Five Ways to Build Blogging Goodwill

Nobody blogs in a void. Blogging is a community activity, and how you treat your readers and fellow bloggers can affect your success. Be good to your readers, and you'll build a loyal audience. Be good to your fellow bloggers, and they're sure to help you out with links and positive mentions. This is great advice for those just starting out, but it can benefit anyone, no matter the size of their blog. Here are five ways to generate the type of good blogging karma that brings more than spiritual rewards.

Respond to your comments. I'm not always vigilant about this, but it's a good idea to show up for the conversation that takes place after you post something. Readers want to interact with you--that's why they comment in the first place. If you show you're listening, you'll attract a loyal readership more quickly.

Be liberal with the link love. Every blogger values links on other blogs, and if you're generous about linking out, you'll definitely make friends. If you get inspired to write something based on a post on someone else's blog, always link back to that post. If someone sends you an email letting you know about their new blog, link to them in your blogroll--they're sure to appreciate it. If you link to other bloggers, they're more likely to link to you as well.

Be accessible. I get emails from readers asking me about how to hire writers, start a freelancing business, handle client issues, and other questions all the time--and I try to respond to these in as much detail as possible. This can bring you more than goodwill--a few of these folks have become clients.

Give referrals. A while ago, a client of mine asked me whether or not I had experience doing a type of writing project I usually don't handle. I told them I could do it, but I knew someone who could probably do it better--and I sent them the email of a fellow blogger who specializes in that area. Referrals can be risky--if the relationship doesn't pan out, it could reflect badly on you--but they can also pay off greatly.

Take advice. Every so often, a reader will email me directly with a suggestion for something they'd like to see changed on my blog. If I can't make the change, I'll explain why--and when I can, I do it. Being willing to make changes for your readers is a great way to show them you care about their experience, not just your traffic.

Being a font of blogging goodwill isn't just a feel-good activity. It's also a great way to build your blog. Even if you're new to the community, other bloggers will return to your blog if they know you like them and talk about them--and if you're responsive to your readers, they'll stick around.