Blogging

It has been awhile since I wrote about my blogging journey…. I have gotten a few questions about where I get topics, what motivates me to write and who reads my blog.  Yes, the old inner gremlins started their song “no one reads your blog“, “why would anyone read your blog” and “you will never be as good as…”   Yet, I know that people are reading my blog.  Okay, so that may sound a little “cocky” but is is because I have worked hard to build my community.

Here are some tips that will help you to build your blog community:

1. Be insanely useful.

Rule #1 is to be so useful people can’t ignore you. Write posts with information where you help your blog community.  Give out free worksheets or e-books.  Write tutorials that are clear and organized, leaving little room for questions.  Experts will say that people are not going to keep coming back if you write about your day-to-day activities or share vague tips.

2. Be consistent.

Picture this: you write an AMAZING post and lots of people read it.  Then you go silent for two weeks. People haven’t had a chance to build a relationship with you. So they forget about you. They move on.  In order to build your audience, you need to be consistent in build your audience.  Create a schedule and stick to it.  An example is: every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Or once a week. Whatever you works for you, make a schedule and stick to it.

3. Make sure your site is focused.

Just because you have a lot of interests, it doesn’t mean that all of those interests belong in your blog.  A focused site with a relevant topics for your ideal community is much better than blogging about everything.  How would you like your friends to tell their friends about your site?  How do you hope they’ll describe it?

4. Utilize social media.

Want to grow your blog?  The best way is through social media.  It is not as if “if you write/ publish a blog, everyone will read it”.  There is no doubt that I have a growing blog community because of social media.  I have begun building relationships that drive people back to my blog posts and products.  The key is to create conversations, share other people’s work more often than your own, and be consistent.

5. Make sure your site is branded.

Your office may be a hot mess, but you want your site to be uncluttered, clear, and visually appealing.  Readers will take you seriously when you have a professional, consistent design.

Thank you to “The Nectar Collective” for these tips.  I would love to hear your best suggestions on blogging.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Finding YOUR Customers

Happy Monday… It was a crazy busy and exciting weekend but it is time to get back to work.  I am on a mission to fill my calendar for August AND find some new customers at the same time.  I saw an article on Bloglovin’ that had some tips that might help all of us find our “ideal” customer and hostess.

1. PACKAGE YOURSELF

What kind of service do you offer your customers? For most of us in direct sales, it is all about our products, right?  But what is the service that you offer linked to that product?  It’s essential that we package what we offer in a way that catches the attention of our ideal customers.  I mean there are 31 uses for a certain bag, one of them MUST fit your needs.

2. DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF

There are lots of “consultants” with your direct sales company BUT what makes you POP out.  What makes you stand out online (or in person) so that you attract the right people for you.  I have heard – just cast a wide net and the goods ones will be caught.  For me, that isn’t working so well.  Help your future customers to figure out whether you’re the right fit by being brave enough to stand out. Share rather than sell. Encourage instead of plead.  Provide amazing service without expecting things in return.

3. CREATE CONTENT FOR THEM

Your content is how you can share your expertise, build trust, brand awareness, and build a deeper connection with your audience.  The best part about content? It’s sharable, so when done right it can open you up to bigger audiences along the way – and therefore more potential customers.  Who are you appealing to (your target market) with your products?  Who can you connect with to share the value of your products using terms they are familiar with and that appeals to their lifestyle?  Keep showing up and being of service to your audience. Create content that connects with them, that they can file in the back of their mind, and that they would be willing to share with friends and family.

4. HANG OUT WHERE THEY ARE

Not only online but change your seat.  A different restaurant, a different bleacher seat, or a different Facebook group. We can’t expect potential customers to find us if we’re not actually hanging out where they are.  We need to be seen, not necessarily heard. That doesn’t mean just showing up for the sake of it but being available and aware of what’s going on around us.  Sharing appropriate content, engaging in conversations, collaborating and networking with others are just a few ways to show up.  Putting yourself out there can be scary, but having an empty calendar with no customers and no money in the bank is even scarier, right?

5. BUILDING TRUST

This is the BIGGEST thing for me when I am seeking new customers and hostesses.  Think about it – in many cases, we are asking people to let us into their homes while they give us access to their friends and family.  Seriously, would you do that if you didn’t have at least a basic trust of the person?  Being authentic every single step of the way is important. We need to commit to showing up and being transparent, to being open, and honest with everything that we do as it relates to our business.  When we are consistent in our message – online and in person – we develop a presence that builds authentic connections, relationships, and trust with future customers

So, what makes you good at your job?  What makes your services so valuable and worth your customers investment? Wouldn’t it be great if you could attract ideal customers so that the work that you do every day not only feeds your soul but your bank balance.

Share your thought with us.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!