How to get people to come back

A lot of people visit my blog (60-80 ppl/day), however, not many return again.

I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to hook people so they want to come back again?

Skinny

 

Use an "Add to favourites button".
Also if people like what they see they are likely to return. Provided that the site is updated often enough to warrant a return visit.

 

I agree with you.
I have a bookmark (or add to favorites) button for every post.
And I do update it at least 3 times a week.

Skinny

 

But it only works with IE browser

 

Skinny-I dont see the option on your posts...Also what is the code? I'd like to have it for my blog also.

 

Fresh (quality) content!

That's why I come back to DP everyday.

 

Quality is the keyword. Quality means more than simply writing fluffy text. The writing must have "meat" in it. Of course different types of blogs require different writing styles.

I never go back to blogs that are simply a rehash of info, such as news. I want to see originality. If you are going to post on a current event, I want to see your spin on it. If the blog is simply news feeds, I'll read the AP newswire.

If you have a review oriented blog, I would not expect too many return visitors unless you have a community environment going.

 

Over 80% of my visitors return at least twice. I attribute this to quality content, (infrequent) updates, and making it as easy as posible for them to return. I do this by gently asking them to bookmark the pages they are interested in. Yes, most js bookmark scripts only work in IE, but I offer a text alternative for other browsers that instructs them on how to bookmark the page (Ctrl + D). Here's the code I use:

<script type="text/javascript">
var txt = "<p class=\"wht\">Bookmark this Page!"
var url = "http://www.14thC.com";
var who = "14th Colony"

var ver = navigator.appName
var num = parseInt(navigator.appVersion)
if ((ver == "Microsoft Internet Explorer")&&(num >= 4)) {
   document.write('<p><a class="wht" href="javascript:window.external.AddFavorite(url,who);" ');
   document.write('onMouseOver=" window.status=')
   document.write("txt; return true ")
   document.write('"onMouseOut=" window.status=')
   document.write("' '; return true ")
   document.write('">'+ txt + '<\/a><\/p>')
}else{
   txt += "  (Ctrl+D)<\/p>"
   document.write(txt)
} 
</script>

Code (markup):

 

Very True. I have a message that displays Bookmark (Ctrl+D) for those without IE and it works.

The option is at the bottom of every post and when you hit the page its at the bottom of every preview.

Skinny

 

Bookmarks are grand, but I really think that feeds are the way to go. With bookmarks (unless they are live bookmarks, i.e. a feed in a bookmark), the user has to go to the bookmark each time if they want to check for new content. With a feed, they can use an aggregator to see updates to the site. I use feed burner to track my feeds. Although there's no guarantee they will come back, they are at least keeping track of updates to the site. This also kind of motivates you to keep posting, knowing that at least someone cares enough to subscribe to the feed.

 

1. Try moving your feed subscription links above the fold.
2. Care to exchange link via PM?

 

Making your site interactive can really help you get return visitors.

Polls or giving away free tools, reports or ebooks helps with return visitors and can also encourage people to link to you because you have great content/resources.

Also, interacting with your readers in the comments can help too. You start your own little community plus the readers will probably come back to read more comments.