I was interested to read Cristian Myhai’s ‘Six Types of Blog Posts that Always Get Read‘. It seems that writing blogs giving writing/blogging advice is the way forward for writers who want to gain more readers.
However, I’ve also found that blog stats increase if there’s something in it for the reader. In my case I run a ‘Share Your Short Story’ writing contest every few months which gives the winner and runner-up a shout-out, and I promote the winning stories on my social media sites. These ‘Share Your Short Story’ announcements and winners seem to be the most read of my blogs, along with my blog asking whether we’re writers or authors, and my interview of Chris the Story Reading Ape (Chris, you’re famous!).
The blogs in my opinion that do not gain as much attention as the ones above are author interviews, and posts where I promote either my own books or books written by other authors, ha ha, probably because they contain buying links. Also strangely enough, readers don’t usually bother too much about any post containing a book review, probably again because it has a buying link. However, blogs promoting free books gain many readers funnily enough (the last Free Book blog I wrote ‘sold’ 950 books) …
So… it seems that one blog post about the same old writing tips and advice will be re-blogged ad nauseam. It makes me wonder whether the person re-blogging it ever takes up the advice or subscribes to the original site, or re-blogs without even reading because their stats are sure to increase if they publish a blog about writing tips!
Who knows? By the way… yes, I did read ‘Six Types of Blog Posts that Always Get Read’…
Stevie Turner 
For me, it has nothing to do with buying links, but rather because I don’t read anything printed. Or Kindle, if I can help it. My first port of call is Audible, but I ended up with such a huge backlog of credits I ended up canning my subscription.
I so sometimes see these “buy me a coffee” links on people’s posts, which presumably would take me to Paypal and which I happily pass by, but one of the specific reasons for having a pay subscription is so that *my* readers don’t see any of this advert nonsense.
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niche finding is difficult, but I hear its stellar when it happens!
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No problem, I enjoyed reading it!
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This was interesting. My dream has always been to be a writer, and now that I’m finally trying to take that step forward, I frequently look up articles like the ones you mentioned on WordPress to help me get an idea of what I’m dealing with. And come to think of it, there were definitely many who seemed to only reblog writing advice- and not follow it themselves.
There are also others who conduct author interviews or book reviews, or book promotion- and I never notice as much interaction on those.
I’m guessing we’ve gotten used to looking for other people to relate to on this platform, and seek advice from- so it doesn’t come to people to support those bloggers too, or get to know them on a better level through posts like author interviews.
This was a great read. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to reading more of your content from now on.
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Yes, the reviews and author interviews don’t usually receive as many comments as the writing advice. Thanks for reading my post and commenting.
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Reblogged this on Plaisted Publishing House and commented:
Writing blogs about writing
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Thanks for the re-blog.
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Welcome
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You make many good points Stevie. I guess I’m still trying to find my niche too. 🙂
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I would have thought you’d found yours as a writer of non-fiction/memoir?
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Oh sure as a writer, that’s my thing, but as a blogger we have to keep the fires lit with variety. 🙂
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My fire’s gone out, go I’m off to the Isle of Wight to re-stoke…
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🙂 x
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Great ideas!!! Thank you for sharing this helpful post with us, Stevie!
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Hi Stevie, I have found this to be true about blogging about blogging. I shared blog tips and some were my best viewed posts. Then the photography bug hit and my weekly photo challenge posts were highest viewed, which was partial inspiration for my ebook. Once I started the Sunday Stills photo challenge I’ve had my best year of blogging ever. As I write my fitness book, I post fitness tips which do well also. As bloggers we find our niche as experts perhaps, one way or the other. I agree with you that I would like more readers but bloggers are such a supportive community, I wouldn’t want to compromise that.
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Well done Terri for finding your niche. I’m still looking for mine!
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I’m always fascinated by people and what makes them tick, so memoirs and excerpts from autobios. and posts including subtle and black humour get my vote.
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Ha ha, I’ve got plenty of those…
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Hi, I’m like Robbie. I’m fascinated by what makes people tick; plus unusual, curious facts. It’s a constant puzzle to me just how similar and different we all are! Re-juggling of tips become boring (but of course we are all at different levels of learning…) None of us is perfect. Despite the doubt gremlins, we just have to sit down and WRITE. Humour gets my extra vote every time.
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Yes, we need more humorous blogs definitely!
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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We are duty-bound to read them all, just in case we find a useful nugget!
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Yes, true, but they’re all usually carbon copies of what’s gone before, don’t you find?
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Pity you cannot guarantee that before you read them…
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The problem I find with blogging about writing tips is that it attracts other writers which is all good, but I do want to attract readers. It’s pretty tough.
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I think all my readers are authors. It’s nigh on impossible to attract readers who are not writers. If you ever find a way of doing this, please let me know! A blog with this information on will go viral!
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What I find interesting is that the article is about writing articles that bloggers will want to read.
Now, just between ourselves, whilst bloggers are wonderful people and a lot of them have fascinating blogs, actually I’m also trying my best to reach out to readers as well. (Yes, bloggers read, but I suspect even now there are more readers who don’t blog than readers who do. 🙂 )
So it’s great when a blogger likes my blog and shares it. Because that, as far as I can see, is one of the best ways to reach out to an even bigger audience.But I think my most successful, best read blogs, are ones which aren’t about books and blogging. So when I decided to help promote Partners in time, I wrote a blog about heavy duty timber planing machines, showers and staying in a B&B. But I tried to produce a blog that drew in readers and then brought them seamlessly to look at your book.
It’s a fascinating area, and one that I always like to hear other people’s ideas on, because frankly they’re unlikely to be less successful than mine 🙂
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Yes, my most successful ones aren’t about books either (thanks again for your help with promotion, Jim). Before I wrote books and was just a reader, it didn’t occur to me to set up a blog. I only began blogging as part of my author platform. Probably that’s why most bloggers are authors!
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yes, I think it’s not a bad way to do it. Because, by definition, we can write. Also it helps us reach past gatekeepers such as facebook
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I’m closing my Facebook gate. FB and I aren’t speaking…
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How interesting, Stevie. I always read a post that features a review, interview or information about a member of our blogging clan. I am fascinated by people and their lives. I never read posts about how to write, blog or increase my stats. I blog because I like the friendships. Of my own posts, the ones that feature writing prompts seem to get the most attention. Interesting indeed.
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Robbie, I think we all have different interests. The trend for newspapers or magazines is to have the titles of “how to…” “Five ways to…” or “Best way to…” because people are busy. When I read those articles, I did a quick read of the subtitles and see if I’m interested in the contents.
I’m interested in reading about other bloggers’ lives also. I have made many friends in this blogging community and I like to get to know them by reading the interviews.
I look back to my top 10 posts that got most likes and comments are posts about my life and my family. When I post photography, most of the photos are from my travel, my family, or my garden. Again, they’re related to my life.
This is just my personal observation of my blogging experience.
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I usually do read writing advice (if the blog isn’t very long), just to see if I’m missing out on anything. However, usually it’s the same advice that’s been blogged about hundreds of times before. Ho hum…
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