7 ways to build an audience for your blog

How do you get customers and potential customers to notice and read your blog?

Here are some key tenets for attracting readers that I’ve shared with clients.

1. Take advantage of existing email lists. You probably have an email database of existing customers somewhere. Why not repurpose blog content in the next email or e-newsletter to that audience? Tease these readers with a tweak of your blog headline and give them a link to your new blog (even ask them to subscribe so they can get each new post right in their email inbox).

2. Create a strategy for the links your blog displays. This is one of the more overlooked strategies for building a readership online. Be purposeful about the sites and other blogs to which you link. Here are some tips: Link often to the blogs on your blogroll (that’s the section on your blog where you share the links from other blogs). Link to potential customer blogs you’re hoping to attract. Link to prominent bloggers in your niche. Remember, each time you link to these blogs, those bloggers will get a note alerting them to your post (the hope is they’ll visit your blog read it, and possibly comment, share your post, or subscribe). It’s simple, yet potentially powerful strategy to build a blog community.