Welcoming Websites

Many bloggers focus on the numbers when evaluating the impact of their blog, in particular the numbers of visitors and subscribers. However, smart ministry bloggers know that the quality of their relationships with readers is just as important. If you are blogging to share your faith with others or bring them into your congregation, focus on depth as well as breadth in your interactions with readers.

Skellie at ProBlogger recently posted on "How to Transform Readers into Raving Fans." ProBlogger is aimed at a wide range of professional bloggers, hence the "raving fans" metaphor that doesn't quite fit the minister-reader relationship. But title aside, Skellie offers insights that are quite relevant to blogging in a ministry context.

Skellie observes that the principles of relating to people in-person also apply to relating to people through blogging. He writes:

We can spend a lot of time with someone but feel very little
closeness to them if they make us feel a bit stupid, or boring, or as
if our views aren’t important. On the other hand, we can feel quite
close to someone very quickly if they give us their undivided
attention, entertain us and seem to enjoy what we have to say.

Another key in building relationships of any kind is sharing our
experiences and personality: probably because both these things are
completely unique to us.

Readers have positive feelings towards you as a blogger if you are present in your writing, and take the time to respond to reader concerns. And as Skellie notes, these positive feelings make readers more likely to "treat with you with respect," "speak highly of you to others," and "trust your recommendations." If you are blogging in a ministry context, cultivating such relationships with readers is essential.

Another key point about connecting with readers is that it can help you to grow in your spiritual journey and professional capacities. On a practical level, listening to readers allows you to better understand their spiritual needs. In addition, readers too have valuable spiritual insights to share that can inspire other readers, and you!