By Karen Barr
What is the 80/20 Blogging Rule?
This rule has many applications.
When it comes to food, the 80/20 rule is a healthy eating principle that creates balance. Since eating 100 percent healthy is next to impossible, the rule allows treats 20 percent of the time. It only works if you select healthy foods the rest of the time!
In marketing, the rule is identified by observing that 80 percent of your sales come from just 20 percent of your customers.
How is the 80/20 rule applied to blogging? First, let’s look back in history.
The Pareto Principle
Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto devised this theory in the 19th century. Looking at produce in his garden, he observed that 80 percent of the peas he collected came from 20 percent of the pods.
While at university, he presented the theory that 80 percent of the land in Italy was owned by 20 percent of the people.
Applying The Pareto Principle to Blogging
Now that you understand this rule a little better, it’s time to apply it to blogging.
Writing isn’t easy.
Writing blog posts can be exhausting for many people. The Pareto Principle encourages companies to focus energy on what’s working and let go of what isn’t.
The Blogging Rule in Action
- 80 percent of your blogging success comes from 20 percent of your actions.
- 20 percent of your blog posts give you 80 percent of your website visitors
- 80 percent of your income comes from 20 percent of your blog posts.
Focus on the 20
It’s time to double down on what is already working on your blog. To do this, check out your Google Analytics.
First, where is your traffic coming from? Maybe over the past six months, you’ve noticed lots of traffic coming from Twitter and just a trickle from Pinterest. You may consider eliminating Pinterest as a social media platform.
Take the time found and invest it back into Twitter. You may even consider paying for some well-placed strategic ads on Twitter to ramp up blog visitors.
Next, use Google Analytics to see which posts are most popular. Which pages are your visitors landing on? How much time are they spending on each?
After you have identified your most successful blog posts, create more of them. Read Crafting Successful Blog Posts.
Create different visuals to promote the same blog post across all your social media platforms. While the content of your message will lead back to the same post on your website, people can look at it with fresh eyes.
Create paid ads from the most click-worthy social media posts. Up your sales game!
Include these top posts in your email marketing campaigns throughout the year. Change up the look and feel of each email with fresh subject lines and designs. Create a round-up of your top posts and make each clickable.
Create Evergreen Content
Create evergreen content to maximize each post’s value. Unlike a carton of milk, these posts never expire.
Evergreen content is a powerful SEO strategy that consistently draws search traffic and maintains its relevance and value over time. It stays fresh for readers and offers lasting advantages to blogs and websites. Examples include how-to guides, tutorials, resource lists, and in-depth articles.
Read my blog post– What is Evergreen Content?
In Conclusion
What is the 80/20 rule for blogging? It’s about being strategic with your time and doubling down on what will bring you more success.
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