You’ve created your blogger out reach campaign, used SEO to target your keywords, promoted your content across social networks, and did everything else you could do to the name out about your site/product/service. Basically, you have concentrated your efforts on traffic and exposure. The question is, what are you doing to keep the traffic coming and how are you converting your traffic into a community. What can you do on your site to keep the visitors coming back time and time again? One time traffic doesn’t mean much, but repeat traffic and word of mouth, now that’s powerful. Here are a few ways you can increase visitor loyalty and keep the traffic coming back (creating a community).
- Adding an RSS feed and email subscription option is great for users who want to read/participate in your content at their convenience, meaning without having to actually visit the site. RSS and email subscription options are great for visitor loyalty, because you know exactly how many people are checking out your content on a continuous basis (through RSS/email
- Give your visitors the option of commenting on your posts, why deny your visitors from giving their 2 cents? If appropriate and where possible, try to respond to the comments you receive.
- Make sure you have various social media options on your site that will allow your current visitors to share your content with new visitors and a new community. If your visitor has 500 twitter followers and wants to share your content on twitter, make it easy to do so.
- Encourage discussion and ask questions in your content. Bring in other “experts” where needed, and remember to link to relevant/authoritative articles or sources to help bring in more conversation.
- Encourage guest posting. Allow your visitors to become a part of your site and a part of your community. I always welcome new guest posts on this site, just ask.
What other tips would you recommend for people to make the most of the traffic and exposure they get to their blog? Traffic is always meaningless when your users don’t “convert” or become part of a repeat visitor community.
