Tip of the Week: engage your audience

Welcome to the first in a series of tips to help bloggers build communities, find an audience and get the most out of working with brands.

Despite an extended on Bargainista vacation last year, I’ve been working behind the scenes helping clients with their blogs and writing the occasional guest post or two. Friends, family, colleagues and students often ask how they can become better bloggers.

I hope you’ll enjoy these tips I’ve assembled with the help of other bloggers, brands, PR consultants, marketing pros, community managers.*


Tip 1: Engage your audience

The saying “content is king (or queen)” holds true. In order to have a successful blog, there’s no way of getting around this one. Blog posts must be well written and edited. Be sure to include beautiful visuals. Seize the opportunity to tell your story in pictures and videos too. If your writing or photography skills are lacking, consider exchanging tips with a friend, taking some courses or searching for online tutorials.

Here are some resources you may find helpful:

• 7 Editing Tips to Improve your Blog-Writing Skills
• 15 Photo Blogging Tips From the Pros
• Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business (New Rules Social Media) by Ann Handley & C.C. Chapman, here’s a free preview
• Copyblogger

What helps you engage your readers? Please share your tips in the comments.

*Based on a blog post originally appearing at Food Bloggers of Canada.

Photo credit: Flying Pete