10 Tips to Gain More Blog Readers

I'll never forget the first time I checked my blog stats and saw actual people – like, strangers I'd never met – reading my stuff.

It was maybe 47 visitors that day. Which probably sounds laughably small if you're used to big numbers. But to me? It felt massive. Because up until that point, my blog had been this thing I poured hours into that basically existed in a vacuum. Just me, talking to myself, hoping someone might stumble across it someday.

Those 47 people meant someone out there actually cared about what I had to say.

Fast forward a couple years, and I'm pulling in thousands of readers every month. Not influencer numbers or anything. But real people who show up, read my posts, leave comments, and sometimes even email me to say something I wrote helped them.

And here's what's wild: getting those readers wasn't about doing one big thing. It was about doing a bunch of small things that, over time, just... added up.

So if you're sitting there feeling like you're shouting into the void, wondering how to actually get people to read your blog? Here are the ten things that genuinely worked for me. Not theory. Not stuff that sounds good on paper. Actual tactics that brought real readers to my blog.

1. Write Headlines That Make People Click (Even If It Feels Uncomfortable)

Okay, let's start with the uncomfortable truth I had to learn the hard way.

Your headline matters more than almost anything else about your post.

I used to write these really vague, literary-sounding headlines because I thought they made me sound sophisticated. Things like "Reflections on Modern Life" or "Thoughts About Productivity in a Digital Age."

And you know what happened? Nobody clicked. Because nobody wakes up thinking "gosh, I really want to read some vague reflections today."

Then I started writing headlines that were more... direct. Specific. That promised something concrete.

Instead of "Thoughts About Productivity," I wrote "Why You Can't Focus (And the 3-Minute Fix That Actually Works)."

Instead of "Reflections on Blogging," I wrote "I Made $0 From My Blog For Two Years – Here's What Changed."

Guess which ones people clicked?

Here's what I learned about good headlines:

• They're specific, not vague
• They promise a benefit or answer a question
• They create curiosity without being clickbait-y
• They sound like something a real person would say

You don't have to be manipulative or sleazy about it. Just be clear about what your post delivers. Tell people exactly why they should spend their time reading it.

I know it might feel weird at first. Like you're being too salesy or something. But think about it from the reader's perspective – they're scrolling through dozens of headlines. You've got maybe two seconds to convince them yours is worth clicking.

Make those two seconds count.

2. Show Up in Google (Learn Basic SEO, I Promise It's Not That Hard)

For the longest time, I actively avoided learning about SEO because it sounded technical and boring.

Big mistake. Huge.

Because here's the thing: Google is probably going to be your biggest source of readers. Not social media. Not luck. Google. People searching for answers to their questions and finding your blog.

But Google can't send people to your blog if it doesn't know what your blog is about.

Learning basic SEO changed everything for me. And I'm not talking about becoming some technical expert. Just understanding the fundamentals:

Figure out what people are searching for. Use free tools like Google's autocomplete or AnswerThePublic. See what questions real people are actually asking about your topic.

Use those search terms in your post. Not in a weird, stuffing-keywords-everywhere way. Just naturally. In your title, in your headers, throughout your content. If people are searching for "how to start a podcast," make sure those words actually appear in your post.

Write long, helpful content. Google tends to rank longer, more comprehensive posts higher. Not because length matters on its own, but because longer posts usually cover topics more thoroughly. Aim for at least 1,500 words when you're trying to rank for something.

Make your post easy to read. Use headers (H2, H3 tags). Break up your text. Add bullet points. Google actually looks at this stuff because it signals that your content is user-friendly.

That's it. That's the basic SEO that'll get you started. You don't need to obsess over technical details or pay for expensive tools. Just write good content about topics people are searching for, and make it easy for Google to understand what you're talking about.

I've got posts that bring in hundreds of visitors every single day on autopilot because they rank well in Google. That's the power of basic SEO.

3. Actually Promote Your Posts (No, Really, You Have To)

This is where a lot of bloggers – including past me – completely drop the ball.

You spend hours writing this great post. You hit publish. And then... you just wait for people to magically find it?

That's not how it works.

I used to think if I wrote good content, people would naturally discover it. Like the internet was this meritocracy where quality automatically rises to the top.

Nope. The internet is noisy. Your great post is competing with millions of other posts published that same day. If you don't actively promote it, it's going to sit there gathering digital dust.

Here's what I do now for every post I publish:

Share it on social media. And not just once. I'll share it multiple times over the following weeks, with different angles or quotes. Most of your followers won't see the first share, so don't be shy about posting it again.

Send it to my email list. If you've been building that list (and you should be), let them know you published something new. That's why they signed up.

Share it in relevant communities. Facebook groups, Reddit communities, Slack groups – wherever your target audience hangs out. But be genuine about it. Don't just drop links. Actually participate in the conversation and share your post when it's genuinely relevant.

Reach out to people you mentioned. If you quoted someone or linked to their work, send them a quick email letting them know. They might share it with their audience.

Repurpose the content. Turn your blog post into a Twitter thread, an Instagram carousel, a LinkedIn post. Different people consume content in different ways.

I know self-promotion feels awkward. It did for me too. But here's the reframe that helped: you worked hard on something valuable. Promoting it isn't being annoying – it's making sure the people who need it actually find it.

Your content can't help anyone if they don't know it exists.

4. Comment on Other Blogs (But Don't Be Spammy About It)

This is old-school advice that actually still works. Maybe even works better now because fewer people do it.

Find blogs in your niche – not competitors exactly, but people writing about similar topics or for similar audiences. And actually read their stuff. Then leave real, thoughtful comments.

Not "Great post!" with a link to your blog. That's spam and everyone knows it.

I'm talking about genuine engagement. Adding to the conversation. Sharing your own experience with what they wrote about. Asking a thoughtful question.

You know what happens when you do this consistently? A few things:

People check out your blog. Because they see your name and they're curious who you are.

The blog owner notices you. And sometimes they'll check out your blog, comment on your posts, or even mention you in future content.

You build actual relationships. Which matters more than you might think in the blogging world.

Plus – and this is a nice SEO bonus – many blog comments include a link back to your site. Those backlinks add up over time.

But here's the key: it has to be genuine. If you're just doing it for the backlink or the traffic, people can tell. And it won't work anyway.

I probably spend 30 minutes a week just reading and commenting on other blogs. It's part of my routine now. And it's brought me steady traffic, good relationships, and honestly, it's just nice. Blogging can be isolating. Engaging with other bloggers reminds you there's a community out there.

5. Make Your Best Content Easy to Find

Here's something I didn't realize for way too long: most of your new readers aren't going to explore your entire blog.

They're going to land on one post – probably from Google or social media. Read it. And then... they're gone.

Unless you make it really, really easy for them to find more of your good stuff.

I used to have this philosophy that if people wanted to read more, they'd just... click around. Explore. Figure it out.

That's not what happens. People are lazy. Or busy. Or both. If you don't explicitly show them where to go next, they're leaving.

So now I do a few things:

Link to related posts within every post. When I mention a topic I've written about before, I link to it. When I finish a post, I add a "You might also like" section with 2-3 related posts.

Create a "start here" page. Where you tell new readers who you are and guide them to your best content. Make it easy to find – put it in your navigation menu.

Feature your best posts prominently. In your sidebar, at the top of your homepage, wherever. Don't make people dig through your archives to find your good stuff.

Add calls-to-action. At the end of every post, tell people what to do next. "If you found this helpful, you'll love this other post." "Want more tips like this? Join my email list." Give them a next step.

The goal is to turn one-time visitors into regular readers. And that happens when they read one great post, immediately find another great post, and start to think "okay, this blog is actually valuable."

6. Guest Post on Bigger Blogs (Even If It's Scary)

Guest posting is one of those things that intimidated me for years.

The idea of pitching to bigger blogs, potentially getting rejected, putting my work out there under someone else's brand – it all felt risky and uncomfortable.

But when I finally did it? Game changer.

Guest posting on established blogs gets you in front of audiences you'd never reach otherwise. You're borrowing their credibility and their platform. And if you write something good, a portion of their readers will follow you back to your blog.

Plus there's the SEO benefit – you usually get a link back to your site, which helps your Google rankings.

Here's how to actually do it:

Find blogs that accept guest posts. Look for blogs in your niche that are bigger than yours (but not impossibly huge). Many will have a "write for us" page. Or just search "[your niche] guest post opportunities."

Read their content first. Actually read what they publish. Understand their audience and their style. Don't pitch blindly.

Pitch a specific idea. Don't say "I'd love to write for you!" Say "I noticed you haven't covered X topic. I'd like to write a post about Y, which would help your readers with Z." Be specific and show you understand their audience.

Write your best work. This isn't the place for recycled content or half-effort posts. You want people to read it and think "who is this person? I need to check out their blog."

Have a good author bio. At the end of your guest post, you usually get a short bio with a link to your site. Make it compelling. Tell people why they should visit your blog.

I was terrified the first time I pitched a guest post. I almost didn't hit send. But that one post brought me a few hundred new readers and kickstarted some relationships with other bloggers in my space.

Totally worth the discomfort.

7. Create Content That People Want to Share

Okay, this sounds obvious. "Just create shareable content." Thanks, genius.

But hear me out, because I didn't understand what made content shareable for a long time.

I thought it was about writing the most brilliant, profound stuff possible. Like if I just wrote well enough, people would naturally want to share it.

That's part of it. But what really makes people share content is when it:

Makes them look good for sharing it. People share content that makes them seem smart, funny, or in-the-know. If your post teaches something valuable, people will share it because it positions them as helpful.

Triggers emotion. Anger, joy, surprise, inspiration – posts that make people feel something get shared more than neutral, informative posts.

Is actually useful. Like, immediately, practically useful. Checklists, step-by-step guides, templates – people share this stuff because they know their friends need it.

Has a strong point of view. Wishy-washy "here are some thoughts" posts don't get shared. Posts that take a stance, even a controversial one, do.

Some of my most-shared posts:

• "Why Most Blogging Advice Is Terrible (And What To Do Instead)" – strong POV, useful
• "The 5-Minute Morning Routine That Changed My Life" – practical, specific
• "I Quit My Job To Blog Full-Time. Here's What Nobody Tells You" – emotional, honest

Notice they're not all positive or inspirational. Some are ranty. Some are vulnerable. But they all make people feel something and give them a reason to share.

Also – practical tip – make sharing easy. Have social share buttons on your posts. Create quote graphics that people can easily post to Instagram or Twitter. The easier you make it, the more likely people will actually do it.

8. Build Relationships With Your Readers (Yes, Individually)

This is probably the least scalable tip on this list. But it's also maybe the most important.

When someone comments on your blog, respond to them. Like, actually respond. Not just "Thanks!" but engage with what they said. Answer their question. Ask them a follow-up question.

When someone emails you, email them back. I try to respond to every email I get from readers. Sometimes it's just a quick "Thanks for reading!" But often it turns into a real conversation.

Why does this matter for gaining more readers?

Because engaged readers become your biggest advocates. They're the ones who share your posts. Who tell their friends about your blog. Who stick around for years instead of reading one post and bouncing.

I've got readers who've been following my blog for years now. Some of them I've developed genuine friendships with. And they're constantly promoting my stuff, not because I ask them to, but because they actually care.

You can't fake this. You can't automate it. You just have to genuinely care about the people reading your work.

And honestly? That's what makes blogging worth it. The money is nice if you make it. The traffic numbers feel good. But the relationships – the people who reach out and tell you something you wrote helped them – that's the real reward.

Treat your readers like individuals, not like traffic stats, and they'll become your biggest fans.

9. Repurpose Your Content Everywhere

I used to think of each blog post as this one-and-done thing. I'd publish it, promote it once or twice, and move on to the next post.

Such a waste.

You spent hours on that post. Why not squeeze more value out of it?

Now when I publish a post, I think about all the different ways I can repurpose that content:

Turn it into a Twitter thread. Take the main points and break them into tweets. It's like a teaser for the full post.

Create quote graphics for Instagram. Pull out the best lines or tips and turn them into shareable images.

Record it as a podcast episode or video. Some people prefer to listen or watch. Give them that option.

Break it into multiple LinkedIn posts. Each main section could be its own LinkedIn post with a link back to the full article.

Update it and reshare it. Six months later, add some new info and promote it again as updated content.

One blog post can become 10+ pieces of content across different platforms. And each piece is a potential entry point for new readers to find your blog.

The key is to adapt the content for each platform, not just copy-paste. A Twitter thread isn't just your blog post with line breaks. It's the core ideas restructured for how people consume content on Twitter.

But the work of repurposing is so much easier than creating brand new content from scratch. And it helps you reach people who might never see your blog otherwise.

10. Be Consistently Good Over Time (That's Really It)

Okay, this is going to sound like non-advice. But it's actually the most important thing on this list.

The blogs that get readers aren't usually the ones that go viral once. They're the ones that show up consistently, week after week, month after month, with good content.

I know that's not the sexy answer you wanted. You probably wanted some growth hack or secret strategy.

But here's the truth: I've been blogging consistently for almost three years now. And my traffic doesn't come from any one thing. It comes from the cumulative effect of dozens of posts that rank in Google, hundreds of social media shares, relationships I've built over time, and trust I've earned by just... being here.

Most people quit blogging within the first six months. They get discouraged because they're not seeing immediate results. They publish a few posts, see minimal traffic, and give up.

If you just keep going – if you publish consistently good content for a year, two years, three years – you're automatically in the top percentage of bloggers. Because you didn't quit.

Your readers will find you. It just takes time. Much more time than anyone wants to admit.

Every post you publish is another entry point for readers to discover you. Another chance to rank in Google. Another opportunity for someone to share your work. It compounds.

So yeah, do all the tactical stuff on this list. It helps. But more than anything, just keep showing up. Keep writing. Keep improving.

The readers will come.

Here's What Nobody Tells You

Getting blog readers isn't about doing one big thing perfectly. It's about doing a bunch of small things pretty well, consistently, over a long period of time.

Some of these tips will work better for you than others. Maybe you're great at social media but hate guest posting. Cool, lean into what works for you.

But the underlying principle stays the same: create valuable content, make it easy for people to find, treat your readers like humans, and don't quit.

That's the real secret. There isn't a shortcut. There's just showing up, doing the work, and trusting that eventually, the right people will find what you're creating.

And when they do? When you start seeing those reader numbers climb, when people start commenting and emailing and telling you your work helped them?

It's worth every minute you spent wondering if anyone was out there listening.

They are. Keep writing.