How to Market your Blog. Part 1.

MARKETING YOUR BLOG IS EASY IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT

Most writers struggle, especially in the beginning, and some become discouraged and quit because they are not getting the traffic they thought they could. 

Throughout these posts, you will hear, “patience is everything,” but actually, it takes more than patience for your blogs to grow traffic.

Careful planning leads to content that sells.

In this blog, we will discuss the virtues of a blog, how to write a blog that sells, what is the right word count, using describers and images, and other general tips on marketing.

THE SIX VIRTUES THAT HELP YOU SELL YOUR BLOG

1. Enthusiasm
2. Creativity
3. Practicality
4. Comprehensive
5. A professional perspective
6. Understand the value of what you are selling

• In Define your Niche.  Find your audience, Parts 1 and 2, I talk about the importance of having passion for what you do.  Passion is the #1 motivator for you, your website and your audience.  Enthusiasm is contagious – and so is despair.  If you are upset, your words will show it and you will have a difficult time getting your ideas off the ground.  Stay enthusiastic!  You will need it during the times of discouragement.
• How creative are you with your ideas?  Are you writing about the same thing as everyone else, or do you strive to find a different twist on your topics?  What does your website look like?  Is it beautiful or just okay?  People unconsciously trend toward places that please the eye, and a fine-looking website speaks to your professionalism and your creativity.
• Are the goods you sell of practical use to your ideal customer?  Add value and benefit to your client’s lives by showing them amazing products they just cannot live without.
• You are the expert on the subject.  Show your expertise by researching your topics thoroughly to provide accurate information.  A comprehensive review tells your customers you are willing to go the extra mile to bring them up-to-date information.  Comprehensive does not mean long-winded.  It does not take a long blog to get your point across if you use clear and concise language.
• Approach your business like a professional. You are a professional.  You have experience in an area that you can share with people.  Make sure your site is free of typographical and spelling errors, keep your tone conversational, and stay away from jargon, swear words, and colloquialism.  Even though you are talking to one or two clients in your mind, you are actually on the biggest stage in the world – the internet.  Keep your appearance professional.
• Give your clients a valuable product and they will come back for more.  Before you sell the item, consider how it will help your ideal client.  Do not sell them trash or things they cannot use.  Keep your website consistent with the one point in mind – your selling point – and do not waiver from that.

 

A WORD ABOUT CONTENT AND WORD COUNT

How many words should you write for a blog?  How do Google crawlers find your content?  What makes a blog readable?

Here are a few things to consider.

1. The title and the first paragraph will tell what your blog is about.
2. Sub-headings let the reader scan the article and see if it is worth reading.
3. Small paragraphs, two or three lines or sentences.
4. Underlines, italics and bold fonts bring out an important detail.
5. The tone and style of your blog are personal, conversational and interesting.
6. Always use black text on a white background.  This is the easiest on your reader’s eyes.
7. Be concise, clear and concrete in telling your ideas in the fewest words possible.  If it takes two or three-thousand words, then consider dividing your blog into parts.  Two or three blogs as opposed to one!  You want your reader to stay on your site as long as possible, and if you have them caught up in reading more than one of your articles, you have accomplished your goal.

Add media to your content.

The number of words is not as important as how you get your point across.  A picture is worth a thousand words, a video will show your readers how to do something, or tie them with an expert in the field. 

People retain information best by images, so if you want your client to remember you, give them a visual.

Help people by showing them! 

USE DESCRIBERS

Describers are graphics and stories you use to bring the point home.  Scattering these throughout your article makes reading easier and makes your site more interesting.  

WRITING A BLOG THAT SELLS

First, you tell ’em, and then you show ’em.

There is a formula for writing speeches and articles, you’ve probably heard it, but here’s a reminder:

Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.

The Introduction

Get your reader’s attention right away.  Involve the reader from your first paragraph.  Offer a benefit or an incentive, make a startling statement, give surprising and unusual facts, ask a rhetorical question.

Writers call this the “hook.”  If you can get your reader past the first paragraph, you have hooked them into reading your article.

Tell them what you are going to tell them in a brief introductory summary.

The Body

This is where you tell them.

Your reader has read the introduction, so far so good, now you need to keep them reading.  This is where you show the reader how the product or idea will benefit them.  Explain why you chose this particular item and emphasize the main features.

If you are writing a blog that is not selling a product, like this blog, where you have something to say but nothing to sell, keep in mind that you are still selling your wares.  Can you get your point across in three to five sections?

You do not want to bog your reader down with too much information, so the break the paragraphs down into smaller portions.  Here is an example:

• Section #1:  Give a history of the product
• Section #2:  Why you think they should buy it
• Section #3: Why they cannot live without it

In Conclusion

Tell them again what you just told them.

• Remind them of the benefits
• Be positive and energetic
• Create a sense of urgency
• Appeal to their emotions

This is your last chance to sell your product or idea.  Use it well.  You have kept them reading this far, now grab their attention one last time.

The hook at the beginning, compelling information in the middle, and the grab at the end.

Words that Sell is a great book with lists and lists of powerful selling words.  As a long-time copywriter, many words have crossed the desk of the book’s author, Richard Bayan.  His inspiration for compiling an easy-to-find word list-book covering every aspect of selling has become a handy reference for millions of writers.  I encourage you to add this book to your writing library.  Yo

Below are 5 examples from the chapter called The Call to Action of how you can grab ’em at the end!!

1. I invite you to…
2. I can’t wait to hear from you.
3. Place your order by phone or email, but do it today!
4. Just hit the Reply button and we will send you the details.
5. Order now, while there’s still time.

Well, I see this blog will be a long one, so following my own advice, I invite you to wander over to Part 2 of How to Market your Blog. 

See you in the next post