One of the reasons I love blogging is that it keeps me continually on my toes and learning. Learning not only about technical stuff to do with the internet but also how to be a better human being, because ironically although blogging means being holed up alone in a room with a computer for long stretches of time, at the root of it all it’s really all about connecting with other people and helping them achieve their dreams or get over their worries.
I know that some of you Lifestylers aren’t bloggers, so as usual on Bloggie Friday I’m going to direct you to a post not connected with blogging. As some of you might be planning trips to Europe this summer I’m thinking holidays 🙂 So how about 10 Tips for long haul travel
Back to Blogging
If I were to be derogatory, I’d say blogging can be about trying to be the most popular person in the playground, but then I’d refute this by saying that there is plenty of space in the blogosphere for everyone. Ordinary or non-famous people create communities of extraordinary characters, in fact there are so many different individuals without thought leaders for their particular cause, dream or problem, who would jump at the chance of belonging to an online tribe.
We’re not alone
At my age I’m far too ancient to be competing for attention in any popularity stakes; I’m just ordinary but I enjoy being the best version of me that I can, and if what I discover in my own quest to stay healthy, happy and stylish helps others, then my day is made.
“We all feel average, ordinary, even out of our league at times. We all feel these things. But we’re not alone.” Darren Rowse
Who do you serve?
I love getting up everyday to work on my blog, and hopefully provide my readers with posts which pique their interest and either give them something to think about, something to entertain them, or something they will find useful. The community developing around Lifestyle Fifty is a fun group of interesting women over 50 all keen to keep on looking good and feeling great as they age, some of them are bloggers, others are looking at finding creative ways to fill their time as they approach retirement, some want to find ways to keep and stay fit and healthy, while others want to reinvent their style.
These are the people I try to serve, and it feels great for me to rock up every day, because I enjoy what I’m writing, and hopefully this joy comes through in what I publish.
As you’re reading this, are you thinking about who you serve?
You’re invited to a party!
Nikki Parkinson has likened the Blogosphere to a big dinner party. You are essentially inviting all these people over to your place where you’re seeking out connections and starting conversations. “The crux of everything I do is to make connections every day,” says Nikki. “I don’t look over the fence and compare who has more food at their tables, but rather just keep on feeding my dinner party guests.”
Nikki writes for a woman’s audience and offers style tips for real women at the very popular, Styling You
If you think about your blog as a dinner party, you could take this a step further and think about how you talk to people – are you funny, or serious, or caring, or philosophical? And is this tone carried through in everything your write, because it will be something readers become used to and look forward to returning to. Nikki says that although your primary voice should be the main one you use it’s also okay to have a secondary voice and a surprise voice too.
“It’s okay to switch it occasionally – for me my primary voice is inspiring, my second voice is thought provoking and my surprise voice is funny.”
10 Blogging Tips to Surprise and Delight your Readers
My take from all of this is that it’s important to keep on surprising and delighting your readers and they will thank you for it. So how else should we be doing this?
- Listen to the comments you get, and write posts around those comments.
- Create simple challenges your readers can follow along with you.
- “If you want to change someone’s life start by changing their day first.” Pat Flynn, Smart Passive Income
- Give back to your readers – Giveaways, manifestos, free eBooks, reply to their emails and comments
- Keep on thinking, “How can I be useful to my readers and make a difference to their lives?”
- Give your readers what it is they want to read.
- Create posts which make people think, “Me too! I’m not the only one who thinks like this!” Chantelle Elim – Fat Mum Slim
- Find out where your audience hangs out on social media and tap in to what they’re talking about.
- There are lots of blogs out there, but what’s going to make yours different is you. So be yourself.
- Get over yourself and get blogging. You have to be pro-active because sadly waiting for unicorns won’t cut it. The more you write, the more tuned in you’ll become to what you love writing about and what your audience wants to read.
Exercise
So that your blog posts can become even more targeted to your demographic why not have a think about, and then answer the following …
- Who is your ideal reader? Age – Sex – Interests – Profession
- Who is your current reader? Age – Sex – Interests – Profession
- What do they struggle with or dream about?
- What voices could you (or do you) employ to delight your readers?
- How else could you surprise or delight them?
Does Lifestyle Fifty either surprise of delight you at times? I’d love to know your thoughts.
My Top 20 Movies and The Clouds of Sils Maria
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing information, please keep sharing…
Thank you for the article.
These tips are truly awesome. These tips will help me alot to improve my blogging.
Hi Jo, So nice to come across a fellow over 50 blogger. I too work hard at being healthy, fit and stylish and am pretty happy about where I am at. I linked here from ProBlogger by the way. I don’t have a lot of readers but they are there and I seem to struggle to get them to comment. I do ask them to comment or tell me their story but to no avail. I think maybe creating a challenge might be a good idea. Thank you.
Thank you Jane. I’m so glad that you are doing well in the fit, healthy and stylish stakes – good on you – It does take some commitment after 50 doesn’t it? A challenge might be a good idea, and so too a Giveaway – have you though about doing one?
I love the idea about writing blog posts around comments. I get amazing, insightful feedback from readers. In fact, I got one the other day about marriage which (come to think of it) I’ll turn into a blog post. Thanks for the great advice!
Ahh, that sounds interesting Laurie! Look forward to reading it! Send me the link in a future comment via comment luv 🙂
Oh I come here to be delighted by you and usually go away feeling more positive than when I arrived 🙂 Love this quote: “I’m just ordinary but I enjoy being the best version of me that I can, and if what I discover in my own quest to stay healthy, happy and stylish helps others, then my day is made.” Even though you’re actually quite extraordinary (in a good way!) that’s such a lovely thought.
I always want to be funnier on my blog. I try to write funny stories but there are never enough of them. Even a little humor is such a great way to brighten people’s day and surprise your readers.
Thanks so much Annabel x I think your way with words has the knack of tickling our funny bones and I love the way you can raise a smile in us with your stories. Writing humour is hard, but you do it well and yes it definitely brightens people’s days.
I love the idea of hosting a dinner party for your readers. I think you really have to put yourself out there warts and all and that is what makes you more attractive to your readers because they see you as also being “just human”. Great tips Jo. I really need to start taking some of this advice onboard as I have been severely neglecting my blog recently.
Thanks Kathy, yes showing the tough times, as well as scary and embarassing moments is important for authenticity so that we are three dimensional not flat characters. Happy continued blogging 🙂
Hi Jo,
Ta for some good advice again.
I am not sure who reads my blog and I don’t know how to find out. BlogSpot.com might well not have been the greatest place to start, cos lots of people have said that they find it hard to leave any comments.
But I am enjoying tapping away and I agree with your ‘voice’ comments. Sometimes I am pushed to the keyboard because of something that got right up my nose and other times I just want to write about a memory or a funny thing that happened. I am sure the tones differ dramatically.
Here’s cheers for another fun week.
Sue E
Hi Sue, I’m also sure that our mood influrnces our voice too … keeo on tapping away and enjoy the magical process of creating. Thanks for popping along and have a great week too!
Hi Jo, I know I’m outside the main target audience of Lifestyle Fifty but I’ve been enjoying following along over the past year or so, and I particularly love these Friday blogging posts!
You raised some good points in this article. I think it’s important to write and build a blog according to your strengths and differentiate it from there, and I also think it’s a good idea to ally with other bloggers (not just for the good of your blogging, but also for the personal fulfillment that comes from being part of a community). I struggle with working out what kind of people are reading my blog, and what to write about next that would most interest them and often I just write about whatever’s on my mind and even if just one or two people find it useful, then it’s still worth while.
So glad you like Bloggie Friday notes Bonny 🙂 Thank you 🙂 Thanks for your tips too, and I so agree that sometimes you do just need to write what’s on your mind.
Hi Jo another great post, love the reference to Unicorns x
Thanks Rae – and er, have you seen any lately? I’m still looking!
Are you sure “waiting for unicorns won’t cut it”? I guess I need to develop a different blogging strategy.
Haha Suzanne! I think as far as your lovely travel blog is concerned, that you probably have a stable of well fed unicorns ready for action 😉