If you do not understand the title I picked, let me explain. The phrase “to beat the band” usually means louder or faster than everyone else. As in singing louder than the band or playing faster than the rest of the band. When you are blogging, you often get caught up in keeping up with the bloggers around you. Bloggers in your niche or ones you might know in person. However, the goal is not to match those blogger but to surpass them. To be more successful and profitable than they ever have been or will be. Thus, you should be blogging to beat the band. However, this can prove difficult at times. How can you do more than every other blogger in your niche? Well, here are some tips that might help you out:

1. Update frequently – Personally I think that updating your blog frequently is one of the best ways to make your blog truly exceptional. There are few bloggers out there who are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to give their readers high quality content on a consistent and frequent basis. Yes, it takes a lot of work to do this but it really pays off. Your blog will stand out among the rest as a beacon of what a blogger’s job really should be. This does not mean you have to be blogging twenty four hours a day. There are plenty of programs out there that will allow you to schedule your posts days and even weeks ahead of time. Instead focus on cranking out good content and make sure what you post on your blog is what you, as a reader, would appreciate.
2. Think outside of the box –Another quality that outstanding bloggers posess is the ability to think outside of the box. No one wants to read the same old junk over and over again. Instead, come up with new ways to present your topic or even new topics that pertain to your blog’s niche. Maybe you can go humorous or satirical with your blog content. The main thing is to differentiate yourself from the rest of the bloggers out there and really stand out in your own unique way. You can even use fun tricks like name recognition to draw in new readers and make your blog posts entertaining for you to write. Things like “Batman’s favorite midnight snack” or “Chuck Norris’ beard trimming tips” make for great blog posts to write and get readers in by the droves. 
3. Use images –Many times a blogger gets so caught up in the content, making sure it is SEO and keyword optimized that they forget about the people who will actually read it. I am telling you now, I get more hits off my images then I do off my text most times. You see, people are very visual. They like pictures. If you can come up with a great picture that meshes with your blog post content then you are off to a great start. Try to go for something that stands out in reader’s minds. Something weird or bright or funny or even cute works best. Just make sure it fits and that you have the right to use it. No sense getting sued for something so simple. There are tons of free photo sites you can dig into so take a look and see what works for you.
4. Go multimedia – Beyond just photos why not bring a bit of the new age into your blog? Videos, music, infographics and more add a touch of flare to your blog without being expensive or hard to do. In fact, you can create your own video with just your webcamera and microphone that is probably already built into your laptop. If that is not up your alley, then grab a free video from YouTube or other hosting sites. You can also add music like that too. These sorts of multimedia blog additions make your blog stand out to your readers and also help it to be more interactive. Creating your own infographic is not hard if you have a design mind, but if not there are tons you can link to for free that will draw your reader’s attention.
5. Do not settle for standard – Another thing bloggers mess up on is setting for the freebies.Yes it is great to have a free blogging platform and template, but the same one repeated over and over again on millions of blogs will have readers yawning. The best thing you can do is make your blog stand out by being different from the rest. You can buy your own upgraded template or even hire someone to make you a personal one. There are many design students who would do the job for cheap if you contact them or you can even try your own hand at it. I have heard it is pretty simple to make something that really stands out. 
6. Make it pretty –Speaking of standing out, do not forget to make your blog pretty. I know that sounds pretty stupid, but readers are just people. They like things that are visually attractive. That does not mean you put pink flowers all over everything, but try to make sure your blog layout is attractive and easy to read. You should also add in some contrasting colors and some different text styles to break it up from boring and blah to cool and fresh. It only takes a little time for you to really update the whole look of your site and you might be surprised what that does to your blog’s traffic. 
7. Get to the point – For you bloggers who like to ramble on I have just one suggestion for you: don’t. Get to the point! No one wants to read a lot of gobbled gook and pointless phrases. If you have a story to tell then tell it and if you have a point then make it. Do not fill up your blog with pointless junk. Make sure your blog is something that you would want to read. That being said, it is best to keep your blog posts on the short side. Everyone is pressed for time and a short blog post is not only easier for your readers to skim but it is faster for you to type. A win-win all over! 
8. Have fun with it – Last but not least remember to enjoy your blog. If you do not love what you are blogging about then why would the readers want to read it? Believe it or not, how you feel about a subject comes through in your writing. Have passion for your blog topic and let that passion show through in your posts. If you have lost your passion you may want to change your blog’s topic all together or find new aspects of the topic that you are still interested in. If you do not love it then do not write about it!

Hopefully I have given you some things to think about. You can improve your blog in many different ways. Most of the time it is all about taking the time to do it. Change how your blog looks, how it sounds and how it is laid out. You may find that you not only get new readers but the readers you have love the new blog so much that they tell their friends. Make your blog stand out from the rest and be memorable. Not only for the way it looks but for the great content and the quantity of that content. Quality plus quantity is always a win.