How to Make Your Blog Stand Out in 2021

TL;DR

Enhance your blog's uniqueness with CSS, updates, and author bios.

Transcript

(upbeat music) - Hi everyone, I'm Emily Campbell, associate director of content marketing at Siege Media. And today I'll be talking through some tips for how to make your blog unique. At siege, we've worked with countless clients in many different industries. So we've really learned what works to create a blog that resonates with users and your tar... Read More

Key Insights

• Customizable CSS classes can enhance blog aesthetics, making elements like charts and graphs cohesive across posts, improving user experience.
• Incorporating a 'last updated' element boosts content credibility by informing readers of the content's freshness and relevance.
• Author bios add a personal touch, increasing engagement by highlighting contributors, potentially with headshots and detailed bios.
• Read times and sticky nav bars help manage reader expectations and engagement, indicating content length and progress.
• Thoughtful stock photography strategies, like custom treatments, can elevate brand perception and ensure visual consistency.
• Evaluate the necessity of a comment section based on available resources for moderation and potential engagement levels.
• Social media can serve as an alternative platform for engaging with readers, reducing the need for a blog comment section.
• Regularly assessing these elements ensures a blog remains fresh, engaging, and aligned with brand strategy.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can customizable CSS classes enhance a blog's appearance?

Customizable CSS classes allow for a consistent and aesthetically pleasing design across blog posts. By incorporating elements like charts and graphs seamlessly, blogs can offer a cohesive look that enhances user experience. This consistency helps in creating a visually appealing blog, making it stand out and resonate with the audience.

Q: Why is incorporating a 'last updated' element beneficial for blog posts?

A 'last updated' element signals to readers the freshness of the content, which is crucial for topics that require current information. It boosts the credibility and trustworthiness of the blog, encouraging readers to engage with the content, knowing it is up-to-date and relevant to their queries.

Q: What role do author bios play in blog engagement?

Author bios personalize the blog, allowing readers to connect with the contributors. By adding headshots and detailed bios, blogs can highlight the expertise and personality of the authors, which can increase reader trust and engagement, making the content more relatable and credible.

Q: How do read times and sticky nav bars improve reader engagement?

Read times give readers an idea of how much time they need to invest in an article, helping them decide whether to engage with the content. Sticky nav bars show reading progress, which can motivate readers to continue, especially with long-form content, reducing the likelihood of bouncing off the page.

Q: What considerations should be made regarding stock photography in blogs?

Using stock photography requires a strategy to ensure the images align with the brand's premium feel. Custom treatments, such as borders or color tints, can elevate the appearance of stock images, making them feel more integrated and cohesive with the blog's overall design and brand identity.

Q: How should a blog decide on having a comment section?

Deciding on a comment section involves evaluating the resources available for moderation. If a brand can manage and engage with comments effectively, it can foster community interaction. However, if resources are limited, it might be better to use social media for reader engagement to prevent spam and maintain quality.

Q: Can social media replace a blog's comment section?

Social media can serve as an alternative platform for reader engagement, offering a space for interaction without the need for comment moderation on the blog itself. This approach can be beneficial for brands with limited resources, allowing them to focus on maintaining quality interactions in a controlled environment.

Q: What is the importance of regularly assessing blog elements?

Regularly assessing blog elements ensures that the content remains fresh, engaging, and aligned with the brand's strategy. By continuously evaluating and updating aspects like design, content freshness, and engagement strategies, blogs can maintain their appeal and relevance, effectively attracting and retaining readers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Emily Campbell from Siege Media shares insights on making blogs stand out by utilizing customizable CSS, branded social buttons, and content freshness indicators. These elements contribute to a cohesive and engaging user experience, enhancing the blog's appeal and relevance.

• Author bios and read times are recommended to personalize content and manage reader expectations. These strategies help maintain reader engagement and highlight the contributors, making the blog more relatable and trustworthy.

• Evaluating the use of stock photography and comment sections is crucial. Custom treatments for images and deciding on comment management based on resources can significantly impact brand perception and reader interaction.