Many people get confused on what exactly readers and traffic really are. Some people think they are the same thing, while others are simply confused on the matter in general. If you have a blog, however, it is of the utmost importance that you recognize the big difference between these two.
What Is Traffic?
Traffic is the amount of people who come to your page. This even includes people who accidentally click on your page or glance around once before leaving. Traffic numbers may look important, but they are fairly irrelevant in the long run.
What Are Readers?
Readers are those who actually read your content. They take the time out of their day to read your posts, and these means they are immensely more important. Whereas your traffic can often give you no way to gain their trust, your readers do this on a constant basis. A true reader’s view is yet another opportunity to get their loyalty.
How To Tell Readers From Traffic
Now I’m not saying you should completely ignore your traffic numbers. This number can serve several purposes, such as determining your ability to gain conversions. For these purposes, however, just ignore it. There are multiple ways to figure out how many readers you actually have, instead of just general traffic. Here are a few ideas on how to figure out how many your blog, new or old, may have:
1. How many people have subscribed to your blog via email? If someone wants to be emailed every time you post a new article, then they obviously readers.
2. How much interaction are you getting on your blog posts? This includes likes, comments, and shares. People who interact with your blog posts have obviously read them.
3. How many followers do you have on your various social media sites? Many people will opt to follow you on social media instead of subscribe. Chances are high that your followers are also your readers.
Why Readers Are More Important
Readers are more important for most bloggers. If you want to gain the public’s trust or create loyal buyers for your products, you need readers. In fact, just a few loyal readers (let’s say 10) can be far better for your company than 1,000 page views. Readers are also more likely to interact with your content. This includes sharing your posts, which is basically like free advertising. Who doesn’t love a bit of free exposure?
Tips On Creating Readers Versus Traffic
If you want to create loyal readers instead of bring in traffic which may or may not stick around, here are a few tips:
1. Write informative, unique content. Your content is key, because no one will want to read what you write if they feel like it is a waste of their time.
2. Engage. Reply to comments when possible. If it is not always possible, at least try to give their comments a like, plus,o r thumbs up.
3. Gear your marketing efforts towards bringing in readers who are interested in what you have to offer. This will work much better than broad-based marketing that tries to bring anyone on the internet to your website.
4. Ensure you have chosen the appropriate tone for your blog. Business blogs will want to be more formal, while more personal blog niches (such as makeup, weight loss, parenting tips, etc.) will need to be more informal. Blogs on children’s toys will want to be playful, while blogs on charities will need to be more serious.
5. Always be honest. Never lie to your audience, as that will only backfire in the end.
6. Keep your articles long and your paragraphs short. Articles should ideally be over three hundred words. Your paragraphs, on the other hand, should be no more than five or six sentences.
Conclusion
Readers are more important than general traffic because they give you a chance to gain their trust. This in turn leads for more opportunities to gain loyal customers. Utilizing the above tips can help gain your blog, new or old, loyal readers. In no time you will be able to see the differences a few loyal readers can make first hand.
