The number of subscribers and amount of inbound traffic makeup the metrics to watch for a healthy blog.

How can you create so much interest that new readers are clamoring to subscribe? And how do you intend to get a return in your investment (ROI)?

Your blog is not where you tell your life’s story unless you are a celebrity. Nor is a blog the place to clobber your readers with a hard sell product pitch. Successful blogs grow fast because the authors listen to what their subscribers want to read. If you are only publishing what you want to say, you’ll have a very lonely, unsuccessful blog.

When you build a website, you start out by surfing the internet to check out what your competition is doing. Do the same in preparation for launching your blog. Who else is writing on your topic? Why are their blogs successful? Read the comments below the articles. If those authors have YouTube videos, read those comments, too. What are their readers asking about?

If the same questions are coming up over an over again, that could be your niche. You can be an expert in that arena, covering material that your blogging competition is ignoring. Include a mention of products and services that solve the problems related to your particular niche.

The next step to blog planning is to start writing before your blog goes live.

Here is where content marketing sets the groundwork. Consider:

• Who do you want to reach?

Create personas of your ideal subscribers. Demographics are important, but also consider what kinds of problems your subscribers will be looking for you to solve in your blog.

• What will be your voice?

Use language that is familiar with your target audience. Speak as you would to your customers, using the terminology that they use. Long posts are fine, but keep the sentences short and succinct, as if you were having a verbal conversation with your reader.

• How will you make a return on your investment (ROI) from your blog?

Blogging is a time hog. It takes time to create content that is meaningful and relevant to your subscribers. And new content needs to be posted consistently to keep your readers enticed. What’s the point if you can’t see a return on your time investment?

When executed correctly, your blog will show up in the Google search rankings, driving new readers to your posts. As with your website, SEO needs to be part of the equation. Use the same family of keyword phrases as for your website, and as your blog matures, add new phrases or keywords that bring readers to specific posts.

Never ever duplicate information found elsewhere on the Internet. Duplication can spell the death of your blog in the Google rankings. When quoting, always cite sources, and if you are quoting large sections of content, be sure to get permission. Additional information about the pitfalls of duplicate content can be found here.

Before your blog goes live, flex your writing muscles.

Jump in and brainstorm headlines. Select your favorites, and compose your first five blog articles. Make sure to include a few valuable links to particular web pages or products and services.

Find a “blog buddy” who can proof, edit, and offer useful feedback. Get more feedback from your business colleagues your current customers to confirm that you are on the right track.

If writing content isn’t your thing, feel free to invite guest bloggers to submit posts. However, it’s your blog, and you must make it clear that you have the right to edit or not use any material they submit. Guest bloggers often have their own agendas, submitting material that doesn’t solve your customer’s problems. Their grammar and punctuation can also be substandard. It’s counter-productive to spend hours editing and rewriting guest posts.

When content marketing and technical copywriting aren’t in your wheelhouse, turn to trusted, experienced professionals to craft your online content. Here at Moore Than SEO, we’ll assist you with your blog planning and execution. Beginning with creating personas and investigating your keywords, we’ll create unique articles that bring measured results—More subscribers, more website visitors, and more sales.

Get your blog off the ground—Contact us today at 559-978-4096.