On Blogging: Making Your Blog An Experience

(image source, via Pinterest)

I mentioned that this month (and moving forward), a huge goal of mine for this space is to add a bit more of myself so that you all have a better understanding about the girl behind the posts. As I’ve been planning new ways to do that, I’ve also noted just how much goes into the reader experience.

Beyond the posts and pages we make available on our blogs, when readers truly want to engage and connect with us, there are so many ways that we can make our blog experiences unique. The experience a reader has on your space is what keeps them coming back to yours versus another with similar content.

Here are a few I’m going to be implementing, plus a few others you can try out in your own space!

Using Hashtags /  One my favorite life and style blogs, Corals & Cognacs has the hashtag game DOWN! Following Hallie’s ventures through style and NYC is super easy on social by simply following her hashtags. I’ve created one hashtag that will mainly be for Instagram and the occasional tweet as an easy way to compile all of the things I’m doing offline. So stay tuned for that!

Create a takeaway / Think of some of your favorite blogs to visit. How many of them offer the occasional takeaway? A free desktop wallpaper, or a quick ebook or guide to help you out. The things you offer not only help you gauge what your readers are interested in, but also helps set yours apart from other blogs. Create something unique to your blog and brand that’s useful to your readers, and have a plan to change it up –like a monthly wallpaper or round-up of your favorite tips/tricks.

Off blog conversations / The talks you have with your readers off the blog are just as much a part of the blog experience as your posts. When I send out newsletters, I always mention special offerings there before I bring them to the blog, but those offerings are always extensions of the E&M brand. Developing a way to converse with your readers off of the blog definitely adds a unique twist to how they experience your brand. It doesn’t have to end at newsletters, starting a Twitter chat or Google community could also be fun!

Design elements / A huge impact on reader experience deals with your blog’s design. Adding small enhancements (that don’t necessarily require a designer) can totally change the way readers interact with your content. Adding things like social media icons, a link to a popular post in the sidebar or a opt in for your newsletter below your posts could make all the difference. And if you are working with designers, make sure you work with them to add little elements unique to your blog and brand.

What little things help to set your blog apart?