You came up with a catchy headline and great content.
You post great content with lots of information.
You can share your article on different social media profiles.
After all that hard work, you still can’t connect with your readers.
You feel frustrated because you are not getting the right attention through shares and comments.
There was no urge to do more. Everything around me seemed boring.
If you are going through this frustrating phase, I totally understand how you feel.
Did you know about this remarkable study?
A Microsoft study highlighted the decline in human attention span, saying it has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds currently.
How does it relate to your writing skills?
Now, you only have 8 seconds to hook the reader with smooth text. You must make up for the lost 4 seconds by engaging the reader more deeply.
wait!!
I am not here to discourage you. I want you to realize one thing. Despite this research, you can still easily capture your readers’ attention.
You don’t have to put in any extra effort to connect with your readers. There’s no deep science behind it. It’s easier than you think.
Five Powerful Ways to Build a Deeper Connection with Your Readers
Discover Your Passion
This is the first and most important step:
Develop a deep interest in your subject. If you don't love your subject, how can you expect to attract readers? You reap what you sow, right?
When pursuing any niche, don’t just think about the monetary aspect.
Always remember one thing:
[Tweet “Never judge any blogger’s efforts based solely on their income reports. Money isn’t everything.”]
If you really want to grow your blog, be aware of the pains and struggles of successful bloggers. Your work must reflect your passion. Always aim for a long-term commitment. Don’t be fooled by temporary traps.
Start looking for topics you are interested in. Before spreading the information to your readers, improve your skills by reading articles from top bloggers in your field.
Understand your readers’ needs
After shaping your interests, gather the right resources to shape your readers’ lives.
Before writing any post, ask yourself this question:
Why should readers follow me?
remember:
[Tweet “Knowledge of your target audience isn’t the answer to all problems. Understand what your target audience wants.”]
There is no use stuffing your blog with informative articles if you don’t understand the psychology of your readers. All your efforts will go to waste.
Pro Tips:
In addition to reading blog posts from your favorite bloggers, also spend some time reading the comments from readers. After reading different comments on different posts, you will understand the mindset of your readers.
Treat your readers like your best friends
How do you interact with your best friend?
You say whatever you want. There is no sense of domination. You laugh together. You are open to any suggestions. You feel comfortable with your friends.
You have to do the same with your readers.
Be open. Ask your readers questions. Give them space to share their opinions. It doesn’t matter if you are an authority in the field or not.
Never forget this:
Learning never ends.
Thank your readers for their suggestions. If you write a new blog post based on those suggestions, mention that reader’s name in the new post. Make them feel special.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelou
This simple act will create a stronger connection with your readers. Other readers will also be happy to offer their suggestions.
Show your vulnerable side
Treat your readers like your best friends and you can easily show your vulnerable side. Don't always show your perfect side.
Don’t forget:
You are a person.
Delight your readers by sharing your fears, weaknesses, and concerns. Make them realize they are not interacting with a robot.
Use phrases like “You are not alone,” “I’ve been through this phase too,” or “I totally understand your problem” to make them feel comfortable.
By expressing your shortcomings, you accomplish two important things:
- You become a source of inspiration. By sharing your tragic experience, you strengthen the confidence of your readers.
- You build a deeper connection with your readers. During happy times, everyone asks about one's well-being. When you help others during difficult times, you build a strong bond.
Share your personal story
Let’s say you are thinking of writing about a particular topic. And, there are already a lot of articles published on this topic.
The problem arises:
Why should readers read your work?
People may steal your content ideas. However, no one can steal your personal stories. Those stories are what make a post “yours.”
Start telling stories that only you can tell, because there will always be better writers than you, there will always be smarter writers than you. ~ Neil Gaiman
Each has its own strengths. When you start connecting your personal life stories with your posts, no one can stop you from achieving your ideal engagement rate.
Your story has the magical power to draw readers in. Don’t waste this treasure by thinking, “What will people think of me?” Get over these unfounded thoughts and write your posts in your own personal style.
Presenting visual sketches
Have you read Khalil Gibran’s Broken Wings?
The author writes this whole story of alienation and longing for connection with such great emotion that I could imagine the whole scene right before my eyes while reading this book.
This trait is the hallmark of a successful writer.
In a similar way, you must take your readers on a visual journey.
Create a happy ending at the beginning of your blog. Let your readers know what they will get after reading your blog’s main points.
Start your blog by describing a real situation that your readers are in. You can start with anyone's real story.
By planting a happy or relatable sketch in your mind, you create an emotional bond with your readers.
A few more points to note:
- Never confuse your readers. When using any technical term, explain the term upfront. Don't assume that your readers know everything.
- There is no use showing off your vocabulary. No one is interested in your vocabulary. Use common words. Don't expect your readers to sit in front of a dictionary.
- When you talk about a specific topic, connect all the main points to form your point. Don't add random content just to increase the length of the article. You are writing for readers, not for Google robots.
- Come up with some innovative ideas to motivate your readers. Offer a free cheat sheet without any email sign-up required, run a contest to give free software to the first three readers, or offer your service at a reduced price for a limited time.
Do you know the perfect secret to long-term blog growth?
It requires a two-way conversation.
You can't grow without the help of your readers. Make them happy and everything else will fall into place. Listen and understand your readers' problems.
Let them realize their true path. Share wonderful things with them. Treat them like family.
Ask you a question:
How do you connect with your readers?
I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click through to visit us, at no extra cost to you. See how SidelinePlay is funded, why it’s important, and how you can support us.
Was this helpful?