How to Know your Readers, 6 tips to consider
You’re probably frustrated and tired of trying everything to make your readers do what you want them to do; it’s simple and difficult at the same time but you can actually make it happen by knowing who they are and applying some simple techniques that the top bloggers/companies have used time and time again. You are no different and you can make this happen for yourself.
Just like you know that everything in life has a purpose or principle you have to admit that this rule also applies to the web. When doing business online you have to understand many of the avenues that surround a successful online business and what I hope you learn from this article is how to you can actually make this happen on your own sites.
Understanding who is reading your work is the main key in converting; which is another way of saying that by knowing who’s reading you can get your desired result, which can range from buying, subscribing and even clicking on the advertisements on your blog.
This is what I do on a regular basis to understand my readers:
1. Analyzing your comments/messages:
I write my blog entries and then I review the feedback that you guys leave behind in the form of comments or e-mails. This is the easiest way because you’re telling me exactly what you want and all I have to do is provide it to you. In most cases you guys ask questions, If I know the answers I’ll reply to your comments. If I don’t reply to the comments themselves I write them down and add it as a new entry to the blog.
2.Reviewing and Analyzing my most popular articles:
I’ll take some time to browse the most popular articles on this blog in addition to other blogs and forums within this market or somewhat related to it. I then review what the most popular articles and why you guys liked it, What comments you are leaving there and if I find something worth writing about here from another blog and it’s appropriate I’ll try to address those things on this blog in the hopes you guys respond positively here as well.
3.Trend and Buzz Research
I Look at the trends on Google, Twitter, Digg and other social media sites and follow the keywords that surround my market. When I see other bloggers talking about I study the response and I write about it as well. It happens all the time in fashion with much success. Tommy Hilfiger launches a shirt that turns out to be a best seller and before you know it; there is a new delivery on the floor by another designer company that mirrors the successful product Tommy launched…and the target customer responds well. It’s all about replicating the success of others as long as you can add your own twist, & views on it. There is much to learn from this.
4.Feed Stats
I’ve set up “Aweber” to broadcast my articles to folks that have subscribed to my feed - Every time I add an entry to any of my blogs and “Aweber” shoots out the e-mail with the articles I take a look at how many folks clicked, opened or complained. When I look at the titles, or topics of that particular broadcast it helps me to figure out what folks want and what they don’t want. It’s all pattern of behavior so try not to repeat the topics that you got lots of complaints about and those that folks did not really care to click on.
5.Hit Counters Statistics
I have a few “Hit Counter” statistic scripts installed on all of my blogs. Normally I take a look at the reports and see how many folks are unique visitors versus how many folks are returning visitors. How they arrived? this is important because if you notice that folks are getting there via search engines you can take a look at the titles of those post that attracted them to follow the link to your site and it helps you to get an idea of what topics your readers are attracted to.
Taking a look at your visitor path helps me to determine what other topics you are interested in, or where your going within the blog. When installing these scripts on your own blogs it’s important that you always pay close attention to the entry pages, the exit pages, and the overall path that your own visitors will follow.
Hit counters also help you to get a better idea of demographics- they tell me whether my main audience is male, female, among other important data that helps me to determine who my users are. (Google Analytics does a great job at this and I personally also use StatCounter - it’s been great to me)
6.Feed Subscription Rates
I take a look at my subscribers sign up rate, if the numbers are going up then it’s obvious I’m doing a pretty good job. When I realize that my subscribers rate is going down I take a look at all of the above and figure out how I can improve.
Learning about your own readers is not an overnight process and you will have to get to know them over time because most of theses primary methods are based on reactions to your entries. Results will always vary and its not always going to be clear cut - but if you follow the suggestions I’m giving you, then you will realize that knowing your readers will give you an advantage in the blogging business.
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