Write for Human Beings, Not for Search Engines

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Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing. ~ John D. Rockefeller

Are you doing the “right thing” on your blog?

When you consider the goals you have for your blog, it’s smart to think in terms of R.O.E. (Return On Engagement). And everyone knows that it takes time, patience, and care in building relationships and readership.

Many well-intended strategists (and self-proclaimed experts) will tell you that you should use all the software, tactics, and tricky maneuvers to increase traffic to your blog.

They’re right, you know.  There are tricks for getting TONS of traffic to your blog.  But I say …

Leave the tricks to the magicians!

What good are 1000’s of visitors who stop by once (maybe), read one post and leave a comment (maybe), and never return again?  You already know the answer.

Don’t focus on SEO and writing for search engines, focus on writing for your audience.  Be yourself and talk to people through your content as though you were speaking to your brother, your best friend, or your mom.

High-quality backlinks are the ultimate SEO.

Dedicated readers who regularly visit your blog, spread your articles around, post well thought-out meaningful comments, and buy your products will get you a lot closer to reaching your goals.  Yay! More of these, please.

What do YOU think is the best approach to increasing the popularity of your blog and growing your fan base of dedicated happy readers?

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  • Anthony, Yvonne, Terrie, Henry, Jane, and Gwen ~

    Each of you has shared WONDERFUL thoughts on this topic.

    * Give value first
    * Speak conversationally
    * Be authentic
    * Build rapport and relationships
    * Provide great content

    Terrie! Thanks for your “powerhouse” compliment. You made my day!

    Gwen – I LOVE the way you pointed out that Google (and all the other search engines) ARE NOT going to be buying our products and programs!!!

    I really appreciate all of you joining in this conversation!

    Let’s write on!
    Melanie

  • This is a great subject Melanie. I believe that if we give value first, the search engines will look after themselves. And we should write so we’ll be read. I agree with Yvonne that its a good tactic to write so a reader will feel a connection, as if you spoke just to them.

    Anthony

  • Hi Melanie,

    I too believe that writing in a conversational way and structuring your information so that it appeals to our readers is the best way. This may be the main means they get to know, like and trust us, so why not be as authentic as possible so that they can feel as if you wrote the post especially ‘for me’? Thank you.

    Warm regards,
    Yvonne

  • Melanie:

    Love the title of your blog article- “Write for Human Beings and Not Search Engines”. Totally agree with you on “It’s all about Return on Engagement”. Building rapport and relationships with your readers is what blogging is all about.
    .-= Jane´s last blog ..Why did you Become An Entrepreneur? Part I =-.

  • Totally agree!

    Best chances of getting dedicated readers is through great content that they can connect with (i.e., written for them, not a search engine) and engagement.

    Thanks for sharing Melanie.

    ~HP~
    .-= Henry Peña´s last blog ..The Ultimate Social Media Personal Branding Platform by Pro Manager =-.

  • The audio is a great idea but it kind of gets lost. I would have missed it (and maybe did when i first come to the site) if I hadn’t seen your tweet about the audio. maybe put it lower or center or can you change the color of the audioacrobat player – I don’t think so but they may have done that.

    Good work!

    Terrie

  • I tend to agree. I know SEO is important because we want to be “seen” by Google and people searching on your topic. And that’s great and useful. Ahem, what about those people who don’t know they should search for your topic – or that it even exists – but would still be interested in it if they found it?

    In reality, Google isn’t going to buy our products or comment on our posts is he/she? Word of mouth has always been a good strategy in business. Thats how you find people who don’t know what they don’t know 🙂

    Thanks for writing this!

    Gwen
    .-= Gwen Tanner´s last blog ..How To Repurpose Your Articles and Blog Posts =-.

  • Well, aren’t you such a powerhouse this month Melanie – i’m really impressed with your posts – they have so much of you in them and that is a wonderful thing.

    This is such great advice and I’m glad you pointed it out for us while some of us may be struggling with what to write for the blog challenge.

    Keep up the great work.

    Terrie