The biggest reason blog readers don't leave comments - or click away before they've even finished your blog post or article - is because you haven't given them any new ideas to chew on... or any reason.

Your readers are also investors, and investors need to be convinced the venture they're going spend their hard-earned time on is worth it.

If you're like me, however, there are definitely times when you feel as if you've said it all a million times. There's nothing left to blog about that excites you. It's just another chore that has to be performed.

Here are 7 ways I jolt myself out of Writer's Blahh, when I'm feeling too dull to blog. And I discovered - quite by accident - it's also a great way to give your readers a genuine reason to leave their linkback!

1. Climb the fence and switch sides. For example, if you always blog about the necessity of keyword research, find all the reasons keyword research doesn't do the trick - and blog about that!

2. Take a shortcut. One of my favorite shortcuts is to visit Scribd.com, and read something interesting - and timely - from their "Trending" section. The beauty of this lies in the fact that what's being trended is popularity and user-driven - which means it's currently on people's minds. And if what you've read that's so interesting doesn't relate to your niche, I guarantee that if you write your own posts at all, it will still most likely spark an idea - a tangent, perhaps - but something related to your readership and a new, fresh thought for you.

3. Reverse-engineer a "family story." But first, think of your family favorites. Which one resonates with you? What principle does it deal with, and why do you care enough to write? Answer this question - then briefly illustrate it with the anecdote. People are more likely to identify with a story than a lecture - and so are you!

4. Relax. Not every post is going to generate tons of links. Some are like the foundations of a building: They're laying the groundwork for the second post... or the third... It's more important to be real and keep your focus on your reader. Ask yourself: "Why does this relate to him?" - make it a habit as much as writing from a relaxed viewpoint.

5. Piggyback-post. The most effective way to do this is to take a hot topic currently under blog discussion, and summarize 4 or 5 top arguments on other blogs, crediting the authors. Not only can this provoke an immediate linkback from the (top-level) author in question, people will find it more authoritative (if you're relatively new to the game) than your personal opinion... and the hot topic has already been identified for you.

6. Look for the Gaps. Just as you would when assessing the competitions' products prior to creating your own, look for the "gaps" your competitors are leaving in their post

7. Read Authority Blog Comments. Sometimes you can get great ideas for new blogging subjects in reader comments - particularly when it's a hot topic. And using the "keywords" their comments generate is a great way to invite traffic over to your "house."

So there you have it - 7 ways to engage your next blog visitor. Try it for yourself - and see if these tactics don't generate the side benefit of links!

Copyright 2010, Lisa Wells.

Lisa Wells wants to move your online business to the next level and up your e-marketing game. Sign up for her FREE e-course where she'll show you simple e-marketing tips and strategies that you can put to use right now! Go now to http://www.eMarketingToolboxEssentials.com.
 

I love this video by Sandra Martini. It explains what a marketing elevator is and the difference between that and a marketing pyramid.

By Christine Gallagher, on June 18, 2010 in Traffic and List-building

Website Traffic Simple Ways to Get More Visitors to Your Blog or Website
You’ve picked the domain, decided on the design and started posting great content that showcases your expertise. 

The hard work is over, right?

Not exactly—after all, you need people to actually read that useful content that you’re diligently cranking out. So how do you get those eyeballs to your site? There are literally hundreds of ways to drive traffic to your blog or website, but here I will highlight just a few of the ways to drive traffic and generate interest in what it is you have to offer.

Write articles: Most of the article directories online are free to submit your articles to. They usually allow you to add a resource box at the end, which can include a blurb about you and your business and a link back to your site.  Some of the directories I like to use include Ezine Articles, Go Articles, Idea Marketers and Articles Base.

Comment on other blogs: When you comment on other high-traffic blogs in your niche you not only get a link back to your own site, you’re also boosting your site’s visibility in front of the blog owner and the others leaving comments.


Social media: Provide links to your latest posts on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter and invite your friends and followers to leave their thoughts on the particular topic in the comments.  You don’t want to do this for every post as it might be viewed as spamming—but it’s perfectly acceptable to occasionally encourage others to click through and read a post you feel particularly proud of.  Also, be sure to include your site’s URL in all of your profiles.

Hold a contest: A great way to generate interest in your site is to hold a contest where the entries are comments left on your post.  For example, you could give away someone else’s product in exchange for writing a post about it and then publicize the contest through your social networks.

Email signature: Most of us send numerous emails in any given day—capitalize on this by adding a link to your site in your signature line.

Basic SEO: You don’t need to be super-knowledgeable about search engine optimization to benefit from it.  If you use the WordPress blog platform, install the All in One SEO Pack plugin. This post gives some simple and easy to understand tips on SEO in general.

Post in forums: Many online forums and message boards will allow you to use a short signature line at the end of your posts.  You can include a link to your site here.

Blog directories: A simple Google search will reveal that there are many blog directories online where you can list your site for free.  These sites are important because they provide a way to get links to your site—which boosts your ranking in the search engines.  A good list of some of the best directories is here.

Guest post: Reach out to fellow bloggers in your niche and offer to guest post for them.  Make sure you find out specifically what kind of topics they are looking for and that your audiences both compliment each other.  Offer them a spot guest posting on your blog as well.

Link to other blogs: It’s a good idea to give “link love” to other bloggers by mentioning them in post once in awhile and providing a link to their site.  Think of it as good blogging “karma.”

Post valuable content regularly: I’ve saved what is probably the most important strategy for last.  Many times, this is what makes the difference between blogs that succeed and those that fail.  The above tips are effective for sure, but in the long run this is what will keep people coming back for more as well as draw new readers in.

Christine Gallagher, The Online Marketing and Social Media Success Coach, is founder of Communicate Value, where she is dedicated to teaching small business owners and professionals how to conquer the overwhelming aspects of online and social media marketing to increase business and maximize profits. To get your F.R.E.E. 5-Part E-Course and receive her weekly marketing & success articles on leveraging technology, building relationships and boosting your profits, visit http://communicatevalue.com.