Everyday sees the launch of countless blogs, covering just about every topic and for every intention that you could ever imagine. With so many blogs being published, it’s understandable that many get lost in the mix and fail to ever really add any value to the online world.

The main reason why people will visit and potentially return to a blog is because of the content that is being published. On top of this though, there are plenty of ways in which you can help to build up a rapport with your visitors – after all without them, your blog almost serves no purpose at all.

Here are five ways to help your blog stand out from the Crowd

1: Please The Eyes

There are over 92 million blogs being tracked in Technorati, so on that basis alone, don’t you think its important to stand out somewhat from the crowd?

In terms of design, copycat templates were generally the scourge of many blog owners, who simply didn’t have the time or skill set to create a unique look. These days though there are many stunning templates available (free and paid), with customisation becoming even more accessible – so there really is no excuse!

2: Don’t Be Anonymous

Back in the late 90′s, it was the done thing to hide behind an AIM tag, or give yourself a “cool” online persona, but get with the times! If you’re not bound to any contractual obligations, or aren’t posting anything of a questionable nature, then give your readers an insight about who you really are!

3: Freely Allow Visitors To Post A Comment

If I’m reading a blog post and I would like to make a comment, I will do so, providing that I don’t have to go through the effort of registering. I see having to register has a huge inconvenience and there’s no doubt that many others do as well. If you’re worried about having comment spam, then install an anti-spam measure, or even have comments wait in moderation.

4: Respond To Comments!

If somebody has taken the time to comment on your piece, then its good practice to respond to your reader. This will help you build a relationship with them, which is one of the purposes of the blog!

5: Help Your Readers Find Your Posts

Many people will use a platform such as WordPress for their blog, which allows the site owner to easily creates categories and tags for their posts as well as archives. Despite this, there are so many Blogs which either choose not to take advantage of this, or not to make it particularly easy for their visitors to find them! Make it easy for your visitors to find your content and strongly consider offering related and recent posts within your content – and don’t forget a site search feature!