This is a Guest Post by Jonathan Malm who writes and speaks about the creative process via his personal blog and Church Stage Design Ideas.
The key to a blog’s growth is longevity. In other words, the longer your blog is around, the more people will discover it and share it (assuming it’s quality content). Unfortunately, most people think their blog is the exception to that rule. Many of us are so in love with our content or concept that we think our blog will become an overnight success.
That rarely happens.
I had this interaction with a new blogger:
It’s frustrating. When I post something new, I tweet about it. I get about 100 views or so. But on days that I don’t post anything, I don’t get any traffic. What should I do?
He said this like it was unexpected.
As you read that I’m sure you realized that’s exactly what should happen. Of course people only visit your site when you post something new and tweet about it! But it’s easy to assume our content is so good that people share our posts with 100 friends and re-read them throughout the week.
My friend thought he was the exception. He was writing 1,000-word essays twice a day. But his writing fervor couldn’t be sustained. So he eventually stopped blogging.
No matter how good your content is, your blog will take time to grow. Unless you’re already a celebrity, people need to see consistent quality from you before they engage fully with your blog.
I typically don’t expect a great response to a blog for the first year that I write. Thats the way I don’t get discouraged. My newest blog is just now seeing the growth I want to see. It’s a year old.
I’ve tweeted about it to my Tweeps the whole time, but of my Twitter followers are just now noticing the blog and reading it. My most engaged audience is just now starting to read my blog.
You shouldn’t be discouraged if your blog doesn’t immediately have a huge audience. Every blog starts small. Use that first year to hone your craft and tweak the site to reach your target audience. You get better as you practice. Keep practicing and have your best content available when the Internet finally floods to your blog.
Thank you for the well timed encouragement. I’m only a couple of months in with my blog and honestly didn’t know what to expect in terms of “timetables”. I’m very happy to keep working and keep refining.
Thanks!
Stick with it and share it! It’ll get more solid as you go.
Definitely agree! I’m sure we’re all disappointed when our new blog doesn’t take off right away. But it takes time – just like any other craft.
Exactly!
Great encouragement going into 2012! I plan to keep on plugging along and start my first blog series in January.
Blog series’ are definitely the way to go. They’re my favorite way to ensure I have material for posts.
I’ve completed my first series and starting my second tomorrow!
Very cool!
Thanks for the encouragement, just what i need as i start planning for 2012!
You got it!
Thanks so much for this encouraging post! It’s very good to be reminded of this, particularly in our culture where we want things fast! If we really love what we are producing, waiting for the community to build is very doable.
Yep. The key is blogging about your passion so it’s not a chore.
Thanks for speaking to the fact that you have to find a writing schedule that you will actually stick to. Even if I need to be less frequent to get more consistent, it will be much more effective over time.
Definitely. Thursday is my blogging day
Ohh my God… I have just posted something similar on my blog….but we both are using different story for same motive.
Great post Malm…
According to me Patience s one of the key (apart from quality content, SEo and marketing your blog) to become a successful blogger.
Thanks for such a nice and informative post.
What a coincidence!
This is great info. As you keep writing your blog, you’ll get traffic from more sources than just social media — the search engines will start to notice, especially if it’s good, relevant content. That way, you’ll see traffic on days you don’t post, as well as days you do.
Great reminder for bloggers to keep at it and not give up when they don’t get instant huge numbers.
Yep. It just takes time. Longevity
Really, I just can’t express myself in these comment, you have boost me like anything. I was about to quit but thanks to you….
Thank you Jonathan Malm!!!