How to Get More Blog Shares
It’s time for some truth bombs, fellow bloggers! Today I’m going to give you 5 Reasons I Didn’t Share Your Blog Post. Meaning, I found your post, read it, but chose not to share it with my followers. Ouch. Sometimes the truth hurts. But I’m hoping I can help you right those wrongs!
Let’s dive into the reasons I didn’t share your post, and learn how to make adjustments that will increase your blog traffic and social media engagement.
Let’s get started!
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Reason #1 – No Pinterest friendly, “pinnable” image
I see this one quite often and it’s so frustrating. Especially if I really like the content and WANT to share it! Pinterest is a massive source of traffic for bloggers. It’s so important to make your post Pinterest friendly.
Most importantly, you need to have an attractive, vertical “pin” image!
I’ve noticed this one repeatedly while participating in Facebook Group blog sharing threads. I find a link to a post within my niche, only to get to the actual post and find nothing but square or horizontal images to pin. Both of which are big no-no’s in Pinterest land. Pinning those images would make me look like a total newbie. ALWAYS have a vertical image.
Reason #2 – No Social Sharing Buttons
If you don’t have social sharing buttons on your posts, you make it that much more difficult for your readers to share it. This is another issue I find a lot when pinning for Facebook Group threads. I spend so much time scrolling through blogs, looking for a “Pin It” button.
Sometimes I’ll find a Pinterest icon, but when I click it I’m redirected to the writer’s Pinterest account. Aim for social share buttons AND social follow buttons.
The most popular (and free) plugin for social buttons is Grow.
*I also recommend using the jQuery Pin It Button for Images plugin (which is free, btw). It adds a “Pin It” button over images on your blog making it easier for readers to pin that nice vertical pin 😉
*I no longer use jQuery because I got the (amazing) Tasty Pins Plugin, which has its own pin button built-in. Read more about Tasty Pins HERE.
Related Post: How to Install a Plugin – Step by Step Instructions for Beginner Bloggers
Reason #3 – Spelling & Grammar Mistakes
If the content is poorly written, seems rushed or is full of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, I’m not going to share it with my followers.
Poor grammar and spelling will make you seem less credible. And if I share it, it will make ME seem less credible.
You always want to be providing the best quality and highest value possible. Even if your information is good, I’m not sharing the post if it’s painful to read.
If this is something that doesn’t come naturally to you, I can’t say enough good things about Grammarly (it’s free, so check it out!) Take it from this grammar nerd who saw a big improvement in her own writing skills after installing it. You won’t be sorry.
Reason #4 – Not Visually Interesting
Not only does your information have to be good, but it also needs to look good! Meaning, don’t just write one big block of text and expect people to gobble it up.
If there are not enough images to break up all the text, even if your content is good, your readers are going to get bored.
Especially on mobile view. Remember that on mobile view, your text gets condensed vertically. So what seems like a reasonable length paragraph on desktop, may seem long, boring, and too wordy on your reader’s phone.
Break up those paragraphs with something visual. If the content seems long but you don’t have a picture to use, there are lots of other things you can do to give the post some visual interest.
Some great ways to break up content:
• A related post you can recommend
• Horizontal banner ads for an affiliate program
• More white space (ie. shorter paragraphs with more spaces between them)
• An opt-in / subscriber box
• Large headings (hopefully in a bright colour that matches your branding)
• A line break
• Bulleted lists (like this one)
This can be a balancing act as you don’t want to make things SO busy it’s distracting. But keep things looking attractive enough to hold your reader’s attention.
Related Reading: How to Make Your Blog Posts More Visually Appealing
Reason #5 – Unoriginal Content
If your post reads as though you copied and pasted it from a bunch of other posts, I’m not sharing it.
No one wants to read content that sounds forced or plagiarized. And bloggers who’ve been around a while can tell. We want unique. We want new.
Once again, if I share crummy content with my followers, they’d stop finding value in what I’m providing to them. You need to share something of value in order to get other bloggers to share your information. Always give your own unique (and credible) advice.
There you have it! The top 5 Reasons I Didn’t Share Your Blog Post.
So…are you guilty of any of these blogging offenses? Have a peek at some of your posts and see. If you’re not getting the shares you’d like, maybe there are some adjustments that you can make.
While you’re at it, grab yourself our Free Blog Post Revamping Checklist below and turn those posts into fresh and “pin-worthy” gems!
P.S. If you need an objective outsider to review your blog for more ways to improve, I can help! Check out the details of my Full Blog Audit Service for more info.
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How to Make Your Blog Post More Shareable
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Grammarly – I saw a huge improvement in my writing after installing Grammarly. It’s the World’s leading checker of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and plagiarism. The better your writing, the more credible you will seem to you readers. Did I mention they have a FREE version? Check it out HERE.
I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement the whole time I read this post! Great advice!
Thank you for speaking the truth.
Bloggers need it and sometimes we need “tough love.” 🙂
Hi Courtney! Glad you could relate 😉
Another great post, Karen! Definitely makes me wanna go back to my posts and check all of them. 🙂 Thankfully, I have social shares and Pinterest friendly images. I love all your suggestions here.
Thanks so much, Yamini!
Great tips! Especially the spelling and grammar mistakes. For some reason, that is an immediate turn-off for me. Hard to always get it perfect every time, but so important!
Thanks, Amber! Spelling and grammar mistakes are a huge turn-off for me too.
Yes, yes, and YES. I feel bad when someone shares my content then I go to theirs and it’s just like……ehhh.
I understand people could be new to blogging but sometimes posts are just too bad to share.
Great tips
Thanks, Erin! I feel your pain!
This was a really interesting read. I’ve started using vertical pins for my posts now, I never used to!
I completely agree with your points. They are usually things that put me off certain posts too.
http://www.yuletimes.com
Hi Stephen! Having a pinnable, vertical image is so important! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Great information! I know I’m guilty of some of these things as a new blogger, so you’ve given me some great ideas to work on making my own posts more shareable. Thanks!
Hey Sam! I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of these things at some point. We’ve all got to start somewhere. Happy to help 🙂
You didn’t share my post for visual effect for sure. I’m the worst at graphics and visual aspects lol
Hi John! I cringe at some of my old pins. It’s definitely something that improves the more you do it 🙂
Well you got my attention LOL with the title. But I totally agree with all. On #1, I’m still new to Pinterest so I’m learning the in and outs. Great info especially for new bloggers!!!
Ha! Glad it got your attention, that was my intention 😉 I hope you found some helpful tidbits. Thanks so much for your comment, Sandra!
Enlightening! Visual appeal is important in blogging. If your post consists of long paragraphs, it’s hard to find it interesting to read!
Thanks, Christen! I agree that visual appeal is an important part of blogging 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
1. YES 2. Yes 3. I’m so screwed – Grammerly can’t even save me 4. Yes 5. Yes
I completely agree. 100%.
Haha Your comment made me giggle! Thanks Trina, glad you agree 🙂