I'm going to make this short & sweet, and give you
some insight on WHY blog marketing works, and why a blog is an
asset to your online business. First though, take a moment
to download this free book:
http://download.authoritysiteprofits.com/
It's
called "The Authority Black Book" and it is ALL about
Web 2.0, Social Marketing and how to drive high quality traffic
to your websites. It is a must-read for anyone that plans to do
business online in 2007 and beyond...
It
is free. It is chock full of creative ideas, solid how-to information,
and resources. If you want to dominate your niche, this is the
guide to follow:
http://download.authoritysiteprofits.com/
You and Your Blog...
You fall into one of 3 categories:
1)
I dont have a blog
2) I have a blog and I dont "get it"
3) I blog regularly and I am seeing great results!
If you fall into #3, you can scroll down and browse the freebies
and resources I have included at the end of this issue. If you
fall into #2, keep reading. If you fall into #1, keep reading
- and then see this quick how-to guide on How
To Start A Blog.
Why Blog Marketing Works
There is nothing "magic" or mysterious about a blog
that makes it more search engine friendly than any other type
of website. WordPress, for example, is just a Content Management
System. In other words, it is a way to easily publish content
on the internet.
You
could use other tools to achieve the same results. An HTML editor
to create pages, an FTP program to upload them to the internet,
plugins or scripts to create interaction, etc. Obviously it is
just much easier to use WordPress or something similar.
The
goal is to create websites or blogs that are updated frequently,
encourage interaction with visitors, and that attract unsolicited
natural links.
You
see, its not all about the complicated workings of RSS or Feeds.
Those are just features. Its
about Social Marketing and Social Networking...
This is not just an Internet Marketing trend or the latest
eBiz fad. It is happening everywhere you look - small
business, big business, corporate business, etc.
If
you have noticed, even the mainstream media is taking this route.
Commercials on television are telling stories in sequence, or
they are showing you faces and telling you names of real people
who found a solution with their product.
This
type of marketing engages your interest and helps you relate personally.
And you know what? It works! We have all become somewhat immune
to "You need this! Buy it right now!" and are more apt
to look at a solution that our friend suggests or that other people
like us are using.
This
is the basic meaning behind phrases like "Social Marketing"
and "Consumer Generated Advertising". The
term "Web 2.0" defines the transition from the push
marketing and hard-sell trends (Web 1.0) to the social soft-sell
methods that build loyalty and trust with your market.
Where does blogging fit
into all of this?
Blogging, by its very nature, allows you to have a more personal
relationship with your target market. Let me give you one example
that will give you a "bigger picture" of how it all
works...
Let's
say that you are a very skilled mechanic and you specialize in
Harley Davidson. You put up a website to sell bikes, parts, accessories
and other related items.
You
are a dealer, among hundreds of others (strike one), and so the
pages of your online store don't contain "unique content"
(strike two), but mainly product descriptions and ordering information.
You put your website online and hope that people will find it
and place orders (strike three).
Those 3 strikes dont mean that you wont get traffic and make sales.
Because you will. Particularly if you promote the website offline,
and also properly optimize and market your website on the internet.
But
you WONT get the kind of traffic and loyalty that you would get
if you were using social marketing methods in addition to that...
Who Are You, And Why Should
I Buy From You?
Social Marketing allows you to be "in touch" with your
target market, and to build your brand and build relationships
at the same time.
Let's
say that Joe Mechanic sets up a blog. He can write do-it-yourself
tips for Harley enthusiasts, feature the latest products, or talk
about news and stories related to the industry.
This
IS unique content, and so he can use those pages as a traffic
funnel to introduce readers to his website.
Joe
Mechanic takes it another step and joins Social Networking sites
like MySpace and FaceBook. He finds other Harley enthusiasts and
adds them to his network, or friends list.
Next,
he joins discussion forums that discuss Harley's and interacts
there as well.
You
see, Joe Mechanic doesnt *spam* the social sites or the discussion
forums. He gets involved. He gets to know people, and lets them
get to know him. Before long he is making good friends with similar
interests, and they take an interest in his website... and then
tell *their* friends about Joe's cool site too.
You can read more about Social Networking here:
http://www.clicknewz.com/social-networking/
If you have any questions, join us on the discussion
forum!
