Successful Bloggers Tell Us How They Improve And Popularize Blogs

Blogging is one of the best ways to express your thoughts and opinions and earn handsome money. In the age where the world is being led by the digital, success is both approachable and within the comfort of your couch. By being a successful blogger, one can feel the satisfaction of being open and free while earning. Blogging is one of the best ways to become a successful entrepreneur. However, there is a systematic way to become a successful blogger.

So, SheThePeople.TV reached out to some of the most successful bloggers whose blogs have taken the world by storm. They answered some of the most important questions about blogging and how to popularise it with the touch of their own experiences. Read on further to know what they want to say about successful blogging:

What makes a blog popular?

The great connection between the blogger and the reader

Shinjini, popular as Modern_gypsy in the online world, is an artist, writer and tarot card reader. She delves in the mysteries of the Universe and power of crystals, tarots and oracles. When asked about how to increase the popularity of a blog, she said, “There are a lot of ways to measure the popularity of a blog, or what I would call a successful blog. And I believe the goalposts are always changing. When blogging was in its nascent stages, the number of comments was an indication of popularity. Then it became blog awards. Slowly things like page views, Alexa ranks, ranking on Google, and how much revenue you make from your blog became the defining feature of measuring popularity. But let’s get real - Google shows only 10 results per page, which means only about 40 links can make it to Google’s top four pages. 40 people from the 600 million blogs (and countless websites and businesses) that are online today. If you think in terms of page views, it’s safe to say that there are some topics that are inherently more popular than others. Think of it this way: the number of people interested in celebrity gossip versus the number of people interested in Jungian analysis, as an example. So I think basing popularity on these metrics is a fast-track to depression.  I believe if you have a connection with your readers; if you make friends beyond your blog; and if you’re able to inspire or help even one person whom you’ve never met, that’s a success. Or popularity, call it what you will.”

First, be active on as many social media platforms as you can; second, be aggressive with promoting your blog links until you think it has received the necessary traction and third, create excitement by posting teasers and sharing BTS- Ila Johari

Know what the reader wants to read

Srishti Nadhani is a stylist, blogger, a foodie and a traveller. Taking Shinjini’s point further that a successful blog is the one that inspires people, Srishti spoke about how a blog that caters to people’s needs becomes successful.  She said, “Giving people what they want to read. You can't always be trying to sell them new clothes or accessories, through sponsored posts! Add value by articles like how to restyle using the same garments from your wardrobe. Talking about your travels funded by yourself rather than a collaboration. The audience is smart enough to understand the difference between the two.”

Try using a brand partnership to push the number of followers

Ila Johari, popular as TheFleamarketQueen,  writes blogs about how flea markets are desirable  She was noticed by brands within a year of starting this blog and has since worked with all reigning fashion/beauty/lifestyle brands in India. Talking about the importance of brand partnership in increasing the popularity of a blog, she said, “Useful, consistent & relatable content is king but in 2019, a blog is only as good as the brand associations it has. While organic content makes the existing followers sticky, it’s the brand partnerships that create certain “popularity index” which attracts a new following. Recently, a new trend of getting paid articles published on popular online newspapers has also cropped up which helps a blogger create a notion of popularity for a new audience.”

“Giving people what they want to read. You can't always be trying to sell them new clothes or accessories, through sponsored posts! Add value by articles like how to restyle using the same garments from your wardrobe."

Also Read: How to start blogging? Trials and tribulations expressed by a blogger

On strategies to increase the popularity of their blogs

Answering the needs and questions of the readers

Each blogger also talked about their personal strategies to gain popularity for their blogs. “One very simple strategy that I follow”, says Shinjini, “to be genuinely helpful to the best of my ability. Whenever I can, I help people in my community - be it by boosting their posts, helping them out with blogging questions or with questions related to my niche, sharing things that I find helpful without always looking for a return. I believe that personal connection is what makes you successful as a blogger.”

Use social media to build more contacts and popularity

While Shijini focuses on the personal relationship between the blogger and the readers, Ila talked about how social websites helped her build more contacts and find readers for her blogs. She said, “When I started in 2011, my blog website and Facebook account were the only two touchpoints through which new readers could discover my content. I stumbled upon “Stylepile” which was like Pinterest for fashion bloggers. I joined this and similar global websites to be discovered by more audience and this really helped the popularity of the blog including being discovered by global brands like Daniel Wellington.”

Write on topics which compels your audience to share it too! Keep it real! Srishti Nadhani

Srishti touched upon almost all the criteria that are important to popularize a blog. She said, “Firstly, listen to your audience. Ask them for their feedback on your posts. Ask them what genre they would like to see more of. Use your social media handles well to promote your new posts. Do not undermine the value of your personal accounts! Give people self-initiated and conceptualised stories from time to time. Give them a break from sponsored posts. Write on topics which compel your audience to share it too! Keep it real!”

Excel with your personal blog too

Kiran Manral, the Ideas editor at SheThePeople.TV shared her strategy for her personal blog. She said “My strategy, if you can call it that, for all my blogs was to be my truest, most authentic self. I posted what I experienced, what people could relate to, and in reading those, people could identify with the blog and by extension me. I think that is the one great must every blogger should keep in mind.”

Also Read: Why I am more than a Mommy Blogger

On how can one track one's numbers and tweak one's content to ensure more views

Venturing further on the ways to become a successful blogger, the bloggers also gave advice about how one should curate the content and what are the things that should be under focus to ensure more views and readers. Srishti  advised, “There are a lot of plugins you can install on your blog. If you go for the paid versions, the sites provide with the stats in the dashboard. They also reveal the sources from which the viewership has come in. You can always use keywords. To put more simply, if you are writing about Little Black Dresses, think of how you would look it up on Google. I would maybe look up, “ways to style a little black dress”; make sure to insert these words in your post. Think from the point of view of a user! Allow trackbacks, that's a great way to build credibility as well as increase your blog views!”

I posted what I experienced, what people could relate to, and in reading those, people could identify with the blog and by extension me- Kiran Manral

Focussing more on the kind of content that attracts more views, Shinjini says, “I don’t focus much on numbers. I focus on sharing my interests first - for me that’s the only way I could keep my blog running for over 11 years. When it comes to tweaking your content, I say write first for yourself - your interests, the things you’re passionate about - that will show in your writing. Try to keep improving your writing and the way you communicate your ideas. And yes, by all means, do your keyword research and look after your SEO as well. But write for the reader - that’s important!”

To reduce the complexity, there are websites especially for blogging that have built-in facilities to improve and popularize the blogs. Bringing such websites into focus, Ila says, “Blogging platforms like blogger already provide free statistics for the blog which can be tracked. While tweaking content is a hit and miss, a fool proof way to ensuring more views is to increase “points of presence” - First, be active on as many social media platforms as you can; second, be aggressive with promoting your blog links until you think it has received the necessary traction and third, create excitement by posting teasers and sharing BTS.”

If you are keen on writing and can create impressive contents, without delay, start writing a blog and follow successful bloggers to become one.

Rudrani Kumari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV

Also Read: Rhea Gupte of FUSS: Model turned blogger shares her story