It’s that time again. Time for more blogging talk – all things numbers, page views, and money. If you missed the first two chats, feel free to catch up:

• How I Approach and View Blogging Numbers
• Blogging Money Talk: From How Much I Make to Opportunities via Blogging

Now comes the time to discuss what I actually feel least comfortable discussing: increasing blog readership. My stomach was actually in knots on this one. I feel so far from someone reputable enough to share this information, but you know me – ask and I will tell.

I hope I have made it very clear that I never view you all as page impressions or subscribers, but as genuine relationships of mutual support and encouragement. I know you add to my life and I hope I can add to yours even the smallest bit. However, with all that being said, I do keep track of blogging related numbers. These numbers help me:

• know what works and what doesn’t in my blog’s layout
• understand the content you all value the most
• have accurate information to give companies who request the information
• see what ventures outside of writing my own posts most effectively use my time

I love blogging and always approach my blogging habits in a way that fulfills me, but it still helps me to know the numbers behind the scenes. I put a lot of time and energy into blogging because I love it so much. However, I also want that time and energy to help develop my site as I keep in mind the goals I have for my blog as my passion and a way to work alongside the priority of my family.

My experiences over time have fortunately, God willing, brought some growth to this little space of mine. I have seen it grow from feeling thrilled to see a few hundred page views in a day to the incredibly humbling feeling of multiple thousands in a day. I am far far far far from an expert in blogging, but if you ask, I will tell. Or at least to the best of my abilities.

My Experience Growing Faith Fitness Fun

Write Quality Content
Okay, I know this isn’t anything new and you have certainly heard it before…but it’s the honest to goodness truth and the BEST thing you can do. When your heart isn’t into your writing, it shows. You don’t have to fit into a blogging mold – write what YOU want to write. I also believe in sharing myself openly and everything that I desire to help reach as many as possible. Share what ignites your passions so the words will captivate readers. And keep in mind some ways to make your posts more appealing and easy to read.

PS – This section of the post has inspired a spin off on blog topics, keeping things interesting, and more. So, stay tuned!

Have A Welcoming Site
When people come to your blog, you want them to feel comfortable there, so they want to come back again. I constantly consider the way my site works and strive to make it as user friendly as possible. I truly believe some of the mechanical and behind-the-scenes work on my site has helped.

When I had my blog designed with a new header and layout, it helped my blog tremendously. When people visited FFF, it now had a more “legit” feel with it’s cleaner,  original look rather than the stock images and blocky design of my original header. Plus, it “matched” my site with my tagline prominently displayed. People could automatically know what I’m about.

I also took the time to update the navigation of my site and make it as user friendly as possible. Things like drop-down menus, popular post updates in the sidebar, social media buttons, comment–reply plug-ins, and easy to follow subscription options help make things quick, straight-forward, and simple for you to interact with FFF. So I can then more easily hear from and interact with you as well.

Be An Active Participant
So many people will tell you to comment on blogs to get your name out there. Well, I don’t really believe in commenting your days away. However, I do think it is vital to become a part of the community.

The more relationships I naturally developed through blogging, the more I would naturally get “face time” in the blogging world. I would comment on blogs, allowing my face to be seen with my Gravatar (get one!). I would hang out on Twitter - because in all honesty if you hope to increase blog connections, you need to be there. I would link to blogging material I enjoyed from other bloggers, my blog buddies.

With time, people get to know you and recognize you. People begin to share your material, because you’re focusing on putting out quality material. The more you “pop up” places, the more people want to see what you’re all about. Have good content and a welcoming site and people checking you out from the community will want to stick around a bit. Then you make more connections with the new blog friends, and the cycle continues…growing bigger and wider in the process.

Seek New Audiences
I believe the key element in blogging is to keep people coming back for more. However, to get people coming back for more….I realized I had to get them to my blog in the first place. And I couldn’t just sit around waiting for my name to get out there solely based on others’ actions. Yes, the blogging community is awesome and we can greatly support each other, but I also recognized the need to take the bull by the horns sometimes in reaching new readers.

I have done this in one main way – writing for other places. I love helping out other blog friends in need of guest posts. It gives a friend a break she needs and allows me the chance to make new connections. I will also contact various websites I have developed relationships with to work together. It goes back to what I mentioned in the last post – believe in your worth and be willing to take the occasional risk to broaden your horizons.

While there are other ways to increase readership – like SEO – I have found that these four focuses have had the biggest impact on me personally. It really all boils down to having diligence, caring about your “brand” (aka what you stand for as a blogger), and then trusting the process.

Thanks for reading all my ramblings. If you made it through all that, you deserve a cookie! And after all that I have a big announcement!

Catch me today at 11:30 am EST on the Dr. Fitness & The Fat Guy radio show. Feel free to listen live! I’m super stoked…and nervous.

• Any other reader requests out there? On anything! Doesn’t have to be blogging related. I’m here to please!
• What keeps you coming back to a blog?

Good morning! I’m pleased to say that I feel fairly refreshed after taking a chill movie night last night with Peter. I also slept in about an extra hour this morning.The little mental break was just what I needed. Just like you all apparently need some new workout clothes. The Champion giveaway seems to be quite a hit! Be sure to enter if you haven’t already.

One of the things I love about reading blogs is that no matter what is going on in my life or how I’m feeling a particular day, I inevitably will come across someone’s post that will make me want to shout “YES!!!” at my screen. That happened to me yesterday as I read Gabriela’s post about blogging mojo.

I know I definitely have upswings and downswings in my blogging mojo. Yesterday, in fact, was one of those downswings. I seemed to lack motivation in all areas of life yesterday. I guess since things were so chill this weekend, I didn’t feel quite ready to go back to the everyday routine of things…and so my typical spark for life didn’t reach all the things I love – It hit my faith and my family, but fizzled out by the time it reached my fitness and my blogging fun.

Yes, you read that right. Sometimes I really don’t feel all yippee-kay-yay about blogging. I have even thought “what if I “quit” blogging??” before. It’s been a long time since I have thought that, but yesterday I did start wondering…”What would I do with my extra time, if I didn’t blog???”. Well, there’s a question for ya. What would I do?

I do my blogging in the morning before the kids get up, when Makenzie is in school and Braedon naps, in the afternoon when both kids nap, and occasionally will hop on at night to catch up on emails or do some fun things like #fitblog chats or blog reading if Peter has something going on work-wise. So, what ways would I fill up that time if I didn’t blog?

• sleep in an extra hour or so every day
• clean our house a lot more
• read books for pleasure again
• maybe pick up a napping habit
• drive Peter and friends crazy by dumping all my workout talk on them
• find another time-suck online (no joke)

When I thought about that, my blogging mojo swung right back in full force. It could be nice to have that extra time….but….

None of the above help better who I am as a person as blogging does. Blogging pushes me to try new things and to reflect on my thoughts, actions, and life.

None of the above foster the amazing connections that allow a mutual support and respect to help us each learn from one another.

None of the above help keep me determined and accountable to my goals.

None of the above would allow me to support my family any extra…because we all know nobody would want to hire me as a maid.

None of the above fulfill me as a person. None of the above make me “me”.

That is why when my blogging mojo pendulum swings from “I’m a blogging machine!” to “Blog? Really?” for a brief moment, it always snaps back very quickly. I guess it all goes back to that quote I shared last week:

Mojo is back, baby. All it takes some days is a little extra perspective.

• What would you do with your time if you didn’t blog or read blogs?
• What’s something you occasionally lose steam over, but always very briefly?