2. Avoid having to link to the dictionary in order for your readers to understand your blog.

Remember, most people who are on the internet will scan something before they decide they are going to stop and read it fully. Your blog is not the place for you to provide complete details on the genetic makeup of a new species of snail you just discovered. Your blog would be the place to announce your discovery and maybe offer your readers a free download of the scientific particulars. Try not to use some highly technical and highfalutin words. For the post itself it is better to stick with simple facts and short posts.

If you have more detailed information you want to offer include it as a download that someone who wants it can look at. But it is better not to bore the other readers who are not really interested in all of the gory details just yet.

3. A Picture speaks a thousand words

We have all heard this saying a thousand times. But the reason is, it's true. Sometimes a picture can tell the entire story. And sometimes a story is just not complete without an illustration. Pictures also tend to stand out and catch the eye of a casual browser. Something as simple as a picture on the page can determine whether a reader stops and reads the article you took the time to write or they click a link and move on to another page.

4. Have more than just text

No matter your writing style sometimes people need more than just text to keep them interested. As much as possible you should make your blog interactive. This is easy to do by adding videos or audios to your blog or by having reports people can download. If you have a blog that will be visited by children or their parents consider adding coloring pages or workbook style pages they can print.

Also be sure to allow comment on your blog. This allows your readers to interact with you. They can tell you what they like and even what they don't. This allows you to gear your information towards your readers even more. Who knows, you might even gain some friends just by making them feel at home in your blog.

5. Provide value to your readers

It is your blog and you are free to write anything you want to say to the world, still, your readers are more likely to come back again and again if they find information that benefits them in some way, even occasionally.

While we all need goofy entertainment sometimes, there are many places that specialize in providing it. What most people are looking for is value and information that can help them in some way. Even a personal blog can give a researcher information about the family or tell grandma what the kids want for Christmas. These things are valuable to the reader and will keep them coming back.

By thinking of these tips when you are creating your blog posts and the overall makeup of your blog in general you will be able to keep your readers engaged and coming back for more. This ultimately is the goal of any online site.  Ely Delaney