You’re here because you know your blog sucks …
You know that no one is reading it, you want that to change, but you aren’t quite sure how to fix it… amirite??
First of all, I promise I’m not here to pick on you or your blog – I know it’s your baby and you work hard on it! I’m a blogger myself.
I also know that it takes a lot of time, patience, and strategic action to grow a successful website… again, I’m a site owner and I have 7 profitable sites of my own (not to mention a few joint ventures with other bloggers and entrepreneurs).
WHY YOUR BLOG SUCKS AND HOW TO FIX IT
If you’ve been writing your heart out but getting little-to-no results from your efforts, I want to take a few minutes to help you change that ASAP.
In this article, we’re going to dive into some of the reasons why your blog might not be performing as well as you’d like and go through some actionable tips to help you turn things around.
There are a lot of potential reasons that your blog might not be getting the traffic and conversions you want, but these are some of the big ones:
1. THE SITE IS TOO NEW
Before we dig into the issues relating to your particular site, content, and strategies, let’s address the one thing that most new bloggers refuse to acknowledge…
It takes TIME to get eyes on your blog, no matter how great the blog may be.
If you have a brand new site (less than 6 months old), you have to be prepared for the possibility that one of the “problems” might just be the age of your site.
To check the age of your site just go to Who Is and type your domain name into the search bar. It’ll show you when the domain name was registered.
How to improve:
All you can do here is give it time.
Focus on improving on the 7 areas below and within the next year or so, you’ll start to see the results you’ve been working for. Although time frame and traffic will vary, if you implement these fixes in this article, you will be well on your way to the end goal!
2. No Clear Focus/Niche
This one is a hard one to acknowledge and fix when you’re first getting started.
But the truth is, you need your ENTIRE website to be dedicated to one specific area of information/education that is helpful to your target audience.
We can’t be all things to all people. We want humans and search engines to understand what the site is all about and who this site is for within seconds of landing on our homepage or any blog post.
How to improve:
Who are you writing for? Get clear on that first.
Your niche market is the unique group of humans that are searching for and wanting more information/recommendations on the topic that you write about. So write up a good long detailed page about what you’re going to focus on and who your readers are going to be.
3. Poor Quality Content
Let’s be honest. If you aren’t getting any traffic or conversions (but you have a clear niche focus), your blog content might not be that great. It might not be engaging, interesting, or informative enough.
But don’t worry; we all learn as we go in this field. The good news is that your content is fixable!
If your blog posts are shallow, boring, poorly researched, or riddled with errors, it’s unlikely they’ll hold your reader’s attention.
So think about the reader and focus on writing content that they are looking for and want to engage with!
How to improve:
Focus on creating high-quality content that provides VALUE to your readers. Find topics that your readers are searching for by using a keyword research tool like Keysearch.
Research your topic thoroughly, and make sure you’re using reputable sources to ensure accuracy. Write with clarity and substance, add images or screenshots whenever possible, and provide actionable tips and examples that readers can apply. And always proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes before hitting publish. Remember, your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your audience.
Related Article: How to Create Engaging Content Your Readers will Love!
And you’ll get better at this the more you do it, so keep it up!
4. Inconsistent Posting Schedule
Search engines and readers want to know that content creators are consistently creating fresh and relevant content. It’s just a fact.
If you’re not posting regularly, it’s hard for your audience to stay engaged and interested in your blog. A sporadic posting schedule makes it difficult for readers to develop a habit of visiting your blog and leaning on your expertise for their inquiries…
This can lead to a delay or decline in traffic.
And if you go too long between publishing new posts, search engines may also consider your site ‘less valuable’. Through years of research, we have learned that search engines want to see quality and consistency in content – if you don’t publish content for a few months, that’s a problem!
Check out this chart from First Page Sage which shows the importance of publishing consistent and HELPFUL content for your audience.
How to improve:
Set a consistent posting schedule and stick to it. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, consistency is key to building and maintaining your readership.
But don’t let more than a month pass without publishing fresh content or refreshing old content.
Use an editorial calendar to plan your content in advance and hold yourself accountable to your posting schedule.
You can grab my annual blog planner right here.
5. Lack of Promotion
Yes, you need a niche focus. You also need quality content and a consistent posting schedule…
But your content won’t reach its full potential if people don’t know it exists. Relying solely on organic traffic isn’t enough to build a strong online presence anymore, especially when you’re starting out.
Remember what we said about the TIME involved in growing your authority on search engines.
In the meantime, you gotta put yourself out there!
How to improve:
Share your blog posts on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to increase visibility.
You can participate in relevant forums, online communities, and blog comment sections to connect with potential readers and showcase your expertise. Collaborate with other bloggers in your niche through guest posting, interviews, or roundups to expand your reach and build your credibility.
And join Facebook groups that allow you to share your expertise (and your blog) when relevant. You can join my FREE Facebook community for bloggers right here.
6. Ignoring SEO Best Practices
If you’re not optimizing your blog for search engines, you’re missing out on a significant source of organic traffic.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps increase the visibility of your blog on search engines like Google, making it easier for potential readers to find your content.
In my opinion, it’s more important than social media or any other kind of promotion. SEO brings the readers to YOU right when they are searching for the topics you write about. They all play a role, but SEO is an absolute essential, so learn all you can and start implementing right away.
How to improve:
Learn the basics of SEO, such as proper keyword research to identify popular search terms related to your niche. Optimize your title tags, meta descriptions, and URL structures for your target keywords. Use subheadings strategically (e.g., H2 and H3 tags) to make your content more readable. Put some effort into backlink strategies to get other site owners linking back to you.
Take advantage of this FREE SEO Masterclass for bloggers.
7. Unappealing Design and User Experience
Looks aren’t everything, but a clean site that’s easy to navigate is important.
An unattractive or hard-to-navigate website can drive visitors away before they even have a chance to read your content. A well-designed blog helps create a positive first impression and enhances the overall user experience.
How to improve:
Invest in a clean, professional-looking design that’s easy to navigate. I like the Astra theme.
Make sure your blog is mobile-responsive, as many readers access content on their smartphones or tablets. Use clear calls-to-action to guide your visitors, and pay attention to your site’s loading speed, as slow-loading pages can deter readers.
8. Not Engaging with Your Audience
Your readers are your most valuable asset. Ignoring their comments, questions, or feedback can hinder your blog growth.
And you don’t only have to engage with them on your blog. You can also engage with them via email, social media, Facebook groups etc.
How to improve:
Make an effort to engage with your readers, respond to their comments, and be open to their feedback.
Pay attention to their needs, their questions and concerns.This will help you build relationships and foster a sense of community.
Make your mission, your message, and your niche clear on every page of your website so that you aren’t wasting any valuable time engaging with those that are not your target audience.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The good news is: if you know your blog sucks and what needs to be done to fix it, you can get to work asap and start changing things to get different results.
Most importantly, remember that a clear focus, great content, strong SEO, and a little time and patience will take you a long way toward your blogging goals.
Put in the work, pivot when needed, and keep a positive attitude through the ups and downs.
I’m here in your corner and I’ve got your back!