According to the CNN/Gallup poll:
More than three-quarters of Americans -- 76 percent -- said they use the Internet, but only 26 percent said they were "very familiar" or "somewhat familiar" with blogs.
Blogs -- short for Web logs -- are personal diaries kept by thousands of people on a wide range of topics and posted on the Internet.
Just 7 percent of adults said they read blogs at least a few times per week, according to the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll. Forty-eight percent said they never do.
Eoghann of Blog World asks the question about how bloggers can move beyond that 7% readership level.
Certainly, there has to be some room for major growth in blog visit numbers, with 93% of people not reading blogs at all. The first area for traffic recruitment would be from the balance of the 26% of internet users who were at least familiar with blogs.
Of course, the definition of blogs used by CNN of "personal diaries" has to be widened to include the many different types of blogs now being written. We could mention business, legal, technology, writers, political, and the many other forms of blogs.
Of course, that could be nitpicking a bit too much.
Instead we need to work on ways of making blogs an appealing daily routine for literally millions and millions of Americans, and other internet users, from countries all around the world.
Eoghann asks the following questions, in an attempt to address the issue of non-readership:
Why do 93% of Americans not read blogs regularly? Is it an image thing? Do they actually read blogs and not realize that they are blogs? Do they not have time. Do they just not find them interesting? Hmm that was more than one question.
We need to address the non-readership issue as a blogging community, and perhaps solutions can be found to attract non-blog fans to the fold.
One problem I see is the complete lack of understanding or definition of blogs by much of the public. The mainstream media hasn't helped with properly defining blogs either.
As long as the average internet user thinks blogs are all about the cheese sandwich you ate for lunch, and angst about the Senior Prom, blogs aren't going to receive much mainstream attention. We must educate the public on the wide range of blogs, topics discussed, and the many great bloggers who are writing them.
Blogs score high rankings in the search engines for their most important search terms. The high rankings are a combination of abundant keyword rich content, that is updated on a regular basis; numerous incoming links; and an emphasis on theme relevance among linking blogs.
Bloggers themselves have to link and expand beyond their own safe and secure circles of blog reads. I always suggest a blogging safari, where you move randomly from blog to blog. The navigation is by always clicking on the blogroll link to an entirely unknown blog. That's how blog gems are unearthed.
Bloggers need to market, not only their own blogs, but those of other bloggers as well. Here is where marketing your individual blogging circle is extremely powerful. By not only promoting your own blog, you gain readership for those of your friends. Those new readers will eventually find their way back to your blog too.
Place links to your blogs on your e-mail, and to every piece of paper that leaves your office or home. Every business card should include the URL of your blog, as it includes the e-mail address and your telephone number.
Post on forums that are frequented by internet users, but who are not entirely conversant on blogs and blogging. Take time to answer questions on blogging, and how they can set up their own blog.
Keep in mind that more people lurk and read, than ever post on forums. Your advice is being read by many more potential readers and bloggers, than merely the person who posted the question.
When out with friends and family, mention that you are a blogger. Be proud of what you do, and of the posts that you write. Word of mouth will spread the news about blogging in general, and your blog in particular. Viral marketing works.
Whether these, or other suggestions will reach that 93% of non-readers of blogs quickly is debatable.
On the other hand, building blog readership is done by adding one new visitor at a time.
It won't be any different for adding readers to the blogosphere in general either.
Spread the word on behalf of blogging.
Help yourself and help other bloggers too.
