Blogging Tips A-Z: R for Readers
To succeed at blogging you need to focus on people. The unique people who will be reading your blog.
When I hold blogging workshops we talk about being very specific about who your ideal blog readers are.
For example, on Successful Blogging there are three main profiles for my idea readers:
1. A 35 year old woman who’s just starting her own creative business and wants to do it right from the beginning.
2. A forty year old mother with an established business who isn’t getting the results they should from their existing website or blog.
3. A new writer who wants to build up a platform for her readers.
Who’s Your Ideal Reader?
Now I’ve built up a readership have real blog readers and lovely people leaving comments so I can write with specific people in mind.
But still every time I write a blog post I ask:
- Is this what my dear readers need most right now?
- How can I best help you?
- What can I do to make the solution simpler.
- How can I leave you feeling motivated, uplifted and inspired to put the tips into action?
But in the early days, when readers were few and far between, I imagined my ideal reader and created a mini profile on them.
If you want to find new readers you have to make sure you know who they are because only then can you give them what they’re looking for.
If you do it right your readers will go on to become loyal readers, email subscribers and a marketing team who passionately recommend your blog and products or services.
Focus on the people and everything else will fall into place.
Do you know who your ideal reader is?
Please tell us a bit about them here to better help you focus on your ideal reader next time you write a blog post. As a bonus your comment should help you connect with some new readers too.
Need more blogging help? Check out my workbook and audio book Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps.
Kylie Dunn
Jun 11, 2012 -
I’ve just found your blog and started reading through your posts, I wish I’d found it a little earlier.
I hadn’t really thought about creating a profile of my ideal reader, it makes a lot of sense though. But now that you have mentioned it I guess that sub-consciously I keep an idea of my ‘reader’. They are my friends and family who I know are reading my blog. That’s a little too narrow for an ideal reader though, so I guess I should work on this a little more.
And now to continue reading older posts, thank you for the resource Annabel.
Annabel Candy
Jun 12, 2012 -
Hi Kylie,
That sounds like a great starting point, especially as you really do know those people and can ask them what they like about your blog and what they’d like to read more of:)
Carrie
Jun 12, 2012 -
I am struggling with this on my site right now. I write posts about two different topics: blogging (techie-type tips for non-techie people) and writing. I’ve started to notice that my posts about writing get more comments and views than my posts about blogging (and the comments are from different people), so I think I may be speaking to two different audiences. I almost feel like I need to split into two different blogs, but that feels like a lot of work. Your post has helped me realise I need to sort this out sooner rather than later – thank you!
Annabel Candy
Jun 12, 2012 -
Hi Carrie,
Ah, I’ve had that problem myself. I recommend you read this about blogging niches: http://www.successfulblogging.com/blogging-advice-exclusive-how-one-small-blogger-got-advice-from-eight-top-bloggers/
Carrie Mumford
Jun 13, 2012 -
That’s perfect! Thanks so much, Annabel!
Barbara
Jun 12, 2012 -
I have to tell you I really didn’t know how many readers I had until I moved back to WordPress. I am still shocked at the numbers. That’s wonderful, for sure. From comments and linking back to blogs I believe most of my readers are writers in any of several stages.
I didn’t know I was starting my writers platform when I began but lucky for me it’s turned out that way. All good things happen as they should, I think.
b
Annabel Candy
Jun 12, 2012 -
Hi Barbara,
That’s great news and hooray for WordPress:)
Sandra / Always Well Within
Jun 12, 2012 -
Annabel,
I really don’t know who my idea reader is! I’m glad you wrote about this as it’s probably a tripping point for my blog. These are a few points that come off the top of my head:
People who are wishing for more happiness, but aren’t quite sure how to get there. People who care about people and the world. People who are curious about the spiritual side of life. Mostly women with a few good men.
OK, that’s a start. Am I on the right track or is this all to vague and general?
Annabel Candy
Jun 12, 2012 -
Hi Sandra,
You’re on the right track. Now see if you can make it more specific. Do they have families? Kids? Or are they older and childfree? I focus on women too but of course men are welcome:)
Suzy
Jul 15, 2012 -
Wow, I have some work to do! At the moment my target is anyone interested in New York – but I guess that is a little too vague. My target audience probably depends on what is happening in my life, rather than who I want to attract.
And thanks for some great info – I am planning to stay a while today.
By the way – I am reader type #3 in your list.
SoudavoneS (@SoudavoneS)
Jul 20, 2012 -
It sounds so simple but I guess none of us bloggers have ever stopped to think who our ideal readers were. Most of us just blog to write regardless of what kind of people are reading.
I guess my ideal reader would be someone like me. Girls from their teens, twenties and thirties that have a passion for all things fashion and beauty. They have a penchant for adventure and discovering all the wonderful little things the world and life has to offer. My reader is growing up just as I am and learning new things about herself and is looking to share those things with a community.
Stylish Kylie
Oct 8, 2012 -
Hi Annabel,
I started the morning in google reader catching up on some posts from Styling You, and ended up spending the rest of the morning on your site. I have been scribbling notes down all morning but this one is the one I love the most – How can I leave you (my readers) feeling motivated, uplifted & inspired to put the tips into action. Ding. Light bulb moment. Thank you.
Kylie