There’s tons of blogs out there but only a few of them are being run by bloggers who want to become successful bloggers and make money blogging. If you are one of these diamonds in the rough, you need to ask yourself one question: How can I make my blog addictive?

In web marketing terms, addictive means sticky. You want people to remember your blog and be drawn to visiting it, so much so that reading your posts becomes a daily habit for them. But it doesn’t stop there, either. The most essential component to the success of a blog is the blogger’s ability to inspire others to talk about the blog.

Here are a few things you can work on to make your blog sticky:

Use an attractive layout. There’s something to be said for first impressions. The visual aspect of your blog will first catch the attention of your audience while the content makes them stay. Be conscious of the colour and theme of your blog as it should speak to your readers, telling them visually what your blog is all about and why they should be interested in it. Search through the many WordPress themes or Blogger themes to look for the most suitable one. If you have money to invest in your blog, Apollo Media just happens to have a web development team ready and willing to work with our creative department for all your blog needs.

Brand your blog. Branding is another internet marketing term but it basically means your target audience will instantly recognize you. Much like the previous tip, everything you use in your blog, like the colours, theme, logo, tagline, etc., will become a brain bookmark for your audience. All of it connects you as an authority for your subject in the minds of your audience. When it works and people talk about you they’ll say things like, “Ya, you know, the Rock Blogger…the rock music blog with the black background and the funky, psychedelic artwork header?”

Provide valuable content. Your copy is probably the most important aspect to your blog. People read blogs to learn more about a subject so there should be an element of education in every post. However, you don’t want them sleeping at their keyboards either, so spice it up and make it entertaining! Turn your lesson into a story by using a personal anecdote, popular movie, fairytale, etc. Try using metaphors from familiar concepts so they “get it”. The reason why you’re writing is for your audience, right? Attempt to make it as easy as possible for them to understand your point of view.

Find viral trends. Check out the blogs in your field and be especially aware of the posts that generate a lot of discussion. Those are the topics you want to discuss in your posts but don’t just reiterate what others say; find your own unique view to talk about.

Inspire comments. When you find hot topics and discuss them using your point of view, don’t be afraid to be honest. Actually, honesty will throw you into the lime light faster than a cat exits a bathtub of water, so don’t hold back! Be controversial and you’ll be certain to get a lot of comments – good, bad, ugly…they all contribute to the popularity of your blog.

Tease your readers. Movie makers got it right: people love sneak peaks of what’s coming up. Bloggers often miss this very effective tactic of providing a teaser for their next few posts. For the sake of clarity, most posts should stick to one point. However, if you’re writing about a topic that deserves more than one post, then why not give your readers a little tease? Let them know you’ll discuss the same topic in further detail in future posts. I can guarantee that if they liked this post, they’ll be on the edge of their seat waiting for more.

There’s six ways in which you can start making your blog sticky for your target audience. A successful blog strategy includes these tips as well as persistence, dedication and passion. Let us know how it works out for you and don’t forget to keep coming back to the Apollo Media Blog to learn more in how you can become a problogger!