Recently, I posted an article emphasizing the significance of posting good content. Prior to that, there were many other articles that talked about content. However, I realized that we have missed something important about good content.

In short, I forgot to mention about the value addition it does for the readers. A good post is something that actually helps people to learn and not just attract traffic. I hope you understand the difference between the two. Along with efforts to collect facts, the blogger should have spent much time thinking about the facts and his opinions on the topic.

Overall, a good post is something that has been fabricated with extensive research; intellectual thinking with ease to understand which ultimately adds real value to your blog and teaches something important. However, this isn’t a perfect definition. I am just pointing what we missed in our previous posts.

I felt pointing out the missing parts was quite necessary because lately the blogging quality seems to be just pathetic. Instead of focusing on traffic, I tried assessing the quality of many blogs and the results were quite disappointing. Here are some general observations:

Regurgitated Thoughts

This is a common trend among bloggers these days. Instead of bringing in new thoughts and sharing it with people, bloggers seems to dump repeated ideas that have been used by 50 other blogs. Sometimes more. Here is a tip for serious bloggers. If you really want to succeed as a blogger and want to attract regular traffic for a long period, develop your own content. Do not copy material. May be your reproduction might not be noticed initially. Slowly but surely, your readers would know that the content is not original.

Many Subscribers = Good Content?

1500 RSS readers doesn’t mean that the blog provides superlative content. That’s the generally tendency we have acquired these days. Whenever we see a blog with huge traffic and several subscribers, we assume that the site contains very useful information. Though it’s true in most of the cases, it’s not a rule. I know many sites that have over 700 subscribers but the quality is diminishing every week.

And what’s the reason for such an irresponsible behavior? This is what usually happens. You work hard to post the best quality content in order to attract traffic and compel readers to subscribe. However, after few months, you don’t feel the necessity to write genuine articles because you have enough subscribers with you.

Get Quick Clicks By List Posts

This is a simple way owned by bloggers to get huge amount of clicks. For instance, post articles like 102 ways to become a better blogger. This post will further have 102 links. So, your blog eventually gets numerous clicks. Yes, it is really a very good way to attract traffic. However, as a blogger my aim is to educate people and teach them some significant lessons everyday, not just attract traffic. I guess, most of the bloggers have lost the essence of blogging.

We do this to attract traffic, even if it means depleting the quality of our posts. What else does the list posts suggest? Is there any value addition done by such posts? You are providing an article that just has links to your other articles. Is this a post?

Test and Grade Your Content

There aren’t many measuring devices to gauge the quality of our content. Hence, I thought of coming up with a grading system. This isn’t to compare your quality with others. It can be considered as a tool for improvement. This grading system is highly depended on the nature of your comments.

• A+:
  The comments under you post include discussion among readers about the things mentioned in the post. People answer to other’s questions. They suggest ideas and appreciate views of other readers. They don’t totally agree, however don’t totally disagree as well. No or minimum “Good post” type comments.
• B:
  This grade is acquired when many people post comments under your article. Majority of them agrees with the writer. Mot many “Good post” comments.
• C:
  There are some comments with few discussing the idea. Others just suppot you in a sentence.
• D:
  Most of the comments are “Good Post” type.
• E:
  No or very few comments with “Good post.”

I guess this grading system is quite interesting. I had great fun coming up with such gauging system. Why not have a discussion and let each other know about their own grades. Let’s have some debate, suggestion, and rating here.

I am sure yours isn’t a perfect blog. Neither is mine because attaining perfection is impossible. However, reaching close to perfection is also a splendid achievement. So, how is anything that’s perfect or close to perfection different from common, dull things? There isn’t much difference, just one: Attention to minor details.

Even if we can’t attain perfection, it’s necessary to keep improving in order to be noticed. Here are five minor changes that could raise you a step up toward perfection. But before I start with the first one, I expect you to share your views on this article and add some points. Deal? Alright, here we go.

1. Adding “Back to Top”:

   

   This is simple isn’t it? And will it make any difference to my blog? Yes, it will. The home page of many blogs is quite long. Readers keep scrolling down to search a good article. Whether they get it or not, it becomes quite annoying to scroll back up. This results in reader closing the window, instead of scrolling up. Hence, you lose a reader every time he/she visits the posts lying below.

   So, it’s wise to place a “back to top” link at suitable intervals, to retain the visitors. And it’s not at all difficult. Just add this code:

   <a href=”#header”>Back to top</a>

   Yes, it’s this simple. Adding this code will create a link that will direct the reader on top of the page whenever they click it.

2. Small Attractive Icons:

   A well designed blog comprises of many things. However, lets not get into all that and focus one of the components – Icons. Keep adding small but attractive icons besides several links. For instance, you can add a small icon of envelope besides the “Email Updates” link, which makes it pleasant for reader to sign up. Start using the RSS icon with or without the textual “RSS” link. Similary, you can use such attractive icons for many other links that makes the overall view of the blog quite eye-catching.

   However, you need to make sure that the icons are not very big. Also, don’t clutter your blog with such icons.

3. Trendy input forms:

   Input form is an indispensable part of blogging. These forms are used limitlessly everyday all over the globe. These forms include signing up for email updates or newsletters, posting a comment, or any such spaces which involves acquiring reader’s information.

   Very often these forms are quite ugly, uninteresting, and usually avoided, making it one of the major reasons why people don’t subscribe or comment on your blog. You can make it a bit interesting by changing colors, making the edges round, using background images, etc. I am not sure whether readers would be attracted to write a comment, bu at least they won’t run away.

4. Adding a thumbnail to your posts:

   

   People love thumbnails. It improvers the overall look of the blog. Don’t just list down the posts under “Recent articles” tab with a link; add a thumbnail. It really makes the blog quite interesting and uncommon making it distinct from other blogs. People will love to visit your blog.

5. Easy and copious page navigation options:

   Under every page, not only homepage, list down numerous options for readers to navigate quite easily across pages. For instance, under “recent articles”, mention pages 1-10, each page containing several other posts, and other options like archives, homepage, categories, etc.

   Mentioning the number of pages works well with old blogs. More number of pages shows the blog is in existence since many years or months, thus increases credibility. And it’s fast to click on ‘page six’ from ‘page 1’ instead on clicking on ‘next page’ six times.

These five minor changes are sure to bring major changes in the reader’s attitude and traffic to your blog. Here, two points are helpful to save reader’s time while other three increase the attractiveness of the blog, compelling the readers to hook for few more minutes, which makes a major difference.

Let me put it quite frankly, attracting new readers regularly is quite difficult.

However, I ain’t afraid of working hard. I am afraid of not pulling enough readers even after I have put in lots of efforts. According to me, this isn’t a new issue. I guess almost all the bloggers have faced such a problem many times in their lifetime.

Initially when you start a new blog, it’s quite exciting. You keep a check on you blog and after some weeks you realize that statistics are quite unsatisfactory. The excitement turns into discontent and gradually leads to frustration. Slowly, you start to consider about quitting. I have noticed this, not once or twice, but over hundreds of times. Most of them want to earn money quickly but with old, uninteresting methods.

So the big question is: How do I attract new readers?

Before we get down to basics, I need you to understand that blogging cannot make you millionaire overnight. It is NOT a short term fix.

What is Traffic?

What a stupid question, isn’t it? Maybe it is. However, I know many bloggers who don’t have the farthest idea of what traffic is. Yes, they know that traffic is the number of people visiting their website or blog. However, there are numerous misconceptions as well. So, let’s not get into all that, but I will put simply what traffic is, so there are none uninformed left.

Firstly, traffic is number of visitors of your website or blogs.

Secondly, it isn’t a gauging device of money earned. Many blogs attracts thousands of visitors’ everyday, but the blog may not necessarily make much money. However, I know few websites that doesn’t attract many readers, just a few hundered every month. However, most of them transforms into a buyer or a subscriber.

Lastly, regular traffic on your blog means people like your posts. There is a regular flow of visitors because they like it so they revisit to check for updates. They also refer your blog to their friends.

Why do you want to attract traffic?

After reading this question, I am sure you did think for a while and continued reading. And no, I am not talking about the most obvious reason of earning money. I am referring to the deep, underlying concept. Don’t look for an answer in this article. How can I say what’s your reason to attract traffic. If you still didn’t get any, you need to have one reason by doing an internal introspection. This reason varies from individual to individual.

You know, I asked this question to myself a couple years ago and everything just changed. No, it wasn’t anything magical. Only the perspective changed.

May be it would quite easier for you to comprehend after you consider this example. One of my client posted awesome travel articles on his blog and regularly kept adding such wonderful posts. The articles were quite informative for the visitors and the quality was just splendid. I explained them more about blogging and it’s components. And as expected, their traffic surged by 70%. They were quite happy about their success but it was all worthless. Why? They didn’t make any use of the traffic. People visited their sites, absorbed information, and left. The client was working tremendously hard just to get traffic on its site. Now that was quite a foolish thing to do, isn’t it?

Maybe it was, but that’s what most of the bloggers are trying to do today. They have the required traffic on their site, they have the sources but they don’t really know why they are actually attracting such helluva people.

Traffic means people. Okay, so far so good. People visit your site, buy things, subscribe, comment, and discuss topics. That’s what they all do. You job is to convert maximum readers into buyers and subscribers. If you cant do this, stop updating and endorsing the blog. All your efforts are in vain.

My point is that people aren’t clear about what they want to do. Even if their aim is to earn money, they are least bothered about striving to be the best.

How do I attract new customers?

Alright, this is most important question, so focus now. Until here, I was trying to let you know the importance and definition of traffic.

You can attract huge traffic by treating them as close relatives, family or friends instead of just numbers. How would that make difference? If you treat them as a part of family:

1. You will share the best quality of information with them.
2. You wouldn’t dare to post something that you wouldn’t be proud of.
3. Instead of just a blogger, you will help them as a guardian.
4. You will genuinely worry about the issues they face and provide useful solutions.
5. Instead of mauling them with useless links and advertisements, you will advice them a genuine product.
6. You will improve the relation with the reader, or at least try to.
7. You will definitely be one the top because you respond to each and every comment and ask their feedback.
8. You are not working for charity nor for money. Your aim is to achieve monetary goals only if people are content and satisfied.
9. The traffic that you will attract will be much more than ever. And it won’t be just any traffic. The people visiting your blog would be the ones who know you, personally.

Below are some other ways to find new readers:

1. Other Bloggers:
   Other bloggers on the web aren’t your enemies, so there is no harm interacting with them. In fact, if you interact effectively, you will be benefited. Visit the blogs that share similar interests, post comments, send personalized emails, and try to link with them. If you are writing for a niche area, try this. Post a good, informative comment on any similar blogs. The readers WILL definitely search you. Set a target of meeting at least 1 blogger per day or 5-6 per week and just watch your traffic grow.
2. Write frequently with quality:
   Most of the blogs doesn’t have many post in their archives. They do not give updated information regularly. This is their drawback. However, it is an opportunity to grab enormous traffic that are searching for real content. Post quality articles and keep the readers updated. Try posting quite frequently. Make use of images, videos, graphs, and statistics along with text to make it effective. This way, you will allure enough readers.
3. Let them follow your footsteps:
   They will definitely get in touch with you but only if you have left your footprints. It’s useless trying to make them search for you because they won’t do it. It’s wise to leave your footprints wherever you visit. Always have a business card handy, keep talking to various bloggers, and post a comment on every article you come across. Gradually, people will remember your name, niche area (if any), and your writing style. These are simple tips, but extremely useful if you apply them.There is nothing else my clients do to be on the top.

Scripting text is easy, but not all can master it. A good content is as significant as the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary of your blog post. Well, before I reveal the importance of the content and how it affects your blog, let’s define ‘good’ in blogging.

So, what is a ‘good content’?

Content can be termed as ‘good’ when it intends to share the message clearly and unambiguously to the readers. It is drafted with focus on tremendous quality. However, good content is not only text. It comprises of many other elements like videos, pictures, statistics, or any other techniques that helps the reader to comprehend the message quite easily and pleasingly. Ideally, it should include a combination of any or all of these elements.

If your content is really good and liked by the readers, it gains traffics quickly. Readers tweet or digg it because they find the content to be quite helpful, humorous, perceptive, or sometimes weird. They start valuing your blog and revisit to check your next post.

SEO can definitely help your post to be read by visitors, but hooking and pleasing them depends entirely on the quality of your post.

Let me reveal a secret that can help you to construct a really ‘good content.’ Write about something that you intent to learn. Your curiosity helps you to collect the best pieces of information, the assortment of which makes a good content. And remember, if you are curious about something, be sure that there would be many readers craving for similar information.

Okay. The definition of a ‘good content’ is quite comprehensible now. Let’s move on and learn its significance.

The importance of good content

Traffic is definitely an indispensable reason to write a good content for your blog. However, below are the four reasons why you should write amazing content when you start a blog.

1. To promote the best. Do not hesitate to reveal the best you have in your first post. Let people know you have what it takes to be the most excellent blogger.
2. In future, you will write great stuff. If you start with a great article, it is more likely that you will post an article that’s better than the previous one because gradually, you keep improving.
3. Readers can differentiate between good and bad. First impression is truly the last impression when it comes to blogging. Readers visit your blog because they are searching for some good and genuine content. If they don’t like it the first time, they will never return. Why take such a chance?
4. Definition of your blog and its magnitude of excellence. The first article will help readers comprehend whether or not you know about the topic. You must conduct an extensive research and generate a post that is quite satisfying and precise. People should immediately assume that you know much more than them. If this happens, they will definitely visit your blog again, but they will also inform their friends about it. This is the power of good content.

It’s quite simple to understand the significance of a ‘good content’, but generating one is not.

Fabricating a good content

Although posting frequently is good way to attract readers, posting excellent quality articles is a much better way to magnetize huge mass. It requires discipline, hard work, and time to generate the best post. Here are four points that can help you surge the quality level to the top.

1. Your post should be extremely helpful. This means proving the readers more than what they are looking for. However, there is a difference between proving more and providing junk.
2. It must be complemented with an attractive headline. Headlines must compel the readers to read the content. An excellent article is useless and repels visitors if it has an uninteresting and common headline. To generate a good headline you can use a question, customized quotation, weird assumption, etc. However, it important to ensure that it relates with the articles.
3. Be precise or provide a summary of the article that helps the reader to comprehend the contents of the post. Exploring sentence by sentence just to know what the article is about, infuriates the reader.
4. The content should be simple and concise. Here, I am not referring to the style of writing which is unique. The language should be simple and understandable by most of the readers. Also the message should not be prolonged. Come straight to the point and keep it short.

Although all the points mentioned above are important and cannot be neglected, the most significant is the title. If the title isn’t attractive, the visitor won’t even click on it and automatically, the other three points will be useless. So, it’s essential to generate a title that’s creative and entices maximum number of visitors to click on it.

There are two elements to generate a good headline. First, do not create a headline before finishing the article and second, put some efforts to brainstorm a brilliant title.

Clarity is another significant element that your content is responsible to provide the readers. Firstly, it should be easily understood by the readers. Secondly, tell them in advance about the content of your article. For instance, the content of this article is clearly mentioned in the first paragraph.

Wrapping up

By now you must have understood the definition, importance, and production of a good content. Start applying these things in your very next post and focus on the quality of the content.