By skyforbes 
Today I’m sharing our secrets for growing our readership with the hope that you’ll find some tips that work for you, benefit your story, and exponentially grow your blog readership.
I say “we” in this post because I’m not a one-woman show. When it comes to this blog, my husband, Jake, is just as much involved as I am. I may write the posts and create the graphics, but he’s always behind the scenes helping me come up with content and new business ideas. My blog didn’t start growing until he came on board; I owe a lot of Elle & Company’s recent success to him.
Take an honest look
If your blog isn’t growing, it’s probably time to reevaluate and take an honest look at your site to see what isn’t working. Blogging is personal so this is often easier said than done, but taking an honest look at your blog is important for blog growth and success.
Be open to change. It took me awhile, but I began to see that I was all over the place with my blog content. I posted about everything under the sun, and there was no strategy behind any of it. I knew that in order for my blog to grow, I needed to do something differently. You might be at a place where you feel stuck and uninspired. Reconsider your approach to blogging and be open-minded about what you could be doing differently.
Experiment with new content. I was pleasantly surprised at the positive response I received once I started sharing more information and advice on the blog. Those instructional posts were not only helpful for my readers, but they also confirmed my knowledge of blogging and design. When was the last time you did something differently with your blog content? Start to think of ways that you can use your posts to your advantage and gear them toward a greater purpose.
Related post: 50 No Fluff, Content-Rich Blog Post Ideas
Weed out posts that don’t benefit your ideal readers.
I had several blog series that weren’t beneficial to my readers, but I continued to share them out of habit. I didn’t receive much feedback on them, they weren’t shared or mentioned by my readers, and they weren’t bringing in very many page views. I started to see a growth in my readership as I began to remove those posts from my weekly schedule and replace them with helpful tips, business insights, and design-related posts. Which posts are watering down your blog content? Consider transitioning away from them and replacing them with relevant content that would appeal to your ideal readers.
Put a larger emphasis on content
If I had to choose only one secret for exponential blog growth, it would be content. It’s beneficial for readers, it keeps them coming back to your blog, and it encourages them to share your posts with others.
Narrow down your ideal audience.
When you try to appeal to everyone, you’ll appeal to no one. Once I narrowed down my audience and began focusing on female bloggers and creative entrepreneurs, I had a specialized niche to write for. It allowed me to create content that would be beneficial to them and appeal to them, and they began to share my posts on their blogs and social media. Are you trying to appeal to a broad audience? Take time to consider who you’re writing for and which niche you want to appeal to. If you’re blogging for your business, it’s wise to tailor your content toward potential consumers and clients.
Related post: 4 Tips for Finding Your Blogging Niche