How do you go about writing a blog?
I have a few clients who have considered writing a weekly or daily blog, but many of them think they don't have time to do it. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, here are a few ideas to make it painless and beneficial to your business.Writing a consistent blog puts you in front of a considerable number of people in a cost-efficient way. It's your chance to let customers (and prospects) know about your products and or services. Here are a few ideas to consider:
1. EDUCATE THEM
You may have heard before that people don't like to be sold, but they do like to buy. That means that the more you "sell" them, the greater chance you have of sending them away to a competitor. Educate them, instead.
2. LET THEM KNOW HOW IT WILL IMPROVE THEIR LIVES
You are passionate about what you do, right? Your product or service will improve their lives. Focus on that in your blog. Mention the features of your products and services, but spend more time on the benefits of them.
3. SPEAK TO THEM LIKE YOU WERE HAVING COFFEE WITH THEM
When I work with clients on doing presentations, I always stress making their message conversational-- not stuffy. That's exactly how you should do it in your blog. Approach it as if you were sitting with them for a morning coffee. meeting.
4. TELL THEM SOMETHING THEY DON'T KNOW
If you tell them something they know they'll say, "So what?" If you tell them something they don't know they'll say, "Tell me more."
5. USE 3-S COMMUNICATION
I created a communication acronym in my communication course called 3-S Communication. Everything you say or write should be Short, Simple and Selective. Short (only the number of words you need to use), Simple (no words your targeted audience wouldn't understand) and Selective (powerful words that persuade people and get the results you're looking for.)
6. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Have you noticed how short some books are today? Some of these books become best sellers. Ones in recent years provide bold quotes, boxes around the most valuable points, summaries at the end of the chapters and questions to help you relate their material to your life.
7. USE SHORT PARAGRAPHS
As I point out in my book PerfectTIMING, people don't have a lot of time today. Their lives are usually booked solid. Use short paragraphs for your blog so that your readers can easily digest a point you are trying to make. Leadership expert Seth Godin does a fabulous job at this in his daily blog.
8. TEASE ME
If you've done your job in the blog, there will be something that makes them want to act. It's called a teaser. Give people a reason to contact you, act quickly on an offer you have, come see your products or use your services.
9. OFFER THEM SOMETHING FREE
There's probably something you could offer them at no charge-- a complimentary analysis to determine whether they need you or not, a proposal or even an promotional item. The free things may lead me to order some of your paid things.
10. MAKE IT EASY
Provide them a website to go to, a store location to visit or a phone number to call. The phone number is big. Not providing it says you want a barrier between you and them.
