There are plenty of people trying their hand at blogging these days, from stay at home moms to established entrepreneurs. However, not everyone manages to make a success of their blogging enterprise. While some writers gain millions of followers and earn big bucks through their blog and social media channels, others struggle to find readers and lose interest after a few months. Follow these tips if you want to become a bona-fide blogging sensation.

1. Create an eye-catching website. Even if you’re not a web design wizard like people from http://www.nothingbutweb.com.au/, it’s important to create a great-looking website if you want to really experience success. A poorly designed site immediately makes the blogger look more like an amateur than an expert, so the look, feel and functionality of your blog will be key. If you’re struggling to get it right, consider bringing in a professional to help you whip the website into shape.
2. Do your research. You know that other bloggers have come before you and experienced immense success, so figure out exactly what they got right. There’s tons of interesting data out there to scour through, so research what types of content tend to perform well, how much length you should give to each blog post, and which forms of social media will get you the most followers from the audience you’re intending to reach. These factors can vary depending on the type of content you’re planning to produce, but the data will definitely give you some interesting information to back up your blogging strategy.
3. Find your voice. Not every blogger is a natural writer, but every successful blogger has a unique voice that’s instantly recognisable to their audience. Try to find the tone that represents you as a person and be consistent, as it could become the foundation of your personal brand. Don’t be afraid to be informal in your writing – blogging is a useful outlet for writers who like to relax and type freely, rather than feeling constrained by rules.
4. Focus on one channel. When it comes to your social media presence, it’s better to focus in on one particular platform rather than stretching yourself too thin over a range of channels. This gives you the opportunity to get to know the platform inside and out, and build a following that you can easily redirect to your primary website.
5. Find your niche. Because the blogging world is packed full of writers jostling for a place in the spotlight, you’re far more likely to find an interested audience if you zoom in on a niche that you’re familiar with. This allows you to write specifically about things you know and are passionate about, and separates you from the thousands of bloggers dealing with other topics.
6. Engage at every opportunity. The main way to stand apart from the rest of the bloggers out there is through audience engagement. It’s not enough to simply write content and then walk away – you need to get to know your audience, interact with them, ask them questions, and encourage debate and discussion. Not only does this help your audience feel more involved with the blog itself, it also lets them get to know you as a real person, rather than an anonymous figure behind a screen.