A lot of people don’t realize it but your blog is a social website, too.  In fact, it’s probably the most valuable social networking tool you can have in your Internet marketing toolbox.  Think about it.  You spend all your time posting on Twitter and Facebook and joining forums and Buzzing on Google.  But what are you trying to do at all those different social sites?  If you’re smart, you’re trying to drive traffic back to your blog.  And once all that traffic gets there, your blog becomes a social website, too.

Most marketers are aware of the fact that in order to make the best use of social networking sites you have to get in there and socialize.  NOT sell.  You have to develop a following and make friends and become a member of the community.  But once you become a member of that community then people start checking out your blog.  Which is exactly what you want them to do but if you want them to keep checking out your blog and keep coming back, you have to give them a reason.

People like to socialize, otherwise sites like Twitter and Facebook wouldn’t even exist.  So you’re driving all of this sociable traffic right to your blog and then when they get there, then what?  That’s when most marketers start hitting their visitors up with the hard sell.  And that’s the worst thing you can do.  Those people followed you to your blog because you seemed like someone they’d like to get to know better – someone they’d like to socialize with.  If they wanted to buy something, they’d go to their search bar and type in whatever it is they’re looking for and they’d go buy it.

Think about it.  When’s the last time YOU visited a blog to buy something?  You don’t.  You type it in the search bar, too.  But you do visit blogs to learn more about the blogger and after you get to know him you might just listen to him when he tells you you really should buy this blue widget because YOU use it and it’s marvelous.

If you really want to increase your traffic and keep visitors coming back then you should treat your blog more like a social website.  Don’t bombard your visitors with facts and data and ads all the time.  An informative article doesn’t always have to sound like something you’d read at Wikipedia.  And every article doesn’t have to be informative.  Think about the blogs that you visit and what keeps you coming back and look for ways to engage your visitors.  If they followed you to your blog from another social website that means they like you enough to want to get to know you better.  So let them – don’t just scare them away once they get there.

In fact, try inviting your visitors to stick around and socialize.   There are a few websites, like PollDaddy.com where you can set up free polls and post them right on your blog to have some fun.  Or just ask your readers to give you their opinion on whatever the topic of the day is.

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What kind of blogs do YOU like to read and what keeps YOU coming back for more?

Give us YOUR Two Cents in the Comments!

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