The Blogger’s Biggest Asset

photo credit: Crystian Cruz
 

What is a bloggers biggest asset?  The blogging platform they use?  The totally cool custom theme they had designed for big bucks?  The latest plugins and widgets?   Lots of pictures and videos?  The blogger’s sparkling personality? 

The answer to all these questions is a resounding NO!  The blogger’s biggest asset is their readers.  Without readers, the blog no matter how great it looks or how amazing the posts are, if no one reads it what’s the point? 

All the things mentioned in the first paragraph are essential to getting and keeping readers, that’s a given. Well, maybe not the big bucks theme but a nice one for sure.  So the question is how do you turn a casual reader into an asset?

  What sets a blog apart from a “normal” website is the ability to interact with  readers. Blogs are meant to be a venue for two way communication.  That’s why comments are such an integral part of blogs. 

Comments allow your readers to…well…comment on what you have written. Like you, they can express their thoughts and opinions. And that is something you, as a blogger, should encourage. Again it’s all about communication.  Just be aware that you may not always like their comments!  If you don’t then you have the perfect opportunity to create a dialog with them.  A spirited debate will keep readers coming back to see what happens.

You can also ask your readers for their ideas for post topics. You can do this with a survey or a poll. What better way to turn a casual reader into an asset than to take one of their ideas and turn it into a post.

Another way to turn readers into assets is to hold a contest of some sort and offer a prize.  On our Facebook page we are going to have a drawing for a Visa gift card if we have 200 followers by Thanksgiving.  While it’s not on one of our blogs it is a great way to increase our followers and create a buzz.

And of course the ubiquitous Contact form should not be overlooked as a way to engage readers. They are a great way for readers to ask questions in a more private way.

Why would you want to turn readers into assets?  Your assets will keep coming back time and time again to your blog.  And they will also help spread the word about your blog to their friends.  If they have a blog or website they may put a link to your blog on it.  If you have affiliate links or sell something of your own your assets will be more likely to buy from you because you have built a trusted relationship with them. And a trusted relationship is the greatest asset a blogger can have!