Leslie Bogaerts

5 Tips to Build a Relationship With Your Readers

Posted on 01. Apr, 2010 by admin in My story

Interested in getting readers to return to your blog? Building a relationship with the people who read what you write can be quite difficult to pull off without alienating anyone. Read on for some tips on how to grow a positive and trust based relationship with your readers.

1. Write What You Know

Your readers can tell if you’re talking about something you don’t have any experience with. It is safe to assume that the subject of your blog is something you care about, so tap into that attitude when you write. The easiest way to come off as an honest person sharing real life knowledge is to actually be an honest person sharing real life knowledge.

This doesn’t mean you have to be an expert on what you’re writing about, or personally experience everything you decide to post on. If you’re a beginner at something and it catches your interest, post about being a beginner. There is nothing wrong with helping your readers learn about something you just learned yourself, as long as you’re honest.

2. Use That Comments Section

Encourage reader comments in the body of your post, and respond when you get them. Make sure you respond to comments as often as possible and try to keep your responses as honest and open as what you had in the original post. Try to stay involved in your post comments as long as people are continuing to post. Your readers are more likely to want to come back and continue reading your blog if they know you are willing to listen to them.

3. Don’t Be Afraid To Be Criticized

Controversy in a blog’s comment section is wonderful. A good counter point to what you wrote will encourage many readers to come out of the woodwork and post from both angles. Always acknowledge a differing point of view in a positive way, and don’t be afraid to get involved in a friendly debate. If your reader convinces you of their view, admit you were wrong. Readers are much more likely to trust a post author who is willing and able to admit mistakes.

A word of caution here: Using your authority as the post author to flame or belittle an opposing view is a good way to do exactly the opposite of what you want. If you come off as hostile and unwilling to consider honest criticism, you will destroy any relationship with your readers you may have had.

4. Reciprocate By Visiting Other Blogs

Many of your readers will leave links to their own blogs or favorite communities attached to comments on your posts. Visit their sites and post some comments of your own. This will do several great things to help you grow a relationship with readers. First, you will be showing interest that tells your readers you care about what they’re writing as much as they care about what you’re writing. Second, you will be staying visible in the community talking about your area of interest.

5. Be Careful About Promoting Products

Many people start blogging with the hope of eventually making some money at it. Once you have built up a following of readers that trust your opinion it can be really easy to want to promote something that will make you some money. This isn’t inherently bad, but you need to be really careful when you do it.

Only promote products that you have actively used, and be completely honest about promoting them. Talk about both the positive and negative points of the product you are promoting, and don’t try to sneak an affiliate link in without disclosing what it is. Your readers trust you because you have provided them with honest advice, and will want to support things you recommend with the same honesty.

Tom Walker is an editor and designer who works with a UK based provider of ink supplies like the HP 351. He edits and posts on their blog about art, advertising and media design.