You start a Christian blog. It’s a great opportunity to share God’s dynamite message (Romans 1:16). You hit the “Publish” button. A like comes in! Someone shared it! Wait…it’s your mother. Then…nothing else.
You feel like giving up. What do you do?
Don’t despair. I have a plan for you. It’s how I’ve had
- 10,000+ views in a little over 2 months of blogging.
- 5,000+ visits to a single post in my first month.
- 1,000+ views on the very day that I’m writing this.
Disclaimer: I will be posting several links as examples. This doesn’t mean I endorse everything these authors write.
1. It is about you.
If you want to be like Jesus, you have to bleed. Are you willing to share your story as a passionate, authentic Christ follower? People want to know a real person.
The post that has gotten me the most views was a very personal post. I felt a little nervous sharing it.
Here are some examples of people who really bare their soul.
2. It’s not about you.
Jesus was all about the needs of others. He was a master connector. You have to think beyond yourself. Here’s your plan:
- Write things people want and need. It isn’t just about what you’re interested in. You could share a post 100 times, and it would stop there. Share it 1 time, and have 100 people share it, and then their friends share it…that’s called going viral.
Example: Jon Acuff – Work Can be Awesome.
- Build a network with other bloggers. Jeff Goins did a great job with this. It involved building a real network and doing lots of guest posting.
Reference: Goins, Writer on guest posting.
- Build an email list. There’s gold in that list. Wes McAdams of Radically Christian said that this is vitally important. One reason is that it gives you control. You’re not relying on an outside source (say, Facebook) to allow you to connect.
Reference: Michael Hyatt on building an email list.
3. Make it understandable.
Say something important. Use short sentences. Break long paragraphs up into shorter ones. Use words that are understandable.
Jesus used the parables. You should, too.
Examples:
- Seth Godin’s blog
- CopyBlogger Shorter is Better
- My post on this.
4. Make it emotional.
Why is Max Lucado so popular? He writes in a way that evokes emotion. He makes you feel.
What about Jesus? His story is the most emotional of all. John 3:16.
Not only do you have to bleed and share authentic work, but you also have to make others feel like they are right there with you. You’ve got to make them feel.
Examples:
- Max Lucado’s blog and all of his books
- Look at all of the viral websites (ViralNova, BuzzWorthy, etc.). They are designed around evoking emotion.
5. Make it something that connects to people’s deeply held beliefs and identity.
I’m convinced this is why my most popular post is being shared.
You might write informational, instructive posts, but you have to get people emotionally involved. Not just feeling it for themselves, but feeling a burden to share the message.
You have to address their deeply held beliefs and get right to WHO they are.
Examples:
- Radically Christian by Wes McAdams
- Jesus Daily
6. Hit a homerun with your title.
Readers are deciding fast. Pull them in with the title. If the title is emotional and appeals to deeply held beliefs and identity, then you are gold. They will share that! But, you have to work at this!
Here’s how:
- Headlines that Grab Readers by the Eyeballs and Suck Them into Your Message, Michael Hyatt
- How to Write Magnetic Headlines, CopyBlogger
7. Don’t forget the little picture.
Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat. Get the picture? Make your featured image grab people.
How to do it:
- Take an engaging picture. Click here for an example.
- Find a great picture from a paid stock service. I use Adobe Stock photos. Click here for an example.
- Use a free service like Unsplash.
- Add a logo and title. Example here. I used Lee Snow for my logo, and I am very happy with his work.
8. Keep their attention.
With a fascinating title and a captivating image, people will click on your post. But, will they read it?
You have to make their eyes move down the page.
How?
- Lists
- Headers
- Images
I hate lists. But, they work. Don’t take out the emotion. Don’t take out the story. But, put it in a list. Use bullets. Use pictures throughout the post.
9. Facebook is your friend.
Here are the three things you need to know:
- Create a Facebook fan page. Here’s how.
- Invite all your friends to ‘Like’ your page. The problem: It takes forever to select your 2,000 or so friends. Solution: Do it all at once with a little help. Here’s how.
- Try Facebook ads. Targeting is key. Experiment. This is key to how I got over 5,000 visits to a post my first month. After you get likes on your post, invite them to like your page.
10. Wow them.
People invest their time into your posts. Let’s say 12,000 people invest 1 minute in your post. That’s about 5 work weeks. Don’t waste their time. Give them something of value…not only is it the right thing to do…it’s what makes people share it.
As Michael Hyatt says, “Start with Wow!”
Why
Here’s why I share this with you. I believe that most of my readers are involved in the most important work in the world. We’re doing the work that truly matters. We’re involved in the bigger story of what God is doing. Now, given the importance of our message and work, shouldn’t we do our best to make that message attractive? That’s all this is about.
After all, it’s not about me.
Thanks for linking to my blog, Justin! I appreciate it.
Brent
You are welcome. Your post was helpful to me, so I wanted to share!