🌱🌱Is This Why Your Blog Isn't Growing? Part 3🌱🌱

Hey Jesus Blogger!

This is Day 3 of my email series "Is this why your blog isn't growing?"

And if neither Day 1 or Day 2 resonated with you...don't worry I think THIS email will be the one.

• Day 1 said: Cut out the noise.
• Day 2 said: God's the one holding you back.
• Day 3 is all about practical tips.

But before we get on with the practical tips. I'm going to give you a hard pill to swallow

Don't hate me. Okay?

I'm a developer and designer and a Christian. And some of the Christian blogs I see out there...they hurt me.

They have strange font. Strange images. No direction. The blog posts aren't formatted to be easily read. It's just a mess.

I'm not saying my blogs are perfect. Far, far from it...but there are some bloggers that are really upset that they are spending so much time on their blogs and not seeing success.

And my answer is...ugh...honey, I'm really sorry to say this...but your baby is ugly.

And, like, I know that shouldn't matter. Because, like, it's Jesus' message. And it's beautiful. But no.

THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY:

You know when you hear a REALLY good singer at church...and then you hear an "okayish" singer...and then you hear a really bad singer.

On Sunday morning, you are really hoping it's the really good one on stage. But if she's not there you're fine listening to the okay one...but the bad one...you're wishing you'd brought some earbuds to worship.

Let's think about the singer's outfit.

We will make amends if the really good singer is wearing a burlap sack. We will make less amends if the okay singer is wearing the same burlap sack. But if the really bad singer is wearing a burlap sack, we just feel bad for her.

So...it's like this.

Your blog might be a really good singer wearing a burlap sack. Or an okay singer wearing a burlap sack. If your blog is like the last one...well, let's just hope that's not you. And if God's called you to blog, and your a bad signer in a burlap sack...he's a miracle worker...so there's that.

There are a couple ways to change out of the burlap sack into an evening gown or some other appropriate church-choir-wearing-attire.

Okay...off the burlap sack/singer analogy.

Here are a few practical thoughts for a blog that's not performing well.

1) Think Transformation

What is the transformation you are offering to your readership?

Are you helping her grow closer to God? Do you want to get her started on Bible journaling? Are you helping her overcome addiction?

Whatever transformation you are trying to take her through...make sure everything on your blog points to that. That is your lens to look through. Stop writing "low hanging fruit" posts that you think will get you pageviews.

If you are trying to help single moms...don't write blog posts about married women. It seems obvious, but many times we get caught up on what we THINK will grow our blog that we forget our main purpose.

I've written extensively on how too many topics can hurt your blog. If you need to start another blog to write about something other than your main point, that's fine. Or use them as guest blogs. Whatever. Just don't muddy the water with fluff that detracts from the transformation you are trying to deliver.

And if you are writing to single moms...what's her transformation? What's her pain point? What value are you adding to her life? What problem are you trying to solve for her.

Let every post come out of that mental transaction.

2) The F-Pattern & Online Reading

I've gone to so many blogs only to click away because I'm trying to skim it...but there is no skimmable content.

For years, people have studied how people read online.

Here is the basics of online reading:

• In general, we read in an F-shaped pattern
• We like lists
• We skip large paragraphs
• We like subheadings

If you aren't doing this...you're losing readers.

Do this exercise. On your phone, pull up ONE blog post that you know a friend/husband has never read. Ask them to skim it. Give them 30 seconds. Take your phone away from them, then ask them what the post was about.

If they aren't really getting it, go through and reformat your blog posts. Make sure it's skimmable.

3) You're Trying to Conquer Too Many Things

Facebook groups, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Tailwind, blogging, and writing emails.

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "Jack of all trades, but the master of none" right?

You just can't be everywhere all the time.

You might be doing all the things...but not doing all the things well.

Ask yourself what is the RESULT you are trying to achieve.

Then, try dropping a few thing and focusing in on only one or two things that will get those results.

I would suggest email as #1 -- because connecting with your userbase and making them superfans will get you all the things!

And #2 should be either:

• Pinterest: if you are trying to get pageviews
• Product Creation: if you are trying to make money. (Check out my new Shopify course if you are interested in selling products on your blog...including physical products with NO inventory)

Personal Request

So...after all this is said and done, which of the 3 days helped you the most?

Hit reply and let me know!

~Elaine @Jesus-Blogger.com

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