6 Easy Ways to Make Your Blog More Engaging

Are you interested in learning how to make your blog more engaging? If so, you've made it to the right place.

Let's get one thing clear: despite new marketing platforms emerging over the last several years, blogging is still one of the best ways to connect with your audience. Research shows that 77% of internet users read blog posts, and that number is not expected to change anytime soon.

The problem is everyone is blogging, and competition is fierce. You have to go above and beyond if you want people to keep coming back to your site when there are hundreds — probably thousands — of blogs in the same industry.

But we've done it, and so can you.

In my experience, the key to driving traffic and sales from your blog is to make it more engaging. Today, I'd like to share six easy, actionable strategies you can use to improve your blog and get more people to spend time on your site.

Let's begin!

Choose Topics that Matter to Your Readers

The first and perhaps most important tip is to choose topics that matter to your readers. You could spend all the time in the world tuning your design, developing marketing campaigns, and pumping out content. It won't mean much if the topics you cover don't resonate with your audience.

Think about it this way: what would someone do if they visited a pet store blog only to find that most articles are about human fashion and beauty products? They would, rightfully so, feel confused and may leave without taking action, even if they already had an item in their cart.

People in this position expect to see articles about caring for kittens and training puppies, not learning about the most recent fashion trends.

While publishing content for your blog, you must keep your finger on the community's pulse. Spend time on social media, send email surveys, and compile data so you can build buyer personas that define your audience.

You'll find it's much easier to choose topics that matter to your readers if you understand their needs, goals, and pain points.

Scannable Formatting Makes a Big Difference

Did you know that 73% of people admit to scanning blog posts instead of reading them from top to bottom? There's even a good chance that you're one of these people. I know I'm guilty of it!

If you want people to get the most out of your post without reading word-for-word, scannable formatting is a must.

Here are a few ways to instantly make your content easier to read:

• Use short sentences and paragraphs.

• Add H2 and H3 tags so people can read sections that align with their interests.

• Focus on conversational language since this is how most of us think.

• Use bullet lists (like this one!) to keep things organized.

• Implement a responsive design so your content is scannable across smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.

People are far more likely to keep engaging with your blog if they are able to quickly and easily consume your content.

Invest in Video Content

If you're not creating video content for your blog, you're missing out on a key opportunity to connect with readers. In case you're wondering, over 80% of marketers who've invested in videos for their blog say it has directly improved sales, engagement, and traffic.

But the benefits don't end there — research also shows that adding videos to your site makes it 53 times more likely your business will rank on Google.

I found the best way to invest in video content is to create videos that match blog posts already on our site. We started by creating visual versions of our most popular posts. Now, we are at the point where new blog posts come with video versions embedded from the moment we hit publish.

My suggestion is to create videos and upload them to YouTube. Not only will you be able to reach 2 billion users, but you'll also keep your site loading times down since the videos are hosted off-site. All you need to do is embed them on the matching blog post.

Link Relevant and Popular Posts

Now, let's talk about how your blog posts and the rest of your website can blend and create a seamless experience. If all of your articles are isolated and don't include relevant internal links, you may find a majority of users bounce from your site instead of sticking around to read another post.

You'll have a better chance of linking relevant content if you create a hierarchy of content. For example, start with one long-form ultimate guide. Then, write smaller articles that cover some of the topics mentioned in your big guide in greater detail.

This structure will make it easy for readers to "get lost" in your content as they continue to learn and find topics that catch their interest.

I also recommend displaying popular posts on the sidebar of your blog. Allowing users to see what other people are enjoying could encourage them to take action. We like to keep our list updated monthly so new and returning visitors can see what topics matter to their peers.

Add a Search Bar

Another great way to make your blog more engaging is to add a search bar. As we discussed earlier, sometimes people don't read articles from beginning to end, so they could easily miss out on helpful internal links.

A search bar makes it super easy for people to find what they want on your site. We've had a lot of luck including it on the sidebar above our popular posts. When someone is browsing around on our blog, they may think to themselves, "I wonder if they have an article on... (topic)", and that's where a search bar can come in and save the day.

Respond to Comments

Finally, if you want to attract more readers, consider the benefits of responding to comments. Around 91% of people say they are on the lookout for interactive experiences when they engage with websites. Responding to user comments is a great way to personalize their encounter, which means there's a better chance they'll come back in the future.

If you want to win people over, respond to positive and negative feedback — within reason. If you're wondering how this can help, think about this statistic: 56% of people have changed their opinion of a brand after they responded to a review or comment.

Not only will this help the person who left the comment, but it will also provide additional engagement and context for other readers.

Back to You

As you can see, there are plenty of quick and easy ways you can make your blog more engaging. I highly recommend fitting some of the tips outlined today into your plan so you can see for yourself how these strategies can boost traffic and sales from all sources.