People don’t often realize it, but blogs have become big business.

 

Tech Jury reports that 77% of internet users read blogs, due to the large number of interesting blogs online.

 

In fact, there are over 300 million blogs on Tumblr alone and approximately 5 million new blog posts every day.

 

With the amount of content available, it takes extra care and effort to build a blog that truly stands out. This is especially crucial for those who’d like to make money out of blogging, either through ads or affiliated links, or even as a means to boost their freelance career.

 

In fact, freelance markets, which bloggers usually come from, are filled with many writers, designers, and tech specialists all looking to stand out online.

 

To get an idea of how expansive the freelance industry is, an article published on Yoss reports that more than one-third of American workers are now freelance , with the majority of young professionals viewing flexible work as a long-term career path.

 

Due to these large numbers of freelancers, competition is obviously tough these days for jobs, and that even extends to the online blogging world.

 

So how will your blog stand out amongst blogs that have already made their mark online?

 

Here are a few helpful tips:

 

Step out of your comfort zone

Creative coach Frank McKinley said he was painfully shy until he realized he could accomplish more if he only stepped out of his comfort zone. The same applies when it comes to your blog. McKinley suggests doing something unexpected and interrupting people with stories they’ll talk about for weeks.

 

“Interrupt people with value, and they’ll never see it as an intrusion,” he said.

 

Don’t stick to the usual blogging formats. You will stand out by delivering good stories in the most unconventional ways possible. Be willing to explore new frontiers or better yet, blog about things that have yet to be proven or tested, without putting yourself or others in danger.

 

Find your content niche

There is a thin line between trying what you don’t normally do and sticking with what you know best.

 

The key is to have a deep analysis of yourself so you can see what you love and what you’re willing to try.

 

Are you a frequent traveler?

Would you like to blog about unique transportation methods around the world?

Do you love to eat?

Would you like to blog about family recipes no one has heard of yet?

 

Branch out from the things that you like and look for the things you haven’t tried yet.

 

It’s also a great idea to survey your competition online.

What are they doing?

How are they doing what they’re doing?

Is there anything they haven’t done yet that you can do?

Finding your content niche could make you the go-to site for the topic that you choose.

 

Write compelling headlines

Most readers only skim through online content, which means you only have a few seconds to grab their attention.

 

Thought Co points out that writing a great headline is an art form—you may be able to write a good article, but if your headline isn’t catchy, your readers aren’t likely to click on the article.

 

A good headline should be attention-grabbing, compelling, and as detailed as possible using only a few words. It should grab your readers’ attention without overselling or revealing too much about your article.

 

Keep it short and simple.

 

Know your audience

Thrive Global’s article ‘How to Turn your Hobby Blog into a Full Time Career’ talks about doing a deep analysis of your content using analytics to get a feel of what your audience is looking for.

 

For instance, Google Analytics will show you the demographics you appeal to.

 

Are they college students?

New moms?

Entrepreneurs?

Single women?

How often do they read and what time are they usually on your website?

 

Knowing all these significant pieces of information will help you think of the content you’re going to put out there.

 

Another way to engage and get to know your audience is by reading and responding to their comments on your blog. This will create a personal connection that will keep them coming back.

 

Conclusion

Nothing will guarantee success, but these four tips will give you a headstart in the right direction.

I hope this guide helps you start building a blog that truly stands out in the sea of noise.

So start with where you’re, determine which stage you are in now, and work from there.

Wondering Why 9 Out Of 10 Bloggers Fail Miserably…? Check out my top #1 blog post here.