Gary Vela is a Peruvian-born American entrepreneur and CEO at Web Daytona, a Florida-based digital marketing agency founded in 2009.
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It feels like a great accomplishment when you have a hit blog post. You pour blood, sweat and tears into it; research the heck out of the subject; and spend hours perfecting each sentence. You hope that people will read it and enjoy it, but what if your best efforts don’t lead to as many views as you expect? The unfortunate truth is a vast majority of blog posts struggle to get anywhere and become buried—lost in the shuffle of millions of other pieces of content on the internet.
If you have been the victim of a content bubble where no one is reading your posts or visiting your site, it can be pretty depressing. But don’t worry—here are some tactics that can help you improve your content so your posts get noticed more.
Create Outstanding Headlines
You may have the most awesome blog post in the world with all kinds of invaluable information that would benefit anyone who follows your blog, but if the headline doesn’t grab people’s attention and make them want to read more, they will move on. It’s as simple as that.
So, how do you stand out from your competitors? Your headline should immediately strike a chord with anyone who reads it. It should perk up your readers’ curiosity and make them wonder what it’s all about, then motivate them to click through to learn more.
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First of all, avoid using a passive voice, jargon, or complex technical terms. Write a clear, simple, and eye-catching statement. Think of it like a newspaper headline—you will never see one that doesn’t hook you with the first few words. Don’t expect yours to be anything less than that. But make sure you are not creating blatant clickbait, as it will surely backfire.
Creating attention-grabbing headlines is an art and can take a lot of thinking and revisions. However, the more you do it, the better you will get at it, and eventually, it will become easier.
Stay On Trend
If you want your articles to be seen by more people, pick a topic that people are actively talking about. Make sure it’s relevant to your brand and the products or services you offer.
A word of advice: Don’t jump on any trends before they blow up. Carefully research topics that are just starting to get traction and ensure that your content is different enough from other sources for it to stand out.
Tap Into Your Audience’s Emotions
One thing viral content has in common is the ability to tap into people’s emotions. It doesn’t take much effort to get people to react, but it does take a lot of skill.
For starters, try to write content that will make people feel something. When crafting your blog posts, think about how you can include images that resonate with your audience, for example. Think about making people laugh or touching their hearts. Your goal is to make people feel strongly enough that they are compelled to share it with their friends, family members and colleagues. That is how you get the word out there about your content.
However, make sure you pick the right emotion and don’t try to go too far. It is easy for a post to get out of hand, and if you fail to monitor your content, it could backfire on you and ruin your chances of success.
Leverage Social Media
Nobody can read your blog posts if they don’t know they exist. If you find that your most recent posts aren’t getting the views and shares you want, it may be time for some outside influence.
When it comes to promoting your blog posts, you can try a myriad of strategies, from paid ads to offering freebies. However, if your posts resonate with the masses, one of the most effective ways to catapult them is by tapping into the power of social media.
There is no doubt that platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have changed the game for many people, and they have changed the way we interact with each other in our online communities. These platforms allow people all over the globe to share their thoughts, opinions, and even their most recent activities. But what is equally impressive is how social media can amplify blog posts.
Think about it: Every day, millions of people are scrolling through their newsfeeds in a hunt for captivating content to engage them. And if your posts can pique their interest, you have a fantastic opportunity to reach a vast audience.
Ask Your Readers To Share
There is no shame in asking for help. It is a win-win situation for both sides—the content creator gets the exposure they need to make their articles go viral while at the same time giving their readers something interesting to share with friends. Sharing is essential for marketing, but it is even more crucial for building long-term relationships with your readership.
The Bottom Line
Without any doubt, engaging content is pretty challenging to create, but it doesn’t mean you can’t make it happen if you put your mind to it.
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Author: Gary Vela, Forbes Councils Member
