Article Summary: Blogging and articles are the foundation of the news and opinion we read today. Your blog is your voice. Blogging is your voice interacting with your target audiences, your prospects, members, partners, employees, and customers, in a sincere and credible way. Stick with your blogging. You will be rewarded. It takes time to develop a following. Successful bloggers are patient. They come up with fresh and innovative perspectives on the relevant issues of today and tomorrow. They analyze trends and issues, provide timely advice, and offer insights not available elsewhere. Here are 8 tips to generate more opportunities to connect quickly to them.
Better Blogging for Better Results – 8 Tips to Generate Opportunities from Blogging
Copyright © 2010. The Chief Storyteller®, LLC. and ThinkBusiness Magazine
Ira J. Koretsky
March 2010
On September 3, 2005, the screaming and shouting stopped. I finally gave in to writing my first blog. Back then, I did not have the appreciation for the power of blogging I have today. Well-written, organized, and timely blogs offer tremendous benefits.
Key benefits of blogging include:
- Extend the value and reach of your brand
- Build loyalty among fans
- Reach new audiences for your products and services
- Engage your customers in quick-turnaround conversation while also receiving valuable feedback.
Now, several years later, whether out networking or during a meeting, someone comments on my blog content.
If you look at social media today, blogging is rarely mentioned as a top application. And the irony is that, more likely than not, sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter refer back to a blog entry as the source of the information. Look at the tweets you receive. If I were a betting man, the majority of them link to blogging posts or article. Blogs and articles are the foundation of the news and opinion we read today.
Your blog is your voice. Blogging is your voice interacting with prospects, members, partners, employees, and customers in a sincere and credible way.
Here are 8 tips to generate more opportunities to connect quickly to your target audiences.
1. Make the Headline Memorable
Choose a headline that piques your reader’s interest. The headline is generally the litmus test—people decide whether your blog is worth reading solely based on the “pulling power” of the headline. Think and write like a copywriter.
2. Leverage Key Words
Include about six key words in the first 100 words of all of your blogs. Maintain a master key word list. Every time you post, pull different and relevant key words. This will improve search engine ranking, SEO, ad word success, and help target audiences find your blog and follow your blogging.
3. Content is King
Make ALL of your content relevant to your ideal client audiences. People follow you because of what you say and how it resonates with them. Blogging that seems scattered and fragmented, often falls out of favor quickly.
People follow you because of what you say and how it resonates with them.
4. Harness the Teachable Moment
Communicate like an educator. Keep your ideal audiences coming back with targeted, insightful, and helpful information. This suggestion is a bit contrary to typical sales philosophies when it comes to sharing free information. It is expected, in fact, required, that your blogging provide high educational value. Every blog entry must offer knowledge, information, and wisdom to improve the lives of your readers.
5. Personalize Every Blog Entry
Liberally use personal stories with clear business messages. Readers read your content because of their interest in what you have to say. Stand out from the “competition” for your target’s eyes and ears. Well-told stories that resonate on a personal level are always more memorable. Be sure to connect your story with a business message.
6. Toot Your Own Horn
Share exciting news. Recount stories, anecdotes, and successes about your own conference appearances, presentations, web seminars, articles, white papers, product releases, success stories, etc. Keep these posts to about 10 percent of your total blogs.
7. Invite Others to Blog
Think of your blog as a growing periodical. Magazines and newspapers showcase a variety of writers. So invite outside experts, former clients, current clients, staff, and partners to contribute blog entries. Your readers benefit from new ideas and varied perspectives. The guest bloggers increase their credibility as an expert while receiving exposure to new audiences.
8. Offer High-Value Freebies
Give away content to generate bona fide opportunities. Link your blog post to a separate landing page on your website to capture pertinent contact information. Then share the promised white paper, tip guide, published article, podcast, interview, or research report.
Stick with your blogging. You will be rewarded. It takes time to develop a following. Successful bloggers are patient. They come up with fresh and innovative perspectives on the relevant issues of today and tomorrow. They analyze trends and issues, provide timely advice, and offer insights not available elsewhere. Great blogs are one more way to connect and accelerate connections with prospects and clients.
Contact us to ensure your blogging and all of your communication resonates with your target audiences. Learn more about keynotes, workshops, coaching, and services.
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