Are you getting results from your business blog? Like new leads, new clients, new sales? Here's how to learn smart business blogging quickly and painlessly.
A business blog is the best way to get found, get known, and get clients, but it takes most people way too much time.
What are some different ways you can deliver services to your clients? Or do you only have one way of working with people? Maybe you coach, consult, or teach by phone. How many different ways can you do this?
For example, if you teach people how to do something, you can give them tips and teaching points through online systems:
People like to choose how they get their information. Some like visual, others like audio, some like in-person workshops and conferences. Just like you wouldn't pick only one way to market online, you shouldn't deliver your services only one way. Give people a choice.
It's a curious thing, email marketing promotions. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. I feel it's my part of my job to email people to tell them about good opportunities, but many times there's a price tag involved.
Some people don't like to buy anything, ever, no matter how good. And others only want things in their own particular niche and get mad when you promote anything that doesn't concern them and their needs.
I'm full of insecurities and nervous ticks every time I pull the trigger on an email broadcast. Why? Because I know I'll get some unsubscribe notices and the occasional complaint from someone who feels email promotions to be annoying.
I hate to annoy people, especially since I feel as if I know my subscribers.
This past week, I was particularly "annoying," according to one person. I really wanted people to sign up for the iFlashVideo membership service (and I still do, it's that good!).
Well, I did one final reminder email, and sure enough he unsubscribe AND sent me a negative email. I'm telling you this to sort of relieve my bad feelings and to explain myself. I know I shouldn't worry about one email, but I do.
Over the weekend, my eye caught the attention of an email with the words "brain," "memory," and "Valentine's gift." I slapped my forehead, what was I thinking? I forgot to buy something for "Attila the Hunney,"(my favorite husband), so I quickly read the email through.
It turned out to be a plug for someone's blog and ebook, but I checked out the blog anyway. Here's what I found, and I hope you're not making these common errors too.
Once I arrived on the blog, I was disappointed to find it was all about the author and her stuff. I really thought she was going to offer me some memory tips, but instead she asked me to buy her book. Not one tip, not even a tiny one to entice me… to make me want to buy her book.
Here are three common errors people make all the time on their blogs and what you can do about them.
Are you video-savvy yet? Do you know how to crank out your own video scripts? Let me give you some tips for writing a one-minute script for marketing your biz services or products.
First, a little explanation…
I'm promoting iFlashVideo.com like mad this week for two reasons:
(But besides that, I still think this is a good program. Use this link to get on their pre-launch list but don't wait, they're closing soon.)
Oh, I guess that's three reasons, but hey, there's plenty more reasons to smarten up your video savvy.
Are you an independent professional who provides services? For example, are you a coach, speaker, consultant, or some kind of marketing specialist? Do people pay you for your expertise? And are you pretty much working solo?
2nd question: Do you need marketing content for your online sites? Like web pages, sales copy for landing pages, white papers, special reports and cornerstone content?
3rd: What's stopping you from writing great content that brings in clients?
Here's what I think… and I could be wrong, but based on what my clients tell me about why they don't write better online content:
How do you know if you're doing the right things in your business? Even if you follow best practices, there comes a time you look at the numbers, and decide what's wrong, what's right, and what you need to eliminate or do more of, right?
There's a few measurements that baffle me for my own business. The more I blog, the more traffic I get, and the more I hear from people, whether it's for a business related (money-making) project or not.
So that's a good thing, any way I look at it. It's all good. But that doesn't tell me what direction to go in, what kinds of things to blog about, or what kinds of products and services to offer.
I'm sort of guessing what people need and want, based on previous sales of what I offer. But that's looking at the past to figure out what to do next. I'm going to bring out a survey soon to find out more.
In a way, building a business is like predicting the future. I remember being asked to project sales figures once… how can anyone do that? I've watched my husband do that for several of his entrepreneurial start-ups with utter fascination.
I have no idea. I wasn't trained in business, rather in psychology. That's a field that gives me clues about what to do, where to go in business. But is it enough?
Do you have personality? And are you showing it to your blog readers? Do they know what you look like and sound like, and can they get a glimpse of what your office space looks like? Do they know your hobbies, where you live?
Right now I'm in pajamas and there's a few strands of hair sticking up in the air. My work space is full of papers, books, coffee and Huey, the cat. But a professional video might show a different view…
One of the things I put forth in the Click Predictions ebook for content marketing trends for 2010 is that companies are going to start showing more personality. It's important to be transparent and personal in order to connect with your readers and future clients.
Simple way to do that? Video. And you don't have to have big bucks, big staff, and tech savvy to do it. I've been adding video here on this blog, and while I'm no expert and don't do it often enough, it works great for connecting.
Video = Traffic
Have you read Content Marketing for Online Profits yet? I quietly introduced it on this blog last week, and haven't made any big announcements yet.
Here's what's in it:
=> What is a Content Marketing strategy?
=> What is a Content Marketing information product funnel?
=> How does content lead to sales?
=> What are the psychological triggers than turn readers into buyers?
I'm still working to get the bugs out of it, but there don't seem to be many. Here's what one reader said:
"Wow! It's obvious to me how much work you put into this ebook. I am certain that I will learn something new every single time I review the 'pages'. I am also very impressed with the delivery through KnowledgeGenie –looks like a very valuable tool to get that e-book written and delivered professionally and with pizzazz!
What are your product peripherals? I mean what other products and services are your readers interested in? What else can you offer them, besides your own products and services? More products means more ways to enter your funnel, and create more profits.
For example, people come to me to get help with their newsletters and blogs. But what else do they need? They need other marketing tools. They need content marketing planning & coaching, they need video, shopping cart, ebooks, etc.
Having a great newsletter or a great blog doesn't mean squat if it doesn't work to sell your stuff. My target audience of smart professionals may also need help with copywriting, social media strategies, surveys, podcasts and teleseminars, videos, and information products like ebooks.
