7 Easy Ways to Get People to Subscribe to Your Blog

Starting and growing a successful blog is easier said than done. While content is undeniably important for any blog, there are other factors that contribute to a successful blog. One of the most essential parts is growing a following of loyal readers, aka subscribers. But, why is it so important to get people to subscribe to your blog? I'm glad you asked!

Subscribers are the people who join your email list so they can get notified about new posts and exclusive offers. Those subscribers also often follow your blog on social media and are more likely to share your content. This not only gets more eyes on your content and brings new readers to your blog, but creates more opportunities to convert those readers to subscribers.

So, if you want to reap the rewards of building a loyal audience, you have to give them a reason to subscribe. Luckily, that doesn't have to be as complicated as it may sound! Keep reading for 7 easy ways to get more subscribers.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

Publish New Content Regularly

Inconsistency is one of the fastest ways to lose subscribers. Failing to publish new content is frustrating for your audience, regardless of if they're a loyal subscriber or new to your blog. Readers expect quality content delivered on a regular basis.

So, if you want to grow your blog and get blog subscribers, you need to be consistent. I'm not saying you need to publish a new post every day or even once a week. However, you do need to establish some sort of a blogging schedule and editorial calendar.

Figure out a realistic blog schedule looks like for you. How many blog posts do you think you can create each month without feeling overwhelmed. Next, brainstorm a list of blog topics you think would resonate with your readers. Once you have an idea of how often and what you'd like to publish, you can pick which day (or days) of the week you'll publish your content. This not only gives your audience something to look forward to but also lets them know when they should expect new content.

There are a couple of different ways to keep track of your blog schedule and editorial calendar.

1. On paper: Print out a blank calendar or download a blog schedule planner like this free one from Suzi at Start a Mom Blog.
2. Online: Many bloggers recommend using Trello or Asana to plan and schedule their editorial calendar. I personally prefer Trello over Asana for this, and Trello offers a great guide to using it for an editorial calendar. Check it out here.
3. A planner specifically for blogging: Check out Amazon for some great, affordable options like the ones below.

Produce High-Quality Content

Have you ever heard the phrase, “quality over quantity?” Well, it applies to blogging too! Creating high-quality content is a fundamental element of all successful blogs. I know what you're thinking; “You just said quantity is important!”

You're not wrong. However, quantity should come second to quality. It's easy to create a blog schedule that has you pumping out new content once or twice a week. But, if you're not producing in-depth, valuable content, it's all for nothing. To encourage readers to subscribe to your blog, you need to impress them with the content you create.

How to Create Quality Content

The topics should be relevant to your blog niche and be well researched/informative. In addition, they need to contain proper grammar and spelling. Nothing makes a reader click away faster than horrible spelling and grammar! While these things don't always come naturally, there are plenty of tools to help improve your writing. My favorite tool is Grammarly, which is basically like spellcheck on steroids. The best part is that Grammarly offers a free browser extension, though I would highly recommend investing in Grammarly Premium.

Blog posts should also be formatted appropriately. They should include headings and subheadings, SEO keywords, and images. Photos are often underrated when it comes to creating blog content, but they actually play an important role.

• Images break up long blocks of text and give the eye a break.
• Images can be used to boost SEO by using keywords in the alt tag and title.

Here's a helpful guide to use when searching Google for images: https://setapp.com/how-to/use-google-image-search-like-a-pro.

Just remember that not every image that shows up in Google's search result is free for you to use. While you can credit the source for the image in your blog post, stock photos are much safer to use—provided you get them from a trustworthy source.

You can get free stock photos from sites like Pexels and Unsplash. Another option is to invest in a stock photo membership like one from Pixistock or IvoryMix.

Related: How to Use Stock Photos + Where to Find Them for Free!

Create Opt-in Freebies

When it comes to getting people to subscribe to your blog and join your email list, opt-in freebies are your best bet. Opt-in freebies provide your audience with an incentive to subscribe to your blog. Basically, you're giving them something of value in exchange for joining your email list.

With that in mind, it's important to offer an opt-in freebie that resonates with your audience. Create an eBook or PDF download that teaches them something or offers a solution to a problem. Offer a discount code for a product or service you sell. Then entice people to sign up for your email list by sharing the benefits of the freebie and becoming a subscriber. Insert pop-ups and graphics on relevant blog pages and create a specific landing page to convert the reader into a subscriber.

Here's an example graphic for an opt-in freebie I offer:

Write For Other Websites

Guest blogging is another great way to get more blog subscribers. Just how does creating content for other bloggers help you get more readers? I'm glad you asked! Writing content for other bloggers gets more eyes on your blog because it exposes you to their audience. This enables you to share your expertise and knowledge with a wider audience base, which can drive traffic back to your blog. It also gives your blog a boost in the eyes of Google by creating backlinks, especially if you include a bio at the end of your guest post.

To find guest posting opportunities:

• Connect with other bloggers in Facebook groups
• Search Google (Try searching “Your blog niche” + “Write for Us”)
• Use Pinterest
• Create a list of bloggers in your niche and send them a pitch containing a few ideas for a guest post

Utilize Social Media Platforms

Social media is one of the best marketing tools there is to get your blog noticed online. Utilizing social media makes it easy to connect with your audience, share your content, and drive traffic back to your blog. Whenever you publish a new post or create a new opt-in freebie, post about it on your blog's social media platforms. Don't forget to include a link to drive them back to the content, too!

The platforms you choose to use will primarily depend on your audience and your preference. That being said, Pinterest is your best friend when it comes to getting eyes on your content and increasing blog subscribers. Not sure how to use Pinterest to drive traffic to your blog? Invest in a course like Pinterest Ninja or an eBook like The She Approach to Making Pinterest Possible. Both offer an affordable way to learn all the best tips and tricks to using Pinterest for bloggers.

Make It Easy to Subscribe

This is perhaps the single most important way to convert your readers to subscribers. When readers have to hunt for a subscription form or fill out a ton of information, they're less likely to subscribe. Clear calls to action like subscription buttons, make subscribing to your blog simple.

• Have a subscription box in the sidebar
• Use pop-ups on relevant blog posts/pages
• Use a CTA at the end of a blog post such as, “Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to have the latest posts, news, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.”
• Insert graphics for opt-in freebies inside relevant blog posts
• Offer a content upgrade in exchange for subscribing to your email list at the end of a blog post

Listen To Audience Feedback

When it comes to growing your blog, it's crucial to listen to reader feedback. After all, your audience can tell you why someone will or will not subscribe to your blog. Maybe it's that new posts are sporadic or the content doesn't resonate with them. Whatever the reason, it's important to pay attention to how visitors behave on your blog.

For feedback about how your blog performs and readers interact with your content:

• Read and reply to comments
• Review your Google Analytics and Search Council results to see which pages and keywords bring the most traffic
• Pay attention to social media insights
• Poll your current email subscribers
• Ask fellow bloggers to do a site audit

Here's a helpful blog post from HubSpot for more information on using reader feedback: https://blog.hubspot.com.

While implementing all 7 of these tips will be the most beneficial, it's okay to start out small. In the beginning, focus on creating high-quality, consistent posts and sharing your content. Then move on to incorporating opt-in freebies and guest posting into your blog plan. It may take some time to see real growth, but putting in the effort now will help your blog grow and encourage people to subscribe to your blog.