Find out What Southern Hospitality Has to Do With More Blog Traffic

July 17, 2011 by Daniel Sharkov|

The following post is written by Catherine Alford. Cat shows some interesting analogies between American southern hospitality and blogging. See them below!

Isn’t it frustrating how other bloggers have all the fun? You get your blog dolled up, invite the right people, but no one comes to your party. You’re jealous of other bloggers. Heck, sometimes their success makes you mad as a hornet. Maybe you’ve even considered pressing delete and forgetting about your blog all together. If this is you, honey, don’t worry. A few secrets from a southerner can help give your blog a special spark. And just between you, me, and the computer screen, nothing makes you more successful than following the simple rules of American southern hospitality. Here’s how:

Graciously set the table

You wouldn’t give your guests bad directions, would you? How embarrassing would it be if they all got lost! And worse, what if they arrived and all your glasses and plates were broken? Talk about a nightmare. So, keep your blog nice and tidy. Don’t send your readers to a broken link, and make sure they have excellent directions to get to your e-mail address and social networking sites.

Feed your guests a delicious dinner.

Do you know how much work goes into making the perfect pie? If you do, that’s exactly the amount of time you should put into writing your content. A good pie doesn’t come from a box, darlin’. It’s built over many hours and involves some blood, sweat, and tears. Your posts should take over an hour to write. You should read them many times. Then you need to “let it cool” just like that perfect pie. Come back to it after an hour or so and look at it with new eyes before posting.

Offer some “lagniappe”.

In south Louisiana, the word “lagniappe” means “a little something extra.” What one special thing do you give readers that no other blog can? Maybe you offer a free service. Maybe you provide the first 20 pages of your e-book for a free preview. Either way, giving lagniappe is a generous and kind quality that your readers will remember.

Send a thank you note.

Nothing inspires southern ladies to gossip more than a forgotten thank you note. If someone writes a comment, even if it’s negative, thank them for visiting your site and sharing their opinion. You don’t want to be known as the blogger who never “follows back” or sends a nice reply.

Conclusion

Manners never go out of style. Using the long taught principles of southern hospitality can gain you genuine readers and leave you with a sense of accomplishment knowing you’ve been kind, hospitable, and generous with your time.

Post Written by Cat Alford

Cat Alford was born and raised in south Louisiana and blogs about design, crafts, living a fabulous lifestyle on a budget, and southern hospitality on her blog, BudgetBlonde.

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