One thing that really impresses me about one blogger over another is their relatability with their readers. Ever person has a different background filled with hundreds of unique experiences. It is often at this point, no matter what the article might be about, that a reader can become turned off.
Here is how to be more relatable to your readers.
- Be open and friendly. While you might have some serious topics covered on your blog, while engaging in conversation when readers who comment, make sure to make them feel welcome and that you respect their opinion. Not every reader will agree with you, but if you can make that extra effect to reply, and make sure that they know you at least read their side, they will come back.
- Be honest. “Honesty is the best policy.” That quote rings true in so many ways. When you decide to promote your work on the social network streams, you better be giving honest information. People react in very negative ways and are quick to tell others if you are a dishonest character.
- Be uniquely informative and accurate. You need to be able to give something to people that will stand above other blogs, especially if you are trying to compete for their attention. You might agree with another website on a topic, and you can always link to the original article and expand on your own opinion. That actually keeps the conversation going and for some people, when you link them back, you end up making a nice blog friend that is open to linking you back.
- Do not overwhelm your readers. Long paragraphs are known to be a bore for some readers. Break them up. If your articles are going over 700 or even 1000 words, perhaps look into your article and find a way to break it up into parts. This will allow you to have several posts instead of one, AND those who liked the first part, will be eager to read the rest. 🙂
- Use words that are easy and do not intimidate your readers. Another thing is if you choose to use vocabulary that might be difficult for others to understand, you may want to provide a short footnote or some type of explanation. Within the US, most people have an average reading level of a 6th grader. Outside of the US, you are dealing with language barriers, so they will have to look up difficult words in a translator sometimes.
- Always be open for new ideas. If you ever feel you site is missing something, ask your readers for suggestions of what topics they believe you need to cover. Do a survey or create polls. Create open events for your readers to drop in and ask questions.
What other ways do you suggest on how to be more relatable to your readers?
Also interacting with readers helps relationships. Collect feedback and publish a blog post with your thoughts and results of the feedback collection.
Relatable headlines also grab the attention, Nile. If you write on topics that your target readers can relate to and get the perfect headline for them, for sure your post will really get read.
Nice one, Nile. Thanks for posting.
My recent post The Psychology of Graphic Design
Really all the points that you listed here are important for maintaining relatability with the readers. The readers are the core entity for our blog. If a blog doesn’t have any reader then it is not worth. Readers are determined your blog popularity. They become an effective tool to move forward your blog. So, cheating with them means cheating with yourself and your blog also. Thanks guy for sharing nice advice.
Nile,
Great article. I love the way it is broken up into easily readable segments. Just like you said, nobody reads and nobody wants to read those long paragraphs. I know one blogger who consistently writes long rambling blog posts that deal with many topics not just with one. The paragraphs are LONG and deal with many topics. Bloggers need to understand that people on the Internet just SKIM the material and slow down in certain places. If they read at all they like to read small chunks of information like you have in this very article.
Thanks so much!
— Jupiter Jim
Excellent points Niles. Ever the trouble maker, being one who bristles at anything that smacks of the ‘one size fits’ all approach to life or business, I also have to add that who your audience is makes a difference in your communication style. Bloggers don’t all write for the same audience and an article on how to set up a blog can’t (nor should it be) communicated in the same style as an article about say overcoming limiting personal beliefs. Thanks for the great information – always learn something new here!
Just like you said, nobody reads and nobody wants to read those long paragraphs. I know one blogger who consistently writes long rambling blog posts that deal with many topics not just with one.
Great article. I will try to put all this in my article writing. This is the first time i will come across this type of information. Thanks.
Hi Nile, I do agree with all your pointers. Especially using words that are easy to understand. As much as possible I write articles that even a grade school level can comprehend in that way I make sure that I am able to impart what I really want to say with my readers.
This is a good idea.honesty is the best policy but people are not honest.we should try to change our self.
BE unique for our content and convert comments into conversations are really very useful for becoming more relatable to our readers…………
Nile, that was some very sage advice. I really liked the part about being honest. As a ghost writer, I feel dishonest sometimes. I have a dear friend who talks about being real, which is another way of saying being honest. Thanks for the article.
This is a great list; very concise and extremely accurate. Last summer when I hired my first blogging coach the two things he stressed were to break up long blocks of text and to present a unique voice on my blog. I’ve definitely looked to implement these two suggestions on my blog and have noticed a significant increase in the time spent on my site.
Excellent contain…….I know one blogger who consistently writes long rambling blog posts that deal with many topics not just with one. Thank you..
Just be yourself and build a good reputation.Don’t send generic messages to your leads.Being friendly with those leads is pretty good idea.
Writing any articles or blogs is being open minded to any comments either positive or negative. You also need to consider readers’ well-being not to the point that it will intimidate them. Just be humble to your words.
I believe that one should write on the Topics on which you have Good and deep knowledge, If you are not sure of anything then ask people to share their thoughts. and i totally agreed that always give honest opinions and not confuse your audience.
In Blogging platform the content part is the most important part. The easiest way to know about end users thought on our post is we can put a from saying ” what you want in next post “, by this we know about end users interest.
Hello Nile
Being relatable is a critical element in business and blogging. What I took away from this excellent article is the very thing that I am not doing to be open and friendly. Replying to comments on my blog is an element that has not been present on my blog. Nile thanks for point out the importance of the reply. Now I have an area that I must develop. Writing has not been easy for me.
Thanks
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City
Hi Nile,
Thankyou soo much for sharing the best ways to be more relatable to our readers.As a writer, honesty is very important and If a writer delivers an article that gives unique and useful information then definitely it attracts readers also a best way to be more relatable to our reader is to reply there comments.
Hi Nile,
Thankyou soo much for sharing the best ways to be more relatable to our readers.As a writer, honesty is very important and If a writer delivers an article that gives unique and useful information then definitely it attracts readers also a best way to be more relatable to our reader is to reply their comments.
Hello Nile,
I think ,if a writer ask his readers for suggestion then automatically a writer becomes more relatable to readers also a video conferencing is the best option to build good relationship with readers.Thanks for the helpful suggestions and tips.
That’s what does it for me. When I can see something in a post that I not only relate too it helps bring me back for more. I can’t stand when I receive numerous emails from blogs that are either pushing something or just sound too busy.
Maybe I just like posts that get to the point because I don’t always have time to read long-winded posts myself, but if the post is that good, I will read it all. Also, when i find a blogger that really gives back to his or her readers, I am a fan for life.
If you want your blog to withstand the test of time and have lots of visitors it needs to have not only fresh content, but make interesting, valuable, information and helpful reading. There’s nothing worse that a post with long sentences, dull writing and subject matter that no-one can relate to.
Everyone can take advantage of the tips that Nile has given here – thanks for sharing – good info!
I have tried to break my text up with photos on all of articles, I think I need to get back on to all of my articles and create more headings. The last time I looked at webmaster tools I realised that most people leave my articles pretty much immediately, despite me trying to create a decent opening paragraph. I hadn’t realise that most people in the US struggle to read so maybe dumbing down is what is needed to get the people out there to read and maybe click.
Thank you Nile! Relating to the readers is most important.
Thanks Nile!
This post offers six excellent points, that are super easy to implement right now!
I particularly like #’s 1,2,3 & 4! especially 3 & 4.Because you definitely don’t want to scare your readers off with a really long post, that you don’t break up with sub headlines into more digestible chunks!
And if you must use larger words, as you advised, please use footnotes and or explain in every day lay persons terms by using parentheses
Great advice! Thanks.