So you want more loyal readers on your blog ? Well I’ve got you covered.
There are some very simple things that you can do to increases the odds that your visitors will become loyal readers, so I’ve put together a short list of useful ways you can improve those numbers.
Simplify your navigation
Get rid of unhelpful/useless links in your site’s navigation.
Your navigation should not only tell readers what your site is about, but it should also link to your best content and useful resources.
If you have links that are just there with the hope someone will click on it and keep reading than your playing a losing game.
Your links should have a strategic reason for being there and helping your visitors navigate through your site.
Use colors to separate different area’s of your website
Using multiple colors is a great way to separate one piece of content from another and will allow your readers to easily get where they want to go.
If everything looks exactly the same not only is it less attractive, but it makes it harder for a visitor to separate what they like from what they don’t.
If it all looks the same and the first thing they see bores them than to many of your visitors everything must be boring.
Create eye-catching headlines
Magazine’s are notorious for creating eye-catching headlines.
Many of their customers weren’t even in the market to buy a magazine, but the headline was so enticing that it was impossible to walk away from.
Make sure your headline engages your visitors in an emotional way. The more you can peak their curiosity the better.
Create compelling content
We all know this, but it has to be said. Create compelling content that is unique and adds value.
We want to create content that our readers love and to do that we have to give them content that they haven’t heard over and over.
The newer your information is to your target audience the better.
It can be hard to gain visitors when you are touting the same content that they have seen a million times.
Either change your content or find a new audience.
Use attractive images
What does Cosmopolitan, Mens Health, National Geographic and Import Tuner have in common?
Attractive images.
They know whether or not readers will pick up their magazine is largely based on having images that stand out and create strong emotion.
Break your content into smaller paragraphs
Not all readers were created equal. Many visitors like to browse content and find what the are looking for as quickly as possible.
One part education and one part speed reading.
Break your content down to one or two sentences as much as possible (make sure it looks good though) and use sub headlines when talking about different parts of a topic.
Make it as easy as possible for readers to find what they are looking for and they will appreciate it and return the favor by becoming a return visitor.
Increase your font size
If people have to squint or put their face to the monitor to read your content then you’ve already lost the battle.
Use a font size and style that is easy on the eye’s.
I want my eyeballs feeling lightly massaged by the time im done reading an article, Lol.
You don’t want readers on your site don’t you ;-)
Add more calls to action
Give them something else to do. Add a link to a related article, ask them to comment in the comments section (feel free to do so yourself at the end of this article), or ask them to sign up for an email account.
It doesn’t matter just give them a way to interact and make sure it’s a helpful call to action.
Use social proof
If you’ve got it flaunt it.
Has your post been twittered 100 times? slap it on the front of your site.
Did a magazine call you and interview you? Put it up their mate! Right on the front page.
Is half the world signed up to your email list? You’ve guessed it. Flaunt it if you’ve got it.
On the other hand when your just starting out you can use other bit’s of enticing lingo such having a must read section, or a popular posts area.
Anything that shows it’s of high importance or gets traffic can be useful.
And if you ain’t got it the high traffic numbers then leave it off your site till you do.
Design an attractive header and tagline that explains what your site is about
You know what’s more annoying than browsing through a site for 5 minutes trying to figure out what it’s about?
Well many things, but it’s still annoying and your readers will as well.
Actually five minutes is extremely courteous for any visitor if they can’t figure out your site.
Design a header and a tagline based on what your content is about and it will immediately help your visitors understand whats on your site and come to a quick decision.
The longer they have to play the guessing game the less people will play the game.
This post is part of the conversion optimization series.