Blogging is a powerful tool to build and promote your business. But as is the case with all things worth doing, there is always a better way…don’t you agree? There are definitely things to look for that you can improve, and there are a lot of common little mistakes you can avoid to help yourself help others.
Because that’s what your blog is about, correct? Helping your readers.
- Do you write posts to your blog, and then nothing happens?
- Do you fail to get new subscribers?
- Do you send emails, but no one responds?
- Are you not getting the traffic or results you desire from your blog?
Here are a few things to look for:
- Who are you writing for? It’s essential…absolutely mandatory that you focus on your reader. If you’re writing about yourself all the time (a very common motif), what compelling reason do your readers have to hang on your every word? Readers don’t keep coming back because you’re so cool. They come back because of what’s in it for them.
- Are you consistent? Do you write every day for a week and then not again for a month? Do you change your niche or otherwise maintain things inconsistently on your blog? How would you respond if you subscribed to Rolling Stone, and then you received 6 issues back to back over the course of a week and then nothing for 3 months? You’d wonder what the heck, right? Consistency is crucial. Posting every day isn’t mandatory, but CONSISTENCY is very important.
- Do you sell or educate? If you read my stuff, you know I’m a sales advocate. I sell stuff online. Products, services, consultation. People talk down about sales, but I think that’s just because they don’t know how to do it. That said, there is a time and a place. Tact is essential. If you’re straight pitching your readers more often than not, you just might be coming off as clingy. Don’t go there. Create value…that doesn’t come from sales pitching. It comes from educating. Give your readers hard, usable information. The more you do that, the more they’ll come back. Sell, but sell with tact and grace. Hard selling just will not get the results you hope it will.
- Do you solve problems? Why would someone keep coming back to your blog? Because they think the design is aesthetically beautiful? If so, why not just take a screenshot and be done with it? The design of your site should be simple and functional…if results are what matter to you that is. I’m not saying to ignore aesthetics altogether. I’m just aiming to put it in it’s place. People spend too much time trying to make their site look cool. If you think a rockin design is necessary to make your blog work, swing over to http://mnmlist.com/ and then get back to me. Here’s an exercise if you want to take your blog to the next level: ignore your design for 60 days and focus exclusively on listening to your readers. Identify their problems and concerns, and find a way to help.
- Are you responding to your readers? Unanswered comments and emails are business-killers. Consider an unanswered comment or email to be a blood sucking leach, draining the energy out of your blog. Yet, when you respond…that comment does a 180…it becomes an asset to you. What is blogging about if not communication? And what type of valuable communication is one-sided?
True, some blogs get so many comments that it’s virtually impossible to answer everyone. I personally believe in taking steps to minimize that from happening. That’s a topic for a different post…the value of staying small. I’ll get to that later, but for now let me just say that responsiveness is key.
I work with business owners, right? They often say they don’t have any time to blog or stay on top of their email, but in the same breath they complain about lack of business. What is that? If you’re rolling in opportunities and they’re coming in so fast that you simply cannot take them all on, that is fantastic success…a problem in and of itself. But a good problem nonetheless.
However, many are slow and struggling to make ends meet and STILL complaining about how they don’t have time. This means one thing, you need to hire me to dig into your business and help you prioritize and get a marketing strategy together that will get you results, correct? Just a thought. Or, you can continue diving into the articles I offer here and the other blogs I link up here. The answers are available to you, I guarantee you.
One thing is for sure, if you’re not getting the results you want from your blog, it’s because of one of these: you’re either not doing what it takes to get results, OR you are doing it right but just haven’t given it enough time to pay off yet.
One of the reasons I love blogging and internet marketing is because if you do the work consistently and follow proven techniques, you get the result, period. Maybe not overnight (usually NOT overnight), but you GET THE RESULT. And I’m all about results. How about you?
I love hearing people say that they don’t have time for social media. If social media is taking that much of your time, one of two things are happening. Either you’re wasting your time and not using it productively, or you have built a huge community. The first can be fixed with a little coaching. The second is the result of a little coaching.
Chris,as usually,great post-however,when does one supposed to get results,and is everything you said applies to art blogs as well
basically I just post a painting with some comment
I agree Todd. There is a learning curve, but after you get some good instruction, you can run with it. You can get instruction either through a consultant or through personal study. Obviously, learning it yourself is doable just by reading blogs and through trial and error. Consulting costs money but is far faster.
Thanks Sonia :) Yes, your art blog is definitely part of this if your goal is to build a community and sell your art. All sales strategies revolve around the same concepts and foundational principles. When you learn how to engage people and sell to them, you can sell anything. Marketing consultation, art, houses…anything :)
A few great questions! These are also good questions for using social media in general. Thinking like a publisher and the whole bit. I actually read the same type of questions in The New Rules of PR and Marketing. New media is about educating, and not really selling. And that’s exactly what you do with this blog, educate. That’s why I love reading what you have to say and reading about things I can potentially apply to my social media usage.
Also, I think that results wont show for a little while. You have to have faith in your decisions and take consistent action and it will take time.
I’m glad your blog lives up to all of these questions. I need to get mine to live up to them as well.
Cheers
Clinton Skakun
Thanks Clinton, we all have work to do :) That’s a great book you mention. I have it linked up on my recommended resources page; it’s a fantastic read for anyone interested in taking advantage of any new media tools to build their business.