It’s been awhile since we’ve talked about blogging tips, so today I thought I’d share a few tips on how to create a reader friendly blog. Why should you care about this? Well, because chances are, if you have a blog you want people to read it, right? And there are definite things you can do to make that more likely. Feel free to add in your tips in the comments!
- No crazy colors or sounds. You would think that this doesn’t have to be said…but it does. Please don’t embed video on your blog that starts whenever some visits. And no black backgrounds with white text. Make it easy to read and silent. Your readers will thank you.
- Easy commenting mechanism. No CAPTCHA or having to log in or create an account. Come on, y’all. Honestly, if I visit a blog and want to leave a comment (which I often do) and find I have to do something (other than just type), I will leave that blog. And I most likely won’t go back. I truly don’t understand why some bloggers continue to have frustrating commenting systems on their blog when they say that they want to grow and increase engagement. Please, please, please make commenting easy for your readers!
- Include a picture! Inserting a picture or graphic in your posts will make them much easier to read. It doesn’t have to be fancy – I use a lot of graphics because I’m not the best photographer, but putting something in there definitely makes your blog more reader friendly.
- Consider installing a comment reply notification plugin. What the heck is that? Well, it’s simply a plugin that will email your readers when you’ve responded to their comment on your blog. I comment on a lot of blogs and I do not have the time or the inclination to go back to that post (that I’ve already read and commented on) to see if the author responded. With the comment reply notification plugin, you reader doesn’t have to. If you value your readers commenting and make an effort to respond to comments, I highly recommend this. If your readers don’t know you’ve responded to their comments, that kind of defeats the point of responding, right?
- Consider a survey. Every now and again (maybe every six months or so), I like to do a reader survey and see what my blog readers like, don’t like and see what I can do to improve the reader experience. If you’ve never done a reader survey, I highly suggest it (here is a link to my last reader survey).
- Visit your blog as a visitor. I can’t overstate how important this is! This is easy to do – simply log out of your computer (or open up a guest tab) and visit your blog. I like doing this because I like seeing what visitors see. I’m so used to logging in and viewing my blog from the backend that doing this is a great way to make sure that my blog looks and reads exactly how I want it to!
What makes a blog reader friendly in your opinion?
I agree with you that white print on black background is not reader friendly at all! Neither is small print. One thing that is a real turn off for me is pop up ads. First of all they are so annoying, trying to find where to x them out. And they slow my computer down. A lot of times, I’ll just close the page. But I guess that’s ok with the advertisers, right?
I think good content is the key.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Venus de Miles recap
good content is definitely #1 for sure! i hate pop up ads as well – especially if i’m reading from my phone!
Good tips! Easy commenting is key. I agree on the video popping up and opening. I also don’t like when a subscribe button opens up before you even read a blog.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…How Do You Stay Strong?
Yeah – I feel like the timing is off if I’m being asked to subscribe right away!
As always, great tips today, Courtney! I think clean spaces are the most readable/enjoyable for others; it can be a little overwhelming when I visit a site that has lots going on, all over the place. I never know where to look first! I definitely agree on the comment fiasco; it’s tough when I have to jump through so many hoops just to comment on someone’s post – GAH! I’ve actually given up a few times. Hope you’re having a great day!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Training Recap
i’ve given up a BUNCH. i find it super frustrating!!
Great tips! Loving the survey idea, that is a really great idea to make sure your delivering the content readers want not just what you want. I am going to try that!
kristy @runawaybridalplanner recently posted…Hiking Landscape Arch
yeah, it’s fun to get that helpful feedback π
I hatehatehate captcha. There are still a couple blogs where I will suffer through it just because I really do like that blog that much, but they are far and few in between. If it’s a new blog and I come across that, I usually never go back. Popups are equally as annoying! π‘
I like that last tip too! I definitely never do that enough!
Farrah recently posted…DIY Honey Aspirin Mask
captcha is the devil in my mind. ugh i hate it so!!!
I know this is a total first world problem, but it really turns me off if I put a blog on my feedly reader and that blogger has it set up that you can not read the entire post in the reader. I know it is only one click away, but for some reason, this irks me. Ok, going back to my real problems now… :-p
Oh yeah, I hate that and don’t understand it! The whole point is the convenience of the reader, right?!
I totally agree with you about the comment section. Can I ask which comment system/plug-in you use on this blog? I’ve been wanting a more user friendly comment section than the one I have currently through blogger, but I honestly have no idea how to start updating it. Thanks for the tips!
Janine @ travelrunlive recently posted…Urban Mudder NYC recap
yes! i use commentluv for comments and comment reply notification for emails to readers after i’ve replied. i love both of them!
This is a great one! I hope more people move off Captcha – sometimes I have to go through the Captcha process 2-3x b/c it is being buggy. I would fully agree with visiting your own page as a guest – desktop and mobile! When my friends visited my old Tumblr site via mobile they said they couldn’t comment – I had no idea.
Jennifer recently posted…Chicago Marathon Training Week 8 Γ’ΒΒ 7/20-7/26
it really helps to visit your own blog regularly!!
Thanks for this! As a newer blogger, I find these tips quite useful!
I have my blog through wordpress right now-i think it has the notification when I get a comment but are you saying to add something else so that they know I have commented?
Thanks again!
comment reply notification is a plugin that will allow the READER/COMMENTER to receive your reply via email. otherwise, they would have no idea you replied without coming BACK to that same blog post. does that make sense? happy to help! π
Totally agree. Especially with the commenting thing. I tried commenting on a tumblr once and seriously, that was my brain exercise for the day.
I’m also a simple is better type of gal. I like clean layouts and if you’re page is too busy, it’s a major turn off. Coupled with tiny print and I’m not even reading anymore.
helly on the run recently posted…Chicago Marathon Training: Week 7 Recap
omg tiny print is the WORST!!
Easy commenting is a must! I am tired of the captcha and the “label of the pieces of sushi (or whatever) before commenting.
I’ve found the more intrusive an ad is, the more they pay.
Hollie recently posted…Run for the Hill of it 5 Miler (34:40)
Omg the captcha is so awful. I can’t STAND it!!
Great tips.
I am going to be doing a huge blog overhaul this year.
New design – cleaner, simpler, more professional.
Adding my run business stuff to it (once I get that going).
Offering ebooks and free downloads.
Just basically keeping the fun, but adding more business like stuff too.
I know it will be a long process, but i am so excited.
Thanks for the great tips always.
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Training Truths
Abby! That is awesome. I’m so excited to follow along π
Yes to every one of these!
Coco recently posted…Activity Tracker Comparisons — Garmin Vivosmart vs Jawbone UP
I knew you’d agree π
Great tips! As a newer blogger, it’s nice to know I’m heading in the right direction. I do need to install comment reply since I always do! Thanks for sharing blogging tips!
Michelle recently posted…Weekend Recap: 1st Birthday Vineyard Snapshots + More Hills
Yes, def add that plugin π
Pictures and graphics are a great addition to blog posts, especially longer posts. They help to break up the text and make posts more readable.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Running While Out of Town
Yes, it really does make it easier to read posts.
Wow. I love that you wrote this. I actually started implementing some of these tips last night, but I think it’s almost time to do a survey… I realized last night that my blog was just too cluttered. There was too much stuff going on that I wasn’t doing consistently. I figured out what I could deliver, and it wasn’t as much as I had on the blog, so I slimmed it down. It was kind of a relief. O_o
Emily recently posted…Why Fitness is No Longer My Life.
less is often more, especially when it comes to blogging!
I’m right there with you on the auto play sounds and easy commenting. Those are probably my two biggest annoyances in the blogging world.
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona recently posted…Weekly Workouts
right? i hate terrible commenting systems SO much!
These are great tips! I definitely agree when it comes to easy to read, non-cluttered posts. It can be too overwhelming to read posts that are busy or formatted in a way that’s not reader-friendly. The ease of commenting is really important too!
Thanks for sharing, Courtney!
Angie @ Pace with Grace Blog recently posted…Likes & Dislikes- Get to Know Me
The comment reply notification plugin is such a great idea! I really dislike Blogger’s native notification system so will look into a plugin. Thanks for all the tips! I learn something valuable every time you post these.
Thanks for saying that Jennifer! It’s helpful to know that these posts are still helping others!
All great tips. Two of them stand out for me though. I hate going to a blog that has a video ad on it and the page doesn’t load properly. I will exit and not go back sadly. The other is the comment notification…most blogs I comment on I never see if there is a response because I don’t remember who I commented on nor do I have the time to go back and look. A nice email in my inbox is awesome where I can read their reply and go back and comment more if I’d like. I don’t understand why people don’t install this! It’s so simple!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Lilytrotters Compression Sock Review: Where fashion meets function!
So with you on how simple comment reply notification. I have to think people just don’t know??