As a reader of many blogs, there are only a certain few that I subscribe to but there are many I return to on a daily basis. Google is the perfect example of this, you can’t subscribe to it but you type it in because it provides you with a search engine, and an important thing about it is it’s easy to remember. These are many reasons that people return but here I think are 10 really important ones. It is important to try to accommodate the needs of a reader by making sure you do your best in doing the things that make them come back.

1. Content, Content, Content
The amount of times this is said on blogs, you should have it plastered somewhere in your head if your a blogger. Good content is a key to unlocking your readers love for your blog. If you’re providing unique content that makes me want to read more then you are doing your job properly.

2. I can Remember You
If your blog name pops into my head and I don’t have to shift through tons of data on my computer to find your blog, then I will happily type your blog in from memory and away I go. I don’t have time to scan my small huge brain for what I looked at a few days ago.

3. I Like what You Give Me
You provide me with a lovely little top commentators plugin that provides a link back to my website. You also give me things like a “dofollow” on my comments. You sometimes hold competitions which I like participating in and sometimes post links to my blog in your posts. Rest assured I will be returning in the future to get my freebies.

4. You’re Different
There’s something about you that just wants to make me come back. You have a unique way of writing, and the way you do things on your blog make you stand out from everyone else. Your the person that will surprise me in coming up with something that is really unique. Your blog is well laid out, a nice design and a catchy tagline and logo.

5. I’m not Confused
I know where things are on your website, I don’t have to search for hours on end to just find out how to find something else that will give me something that I really don’t want and then it gives me the totally wrong thing which will end up just confusing me, the irony. Making things simple and easy to use will let your visitors know that they have no problem surfing around your site in the future.

6. You Update Regularly
I know that when I visit your blog the next day I will find content that I can enjoy reading through or you have updated the site. I like seeing changes and you do them often so I will have to see what they are. If you’re providing me with content that I can read and learn from, I will surely be returning to your website.

7. Your Linked Well
I see you’ve put time and effort into making sure your blog is out there in the blogosphere. I don’t even have to type your web address in because I can just click a link. I see your website on a lot of blogs so you’ve not only got me returning, you most likely have thousands of others returning to.

You’ll regret it, I assure you! If you give up and shut down everything you’ll be wasting a massive opportunity. Think about it, you’ve made the initial steps setting up your blog and putting in those hours of writing and you’re going to throw it away? Don’t be silly!

It’s Not a Chore!

No one ever said it would be easy but don’t let writing become a chore. For people who start blogs and this is a mindset that you shouldn’t let yourself get in to. Let’s think about the ideas you had when you first launched the blog. What did you think about building it in to? You need to think about that blogging is a thing that you do for fun.

Keeping Your Motivation

There are many ways to keep motivated and everyone has different motivations but I think reading about others successes and refreshing your blog as well as your take on things will keep you motivated for the future. Money is a nice place to start fantasising about! J But stop fantasising and start doing!

Commitment

Making sure you commit yourself to someone is essential to not giving up. Set yourself a time period for a project and make it work. If you don’t meet your targets for the time period then you can consider stopping the project, not “giving up”.

Practice Makes Perfect

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your blog won’t be either. Everything you try will be new to you and practicing using it will help you make the most of it. If you discover something that works for you, make sure you practice getting better at it and you’ll see the results.

Get back on Track

If thing’s are not going to well, let’s go back to the drawing board and plan some new stages for your blog. What can you improve on? Ask some visitors. Is it time for a design refresh? Go look for some themes. Do you need to create a schedule? Then do it.

What advice would you give to your fellow bloggers in regards to helping them to keep blogging?

It’s been a few days since I launched the contest and things seem to be going quite well. There has been a lot of interest and contest entries. You’re probably wondering why there was a lack of posts and I’m sorry for that I’ve had so much happening the past few days! I’m going to see what I can come up with for more entries in the next few days so make sure you subscribe to check it out.

Guest Posting
**Edit** - Let me make this a bit more interesting, each guest post you write gains you 5 more entries in to the contest.

With my new contest started up I think it’s a great opportunity for you to gain yourself some traffic by writing an article that is helpful to my readers. It can be of any length as long as it’s related to social media, blogging and anything else that you and others find useful! I’m sure you can come up with something quick and submit it via this form.

My RSS numbers are shooting up so it’s your chance to expose your website!

[CONTACT-FORM]

It’s there for you to write! Please include any HTML you wish to add etc, etc.

Hello all, I took an earned break from blogging for a while because it was really taking its toll on my health a bit. I spent hours upon hours writing and trying to make my blog the best I could for you guys and I was just getting very tired. So I stopped for a little while after the contest ready to launch another which will be coming hopefully on Monday.

Gameage!
I was poking around Digg as you do and I found a really cool game like Guitar Hero but on the internet. It needs to be developed a bit but it could be very good.

Click here to visit the Digg page that contains the link.

This Blog Will be Sold
With important exams and other issues coming up, it’s important I concentrate on them. I will be selling my blog to a new owner that will hopefully keep the blog going and providing you guys with good content. If someone wants to put in an early bid then please feel free. I’ll be holding the contest and then passing the blog on. I feel it’s the right decision even though I’d like to keep it!

Hi there, haven’t seen me for a few days. I’ve been having a rest from my computer and working on a lot of other things that I do. Anyway, let’s have a look at this contest. The contest has been quite a success for and I’ve gained over 35 subscribers from it. I entered 560 emails into the randomizer to pick a winner and that took me a long time. *Personal note to self, make entry methods much easier to get together*

Anyway here is your winner, I’ll be emailing you with more details soon. Congratulations!

* As per winners request, email blurred out. This is just to provide proof I did load all the entries into a randomizer.

Winner was Narendra of TechTreak.com.

Stick Around!
If you think this is the last contest then you’re wrong. If you haven’t read me writing about it the past few posts then you would very much like to know what’s coming up in the next week or so. I’m posting another contest with over $1000 worth of prizes!

Much more on that to come but I’ll see what I can get going now, stay tuned.