How to Market Your Business Blog Content without Annoying Your Friends and Family
By: Debbie Allen
No matter what sort of business you happen to be in, you probably use various strategies to market your business blog content. The goal is to get the information out to as many people as possible. The more people you can make aware of your business, services, and products, the more sales you stand to make.
The problem is, you don’t want to become recognized as the person that is constantly “pushing” to make sales.
You Could Become Lonely
When it comes to marketing, you really have to learn to walk a fine line or you will soon be the person that others avoid. Think about it. How many times have you personally opted out of someone’s email subscriptions because your inbox was getting filled with sales pitches? The same can be said for the avoidance of certain profiles at social media sites.
The point is, when your message is all about you and your products, people get bored with what you are saying very quickly. It’s sort of like receiving a phone call from an old friend who seemingly just wants to catch up and see how you’re doing, and then suddenly hits you up for a favor or perhaps even worse, he tells you he’s now selling insurance and wants to know if you happen to need any.
Provide Expert Information
It’s a new age, and the use and effectiveness of typical sales pitches are a thing of the past. People don’t want to be bothered. They visit social media sites to socialize, and they go to websites and blogs to find information.
That being said, if all your business blog offers is promotional content, you can bet it won’t be very useful to those seeking real information. Therefore, the first way to market your business blog without annoying friends, family, or anyone else for that matter, is to offer up expert content that users can put to work in their lives. This establishes you as an authority in your niche, and people will respect and trust in what you have to say. It’s a great way to build a top-notch reputation.
Oh, and by the way, it never hurts that the informative posts link to your products and services.
Share Stories
The second way to market a business blog without losing the friendship of those you care about is by sharing stories that depict personal experiences. This gives you a chance to incorporate some photos and other interesting elements.
For instance, if you happen to have a site about craft projects, you might include photos of a project that went totally wrong and compare it to one that turned out exceptionally well. Your story can explain which tools or products made such a difference in the outcomes. This is a subtle approach to selling. But the reality is, people prefer soft sales techniques to blatant sales pitches.
Think it Over
As you market your blog, it is wise to consider the audience you will be reaching. Think for a moment how the promotion will come across to the typical customer and how it will sound to your next-door neighbor and even to your family members. Whenever possible, take the time to ask around and get some firsthand opinions.
Try to find ways to entice people to visit your business blog to see real information—not just to click through to a sales page. This sets you up as being more credible. It’s much easier for people to trust someone that is not always asking them for money. Remember, you have to give before you can receive!
Published: June 27, 2013
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2685 Views