I’ve only published a few how-to posts before so bear with me. It’s short. And has three easy tips to increase your readership.
Okay, I can only promise it will increase readership by one.
That would be me.
Hopefully that one flower (that would be me, again) will become a garden of readers.
There are some of you (I won’t name names) who have the most sweetest blogs and the most loveliest things to say. And yet…
There are a few things I’d like to discuss with you. Three, actually. I’ll be quick. Promise.
I’d like to ask a favor, my bloggy friends. Could you do something for me? That is, if you don’t mind and I ask nicely? (I usually offer cookies or something as my “nice” may not be as nice as I think it is. So, cookies will be involved. Or cake. Your choice.)
When I read your post and there’s a link, it’s wonderful if that link is a word or two (or even five), not an enormously long URL.
And then, when you have your cute, little word that is now a link, it’s quite charming if it doesn’t kick me off your blog. I’m reading your blog because I like it. And I don’t want to leave. And you don’t want me to leave. There might be other posts I’d like to read on there.
Finally, when someone leaves a link in your comments, it often flies off the side of the page and makes your blog literally swim before my eyes. And not in a cute, “Aw, look, it’s a dolphin” sort of way. No. It moves and is difficult to read and (apologies) I often click off the post. I sometimes manage to finish reading if it’s short but I certainly don’t enjoy it as much as I would if it were, say, staying in place.
So, if you’re interested (and use WordPress), these are super-quick fixes:
Turning a long link into a short word or phrase:
- Select and cut link from your post
- Highlight word(s) you would like turned into a link
- Click on link button in the toolbar (if you hover, it says ‘insert/edit link’)
- Paste link into the space provided
Having a link open in a new tab:
After you have turned your long link into a short word or phrase, have it open into a new tab so I can stay on your blog. (Unless you want me to leave. I can take a hint.)
- Keep box open where you just pasted your link
- Click on gear icon (it will say ‘link options’ if you hover) Skip this step if using the Reader
- Find the tiny box that says ‘Open link in a new tab’
- Put a check there
Adding/editing links in comment sections:
- Go to Dashboard and into Comments
- Click ‘Edit’
- Click the ‘Link’ button
- Cut and paste link into URL space
- Find the tiny box that says ‘Open link in a new tab’
- Put a check there
- Click ‘Update’
OR
- Go to Dashboard and into Comments
- Click ‘Quick Edit’
- Cut and paste the following into the comment box:
- <a href=”www.hello.com”>Hi</a>
- Change “www.hello.com” to link in the comment
- Change “Hi” to whatever text you want to display
- NOTE: This will not open the comment link in a new tab
So long and thanks for all the links! 🐠
If you don’t do these things, is it by choice? If so, why? Does it bother you to have a link open in a new tab? Do you think it’s more likely people will click on longer (obvious) links?
Lemon Shark 