Every now and then people quit blogging for various reasons, but only a few decide to make a genuine comeback to blogging.
Making a comeback to blogging after a lengthily absence is like starting a record from the halfway point; you simply don’t really know where it’s going to play from and what song, in reflection to blogging, kick starting a blog that has been in dormant for a length of time can leave you scratching your head wondering where should you make a start.
No need to worry folks, here are some top tips and suggestions to help you get your dormant blog back up and running on full power again, and for you to make a grand comeback to blogging.
5 Tips & Ideas For Making A Successful Comeback To Blogging
1. Time to update everything
OK, so first of all before you do anything else, you’re going to have to update quite literally everything. If you’ve not logged into your blog’s dashboard, assuming you’re running on WordPress, then no doubt that you’ll have to update your version of WordPress and any subsequent plugins too. If a plugin is no longer maintained or has become obsolete, then consider getting rid of it.
Don’t forget updating WordPress, your theme and plugins is just the start, you should also think about updating some of the content on your blog, especially if they no longer provide much value to your audience, so make plans to update the content where required.
Also don’t forget to check when your hosting account will need renewing, it might sound like a daft thing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, and also knowing when to renew your web host is always reassuring.
2. Write your ultimate ‘come back’ post
Now that you’ve updated everything, it’s time to write your killer comeback post. Write about the reasons why you took a break from blogging, just to refresh everybody’s minds, and what your intentions, your ambitions and objectives are for making a comeback to blogging.
Check everything then go ahead and publish it on your blog. Take necessary action to promote your comeback post on social network sites and any blog community sites that you are a part of.
3. Notify everyone
Let everybody, namely your direct audience; know that you’re back and that this time you mean business!
Visit your Facebook page and post a link to your comeback post, send a tweet, introduce yourself to Google+ (Only if you quit blogging before the G+ phenomena).
Email your blogging colleagues and let them know you’re blogging again and whether they can do or provide you with anything to help you get the most out of making a big comeback.
If you have an email list, let everyone on your list also know that you’ve made a comeback to blogging, and that you will be updating them via email frequently once again; this will also help you to identify who wants to stay on your list and who doesn’t.
4. Get a blog design overhaul (Optional)
I mentioned update your theme in point one, but how about giving your entire blog an overall redesign and layout? How about changing your current theme?
You don’t have to go out and spend hundreds on a custom theme, consider investing in a more robust and quality premium theme, especially if you’ve been using a free theme that’s probably gone past its performance by date. If you plan to upgrade your theme, find a theme that is mobile responsive, (optimized for wireless devices), and organize your internal links more effectively such as menus and categories and tags, add new features and improve general user experience.
5. Get up to scratch
Finally there will no doubt be a lot of stuff that has changed, or stuff that you need to refresh yourself on, so get up to speed with all the latest blogging and social media trends, especially if you’ve been absent from the blogging scene for a long while.
Ensure that you visit all the blogs that you once use to and start reading them frequently again, post questions to other bloggers in your niche. Pick up some books and learn as much as you can to help get you back on track.
If you have access to Google Analytics, study your traffic behavior for the duration of your absence, identify areas that you think need improving upon and work on them.
Quick Recap
So let’s recap what we’ve just covered to help you make an awesome comeback to blogging –
- Update everything, WordPress, plugins, themes, content etc.
- Write a killer comeback post and post it on your blog
- Notify your direct audience
- Consider a complete blog redesign
- Get up to scratch with all the latest blogging and social media trends
Follow all these simple but necessary suggestions and you’ll be back on the blogging saddle in no time. Now go and revive your blog.
Over to you… Do your have any tips and suggestions for making a comeback to blogging?
If you have any additional tips and suggestions to add to the list above for making a comeback to blogging after taking a break, please leave your comments and reactions below.
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