. This is a sign to search engines that your blog is interesting, which will help you get more traffic. This is great for SEO, especially if you’re just starting out as a writer.

Conclusion

Building an audience is not difficult, but it takes time and requires persistence. Good material might be hard to come by on a consistent basis. But keep in mind that your blog is a place to really interact and connect with your readers. Take advantage of this platform to do it well! 

Having a large following on your blog ensures that when your next book is out, you will have a fanbase waiting for it.

About the Author

Abhimanyu Chavan is a freelance writer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He writes about technology, film, travel, food, and the craft of writing. He believes writers have a responsibility to the truth and to give readers a unique perspective. Abhimanyu writes short stories and is an avid reader of classics, sci-fi, magical realism, mystery, historical fiction, and nonfiction. He also enjoys hiking with his friends every week.