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This is a guest post by Jason Pereira who blogs over at The University Kid and is currently running an RSS contest with $150.00 in prizes.

Anyone that’s ever tried to run a blog should know just how important readers are… without them, you probably wouldn’t be blogging.

No one likes to blog for empty space, and readers (and comment leavers) can make the difference between you quitting after a couple weeks and you going on to become a blogging mogul. I’d say the readers have the largest impact on a blog apart from the owner – their prods and advice can refine your blogging technique and help develop your blog into a better place to visit.

As your readers are so important to the site you run, you should truly cherish them; give them a reason to visit, and then give them a variety of reasons to keep coming back. Remember, people in today’s world are not just time pressed, but also notoriously fickle… what can you do to ensure your readers have a worthwhile experience on your blog?

Post valuable content

This is the most important thing, but one that is often overlooked by bloggers; they concentrate so much on marketing their blogs that they forget to keep up the level of quality they had when they first started out.

Without informative, interesting and amusing content, your readers won’t become repeat visitors – no matter how much you update or market. Remember, the real thing that makes up a blog is its content; it’s the reason your visitors will keep coming back time and time again (if it’s any good, that is ).

Reply to your readers

Be it their emails or comments, you should reply to readers when prompted – sometimes, you just won’t have the time to do so but when possible you definitely should.

Replying to comments increases interaction in a community and can eventually start off a debate (something that is always good); it also makes your readers feel valued that you took the time to respond to each of them personally. Remember, even if your readers just want to comment on how good a post was, you can thank them for doing so and ask them how they think it could be improved… their tips will turn you into a blogging maestro in the long run

Dealing with emails on the other hand – they help develop a more personal relationship between a blogger and his/her readers. As long as you’re courteous (you should only be so if the person that emailed you is, of course) and reply to them personally, you’ll leave a lasting impression in the eyes of your reader – one whose benefit may not be apparent immediately, but definitely will be in the long run.

If you’ve taken the time to personally reply to a readers’ email sent into you, they’ll remember it… and should someone ask them about you as a blogger, they’ll only be gushing with praise.

Run a contest every so often

Sure, readers can visit and interact on your blog, but why not reward them for doing so? Running a contest not only brings in more readers (especially if the prizes are good) but also creates a buzz in the industry – one that can help leave a lasting impression in the minds of those that have heard about it.

Make sure the prizes that you’re giving away are useful, and relevant – they don’t even have to be costly, as Entrecard credits or free advertising slots are still valuable. Also make the rules fairly simple to follow; remember, your readers are just as lazy as you are

Remember to promote your contest too so that everyone knows about it – there’s no use spending money on one if no one participates!

If you would like your own guest post to be featured on Mixed Market Arts, please email me through the contact form at the top of the blog.