You may have just started a blog and want to turn it into a successful blog. Yet, you look around and see so many others who have just started blogging as well. Everyone is out there giving you advice for free but who do you trust, really? What’s the difference between your blog and the thousands of blogs that are already out there? How do you make your blog into the next big thing? How do you gain followers, increase your traffic and create a popular blog?

While there are many experts out there on the blogosphere, blogging is part science and part art. The best part is that it’s a lot easier than what others make you think. It’s not rocket science. You can become a successful blogger but it may just take a little bit of time, consistency and persistence. You can do a lot of little things to stand out very quickly in the blogosphere.

Here are 7 tips to help you stand out from newbie bloggers:

1. Blog consistently

The best way to gain traction on your blog is to show up regularly. Just like your favorite tv show or magazine, you want to publish on a regular basis so that your readers know when to expect your posts. I’ve tried my best to post weekly but I’ve found that I received the most traction when I write on my post twice a week. You can write more often but even 2 posts a week will take up a lot of time and effort. Whatever you do, try to stay consistent. Show up when people expect you to show up. Publish on the days people expect you to publish.

2. Connect with other bloggers

The difference between blogging and writing is that there are deeper connections and networks in the world of blogging. Other bloggers can help you take your blog to the next level. Other bloggers can provide advice, support, camaraderie and more. Other bloggers, if you help them, will post your guest post on their blogs, share your content, answer your interview questions or help promote your next creation. The key is not to ask your favorite bloggers to help you do things but simply to become helpful to them first. Build up the relationship and deepen your connection with your friends online.

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” – John Lennon

3. Find out what your readers want

One of the big differences between new bloggers and experienced bloggers is the focus of the blog. Newbie bloggers focus on themselves. They share their problems. They write posts that help them. They want others to share their posts. The focus is never on the reader. If you want to stand out, simply change your focus to the audience. The way to do that is to find out what it is your readers want and the way to do that is ask. Email them, message them on social media, send them surveys, analyze their comments. Try to get a better idea about what interests your audience and what they want to learn.

4. Write posts that solve problems

After you find out what issues your readers are facing, write posts that help them solve those issues. Be helpful to the struggles and challenges your readers are facing. Use the questions they pose and the emails your readers send you as ways to understand what your readers are confronting. Once you understand their problems, walk them through the solutions. Help make your readers’ lives easier. Keep your focus on your readers, instead of yourself.

5. Be sure to collect email addresses

A big mistake that new bloggers make is they pay little attention to collecting email addresses. They value traffic and social media more. The blogosphere is like one big mall. Your blog is like a store in the mall. There could be hundreds or thousands of people who walk by your store without ever coming in to buy something. Value readers who return regularly more than visitors who are walking by. Value readers who want to read your content regularly and want to support you. Value them by collecting their email addresses so you can send them more of your content.

6. Communicate with your readers regularly

Once you have email addresses for your readers, be sure to stay in contact with them. Don’t simply collect addresses and forget about your readers entirely.  Your readers signed up because they liked what you had to say. Be consistent and habitual about reaching out to them. Send an email every week or a monthly newsletter. Use a regular communication channel to build a relationship with your readers and subscribers. When you do communicate with them, ask them to read your blog, share your posts or to comment on the posts that you do write.

“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” – Brian Clark

7. Promote your posts after you’ve written them

In the early days, not many people are going to be reading your blog. To get the word out, you have to do some marketing. Marketing is simply letting others know that you’ve written a post. You can do this by emailing your friends to let them know you’ve written a new post. You can also send your posts out to your regular readers on your mailing list. Then, you can share your posts on your social media networks. Use Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to let others know about the post you’ve just written. The more you get the word out initially, the more eyeballs will read your posts. Few will find your post by themselves. You have to help them find your writing by sharing your posts far and wide.

What blogging strategies are you using to stand out? Please share in the comments below!