Every blogger is looking for a way to reduce the time it takes to complete each task on their to-do list in order to be more productive. It\u2019s only natural, but some shortcuts do more harm than good.<\/p>\n

These shortcuts may save you time, but you\u2019ll be losing an even bigger resource: a chance to genuinely connect with your audience, nurture your leads, and close a future sale.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s make sure the shortcuts you\u2019re taking\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0the ones that will cost you.<\/p>\n

No Blog Visuals<\/h3>\n

Your blog needs visuals. End of story. In order to be an effective blogger, you need to entice your readers with your words\u00a0and\u00a0images. Whether you shoot your own photos, use\u00a0free stock photography, or create branded visuals in Photoshop, you must be on your visual A-game.<\/p>\n

Blog photos also have a big social media factor. Your readers are more likely to share your content via pins on Pinterest or reposts on Instagram if your visuals are aesthetically appealing. Visuals hook your readers before they dive into the text of your post. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity.<\/p>\n

Not Reading Other Blogs<\/h3>\n

I know creating and maintaining your own blog is a big time investment in itself, but in order to establish a community, you must go the extra mile and read other blogs too. There\u2019s no magic number for how many blogs you need to read in a week or how many hours you need to spend, but try to find your sweet spot. Reading other blogs will often give you clarity on your own blog, help you learn something new from others in your niche, and make lasting connections.<\/p>\n

To help you save time searching for good blog content, I recommend\u00a0Bloglovin<\/a>\u00a0for curating a list of your favorite blogs. It features a customized home feed that automatically updates each time a post has been published on a blog you\u2019ve chosen to follow. One of my favorite features is that it notifies you when a person likes your blog post, making it easier to see what content is connecting with your audience. The tool also allows you to create categories so you can segment each niche you are interested in.<\/p>\n

Social Media Automation<\/h3>\n

By this, I don\u2019t mean you can\u2019t schedule any social media posts. I use tools like\u00a0Hootsuite<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0TweetDeck<\/a>\u00a0on occasion to schedule posts if I find several articles I want to share with my audience in one sitting but don\u2019t want to share them all at the same time (hello, spam!). I do mean you should handpick the content you share and accounts you follow rather than letting an automation tool do the choosing for you.<\/p>\n

Key takeaway: you can\u2019t automate relationships. If you only schedule posts and never answer replies, your readers will see you more like a robot than a person. That\u2019s not something you want. Match their effort, and you will see more traffic and engagement.<\/p>\n

Creating a Bad User Experience<\/h3>\n

Just because you are head over heels in love with a specific design element doesn\u2019t mean your readers are too. Look at your analytics and see what web pages your audience is interacting well with. The best way to know how your readers like your website design is to ASK. This can be done through social media polls, personalized emails, and reader surveys. Show that you care about their experience.<\/p>\n

Make your blog design a priority, whether that means you code the website yourself, use a pre-made template, or invest in a professional custom development. If you are looking for a custom blog design, I recommend\u00a0Kory Woodard<\/a>,\u00a0Whitney Blake<\/a>, or\u00a0Rekita Nicole<\/a>\u00a0to name a few. Don\u2019t be afraid to make tweaks to your blog if it betters the user experience.<\/p>\n

Not Commenting Back<\/h3>\n

If you are trying to authentically grow your blog, replying to comments on your blog is a no-brainer. Why have the comment section open if you don’t comment back?\u00a0Erika Madden<\/a>\u00a0recently wrote a great blog post on\u00a0how to treat your blog\u2019s comment section<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your comment section is a big opportunity to start a conversation with your readers. Bloggers like\u00a0Gina Alyse<\/a>,\u00a0Olivia Adams<\/a>, and\u00a0Geraldine Estevez<\/a>\u00a0do a fantastic job of commenting back while also returning the favor by commenting on their readers\u2019 blogs. This is what the blogging community is all about. Keep the cycle going.<\/p>\n

There is no shortcut to building a strong online presence with your blog. It takes hard work, consistency, persistence, and a lot of your time. I promise it will be worth it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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