Why it’s important to have a sticky blog

One of the issues I had as a newbie blogger starting out years ago was finding ways to keep readers on my blog. What I discovered in 2005 (yes- that was when I first started blogging and podcasting) is that an audience just wants to get to know the real person behind the screen. And I also learned (that I want to share with you today) is how to have a sticky blog!

If you love videos, I am sharing my thoughts here on my YouTube channel.

Here are some of the questions my audience might be asking themselves:

• Who is on camera?
• Who is behind the microphone?
• Who is that behind the screen, clicking away on the keyboard?
• Can I trust that person to give me advice?
• Does that person really understand my needs?

As a blogger, your audience is likely asking these same questions. I found out quickly that the way to connect was through bridging the gap of distance between myself and my reader. This means I needed to create a sticky blog. (I’m going to explain what that is in a moment.)

Here are a few tips for how I did just that and ended up with my first few thousand listeners on my very first podcast for Christian women back in 2005. It’s also how I built up my audience with my homeschool blog in 2012.

If you want a sticky blog, talk to the right people

Getting the right readers on your blog is the first step to keeping readers on your blog. Making your blog a “sticky blog” means you’ll want to make sure you have the right niche and the right audience who is interested in your products, services, and content.

Finding your business passion and talking to the right people will make all the difference in whether or not your readers want to stick around. Keep this in mind both before you create your blog and while you’re building out your blog.

Keep great content flowing

Once you have the right readers, you’ve got to just start cranking out that awesome content. So…if you don’t like writing you might want to reconsider blogging. In order to have a successful blog you really have to like talking (and writing) about what you love. That’s why choosing a blog topic that matches what you love and the kind of help you want to give your audience is crucial.

Keep the content flowing weekly. Daily, even at first. Here’s how I would do it:

• First, set up a plan of action and goals for your overall blogging vision. Ask yourself: “What do I plan to accomplish in a year, 6 months from now, 3 months from now, a month from now?”
• Then write down your answers in a special notebook. (I like to use a planner, a fancy journal, or my goal-planning worksheets like the one below that I created just for you!)

Create sticky blog content

Sticky content is that stuff that sticks! It’s what your visitors want to read and keeps them coming back for more. This is the awesome sauce you want on your blog.

Here are a few ideas for creating sticky content:

Podcasting and Vlogging

My first podcast was in 2005 which I created as an outlet to encourage Christian women in their faith. I needed this podcast as much as my listeners said they did, because as a new stay-at-home mom to a toddler it was such an inspiring and motivating activity to wake up to each morning. Podcasting became my world. I needed this outlet and reaching out to women all over the globe via my bedroom in my humble home was simply life-changing.

It was then that I learned that it didn’t take much to make a difference in the world. It just took a few things like motivation, a touch of inspiration, and a desire to help others. (I also needed to learn the tech part of podcasting which was a bit trickier back then).

Nonetheless, all I needed really was the desire to connect and to be heard. Learning to podcast gave me that opportunity to blast my message nationwide and even worldwide without ever leaving my house.

Podcasting also served as a really “sticky” connection between me and my audience because now they had a voice to pin my picture to. I wasn’t just a fly-by-the-night online character nor was I hiding behind a logo. I was a real human being with a real picture and a real voice. To the early digital world (before social media) this was huge.

Podcasting and vlogging are likely the easiest ways to create sticky content and keep your audience coming back for more.

Internal and external linking

When you link to other posts within your blog, it does exactly what you want it to: keeps readers on your blog longer! Make sure each of your posts has internal linking built-in. Always make sure you have a running list of your post topics at hand so that you can easily cross-reference and link out to other relatable posts within your blog.

This takes a bit of work up-front, but it will help to keep you organized in the long run.

Add a CTA (Call To Action) to your sticky blog

What action do you want your readers to take after reading your blog post?

• Should they download a workbook?
• Follow you on social media?
• Join your challenge group?

When making your blog sticky, be sure to always include a call to action even if it’s just to invite your reader to keep on reading.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips on how to keep readers on your blog.

So, what is my call to action? Here’s what I would love for you to do next! If you haven’t already picked up my free course on how to get your blog started, make sure you sign up below!