Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, your blog is essential to building your fan base because it:

1. Improves your site’s search engine optimization — SEO — so your site is more likely to get found.
2. Gives readers a sense of your personality, which enhances connection and engagement.
3. Showcases your writing skill.

In a guest post I wrote recently for Denis Ledoux‘s “The Memoir Network” blog, I identified the three most common problems I see with author blogs and offer tips for fixing them. Read “3 Tips for a Better Author Blog” on The Memoir Network site.

Here are three more mistakes and how to fix them so you improve traffic and reader engagement.

1. Placing your blog on your home page.

When your blog is on your home page, it’s the first thing people see when they go to your primary domain address (authorwebsite.com vs. authorwebsite.com/blog).

Why is this a problem?

Have you ever walked into a party late and struggled to join conversations already taking place? That’s what it’s like when your blog is on your home page. Use your home page, instead, to tell visitors why they’re there and what they’ll find on or get from your site.

2. Not offering readers an opportunity to comment.

Imagine reading a thought-provoking blog post and feeling compelled to comment in the same way that you might on Facebook or in a LinkedIn group discussion.

You look for a comment option at the end of the post. When you find it, you share your thoughts. When you don’t find it, how do you feel? Disappointed? Frustrated? Locked out?

None are good feelings, right?

Don’t let your readers leave your site with bad feelings. Let them share their thoughts by enabling the comment option on your blog.

3. Not responding to comments.

There are two good reasons to respond to reader comments.

First, it’s the polite thing to do. If someone took the time to share their thoughts about your blog post, at a minimum, you should thank them. But do more than that if you can.

Second, it doubles the number of comments on your blog posts, which contribute to the “social proof” that tells site visitors that people are talking about what you’re talking about. That’s a good thing.

If you’re making any of the mistakes outlined in my guest post or here, act now to fix them. You want your blog to work as hard for your website as it should.

What do you struggle with on your blog? Or what tips can you offer author bloggers?