The best way to build repeat readers for your blog is to simply under-promise and over-deliver. Deliver more to your readers than your blog promises and you will quickly find yourself with much more than a handful of loyal (and fulfilled) readers.

Think of it this way, when you over-promise and under-deliver; you will only succeed in making your readers and contributors feel cheated, used, and worthless. Do not cheat your visitors of their time. It may sound harsh or even impossible, but it is the cold, hard, truth. Everyone wants to have their expectations met– and when you exceed those expectations, you instill a quality or value in your blog and ultimately your word. Readers are satisfied by having their expectations met and exceeded when possible.

I realized a valuable lesson from an early age: your word is all you have. Everything else in business changes, but your word will always be a constant. Why do your readers read your blog? Because they trust you. If you can’t be successful in instilling trust, knowledge, and experience through your stories; you might as well take up another hobby or career. Blogging isn’t for you. Your readers have to believe that what you say is what you mean.

Do your best to extend this policy to those who take care of you. The contributors to your blog, the ones who write about you in their blog, the advertisers who sponsor your blog, the ladies and gentlemen who have taken the time to join your MyBlogLog community, etc. This is one of the most important lessons you will ever learn, and as my blog continues to mature I will be a prime example to you, my reader.

But, most importantly, make your stories valuable to your audience.