What Does Sticky Mean?
The main goal in blogging is to have a site that readers click around and find themselves sticking around, especially first time visitors. There are many ways to make your site appealing to readers, and ProBlogger, one of the web’s foremost voices on blogging suggests 21 ways to make your blog or website sticky (as presented via images below). Hopefully, some of this won’t make sense and you’ll *have* to go read the whole article! It’ll make your site sticky…
original image courtesy of Sarah Parrott
original image courtesy of foundphotoslj
original image courtesy of melop
original image courtesy of Orin Optiglot
original image courtesy of Maureen Fischinger
original image courtesy of life of bryan
original image courtesy of nathan gibbs
original image courtesy of pulpolux
original image courtesy of Otto Yamamoto
original image courtesy of Theremina
original image courtesy of bensonkua
original image courtesy of pingnews.com
original image courtesy of decor8
original image courtesy of WintrHawk
original image courtesy of joe lencioni
original image courtesy of Odalaigh
original image courtesy of TwOsE
original image courtesy of Sophistichate
original image courtesy of Seema K K
original image courtesy of Dana Rocks
So head over to ProBlogger and get all the details on how to make this happen!
originally published July 18, 2008
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I was going for sticky but ended up with gooey. The thing seems to be everywhere and it won’t leave me alone, like bubble gum stuck in my hair, which is better than having it in my nose but still.
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Nice, T… of all these things, which would you attribute to be the most helpful tip for stickiness (obviously you’re deep in the stickiness, so help us all out!)??
writing every day for a few years. Writing content that gets picked up by other blogs, and I believe I have all the items mentioned in your post. I also have calls to action on my right sidebar. Blogs need to have calls to action.
Sorry, there were too many words in this post for me to finish reading
I really like the graphiposts becaue they stand out and get their message across. Graphics are more memorable…
Regardless of how much I like the format, I would add that sticky blogs are sticky because their target audience finds it appealing and the target audience feels catered to. Whereas not all of the points above may be of value to every reader, if you use enough of these tools, it will touch eader in some unique way.
I like blg that are unique! Thanks for sharing!
I know! I know! I have to make changes. It’s been swimming around in my head for weeks and now you put it in B&W. Dang it!
Opps! I think i need to spendsome time on my blogs! Thanks for this!
I think diverse content is also important- you don’t want all of your blog posts to sound the same.
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Ginger you hit the nail on the head.
If your blog is boring you can have a million calls to action and the reaction will be- pretty much boring.
You have to do things that leap off the page and grab a consumer in a creative way- not just words, all blogs have words, all blogs have pictures (we’ll the ones that succeed), but sticky is about being sticky to the consumer until that action is exciting to them, and exciting the client means an excited action.
Boring your audience to skimming is not a strategy that will gain you more than a bored audience that has moved on….
Lani,
VERY creative post — I love the graphics. One thing that you didn’t touch on (or I was just blinded by the colors!) is throwing an occasional podcast in the blog to mix things up. Podcasts don’t need to be super-scientific, nor some earth-moving content. Just take a post that you were thinking of writing, and just record it as a podcast instead. Readers love it because it’s new and different, and it’s yet another way to personalize yourself on the blog…
…which is the whole purpose of the blog after all, right?
Thanks for the creative post! Its always nice to see something different and unique.
Ummmmm….another one? The thing is, it’s really hard to hit two home runs in a row, or smack two holes in one, or cast two Yahtzees…know what I mean.
This style is compelling in delivery and message. I’m all ears and eyes and I appreciate both the artistry and the science.
Thank you Lani.
KenB
Lani: I loved, loved, loved the compilation of images that you put together!!! ProBlogger offered some excellent suggestions. You put it all together to perfection here
Sticky and guey!! This is a fantastic post Lani. Drew Meyers made a comment on the GeekEstateBlog claiming, “it’s the most creative post I’ve seen in quite some time.” and I think I’d have to agree. Best imagery post I’ve seen yet! Thanks.
Lani – There are those who use pictures and those who do not – you use them masterfully! Engaging, fun and unique. Thanks for the link to ProBlogger!
Lots of food for thought to improve the stickiness of my blog – thanks Lani.
Lani
If I were you, I’d actually be offended that all these commenters are actually surprised by your creative ways. Don’t they know CreatiVT is your middle name
You hit it out of the park with this one.
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Lani – I remember this post when you first did it. I remember thinking that there was a lot to learn, but knew it was easier to learn in the simple kids’ book style fashion. Thanks for the reminders of things to think about when working on my blog. I’ve got a lot to learn, but everyday, I learn or figure out something that I hadn’t quite grasped. Keep them coming!
I have the MOST boring about page. Need to make a change there. Finding your groove and sticking with it is also hard but once you find your spot in the world it usually comes easy. Learning the audience is a major key as well.
You know Bro— I don’t find myself reading many of these agent/agent sites….But @laniar I’m liking your sh*t, girl.
Good post. Lotsa effort; all-in-all a “10″!