Bloggers Need to Use Better Data Management Tools – Here’s How

You can have a great blog idea with compelling content and fail to attract and retain loyal readers. While there’s no shortage of reasons why this happens to bloggers, vloggers, and other content creators, ineffective data management is often at the core. 

Bloggers should take the time to make sure that the content they share is not only informative and entertaining but supported by data and research. Ultimately, the more accurate and trustworthy their content is, the better it is for their credibility, reputation, and brand. 

The very best content creators and influencers transfer this concept to allocating and using the information provided by their followers. They invest time, money, and resources into master data management, which ultimately enhances their content and pushes their platform forward. 

Why Reader Data Matters

How can you write blog posts or make videos that appeal to your target audience if you have no idea who that is? As a content creator, you have to consider the needs and interests of your readers to generate click-worthy articles they’ll find helpful. Acquiring reader data from their basic contact details and demographics to their shopping preferences and subject interests can help increase your reach. 

How to Collect Reader Data

Every blogger wants to write evergreen content that increases readership and exposure. Fortunately, there’s more than one way to allocate essential data to accomplish this goal. Below is a review of a few of those strategies, tools, and resources. 

Analytical Tools

Your website has various analytical tools you can use to collect reader data to enhance your blog. Free resources like Google Analytics enable bloggers to record and assess data like site views, the amount of time spent on a page, bounce rates, and even which platforms drive the most visits. 

Content analytic tools dive deeper, focusing on the performance of your posts. The integration of the right platform provides insight into which posts are viewed and shared most frequently. Such data can assist bloggers in creating content their audiences prefer. 

User experience analytical platforms are also beneficial for bloggers. They enable you to monitor how each reader encounters your site. It measures the ease of use, navigational tools, page features, and ultimately, how your audience interacts or responds to these elements of your site. You can use the data collected to finetune your site for an improved reader experience. 

Memberships and Email Lists

Have you considered offering your readers the opportunity to subscribe to your blog? Advertising memberships and email lists create another avenue for you to collect reader-specific data that further advances your blog. An email list or subscription enables bloggers to collect details like names and email addresses. 

You can use these contact details to advance your agenda of getting the word out about new posts and industry-related content. Email campaigns and exclusive membership offers can also provide more information for your blog. You can track which emails get opened most often; you can ask questions about new article topics and develop strategies to personalize and enhance reader experiences. 

Surveys and Polls

If you want to know if your readers enjoy your blog or get their input on other subjects, all you have to do is ask. Believe it or not, people enjoy providing their opinions and feedback. Not only does it make them feel like they’re part of the process, but answering questions also improves their experience as a reader. 

Some of the most efficient ways to get answers from your followers is to create surveys and polls. You could add a poll to the end of your posts asking readers if the content was helpful or entertaining. Another suggestion is to post surveys on your social media page to learn more about your target audience. While many people will complete surveys and polls voluntarily, you can sweeten the deal by offering incentives like cash or complimentary products and services. 

Having a successful blog goes beyond writing good content. There are thousands of blogs on the internet competing for the same target audience. Part of setting yourself apart from the competition means investing in tools and resources like those listed above to acquire reader data. Applying what you learn about your followers enables you to create more original posts that attract their attention and keep them coming back for more.