Why your blog doesn’t have a lot of comments
There has been a LOT of "fuss" lately over comments or the lack thereof on many blogs. Chris Garret has a great post on 10 reasons commenting is good for bloggers.
Since I recommend Blogs for my clients, I prepare them in advance for the lack of comments they may experience on their blog. I tell them that from a blog standpoint, it’s better to have 100 bloggers who read your blog (and therefore LINK to your blog via comments and trackbacks) than it is to have 1000 non-blogging readers. The reason: because I’ve found the overwhelming reason most blogs have comments is to create a link back to the author of the comment’s own blog or web site. PERIOD! Which is why, the blogs with the most comments deal with, surprise surprise…. BLOGGING!
In the case of my clients though, most don’t have ANY intention of becoming a "professional" blogger. Instead, we use the BLOG as a type of CMS or Content Management System. Using a word press blog instead of a traditional HTML web site allows my clients to create content easily and update content on their web site. In addition, posting allows my client the ability to share their stories and connect with potential clients.
AND BLOGS DO A GREAT JOB OF DOING THAT FOR MY CLIENTS! It’s not uncommon for my clients to relay tales of someone reading their blog, then subscribing to their newsletter to end up signing up for long term coaching with my clients.
However, these very blogs, the ones that are actually WORKING delivering clients to my clients, are suffering from a DEARTH of comments, which is why I warn clients up front not to expect a LOT of commenting to go on when it comes to their blog. Since they’re not speaking to "bloggers" there isn’t a lot of "reason" for their readers to comment.
Of course, it’s HARD when your comment spam blocker is working over time but few if any people are leaving comments. It reminds me of a story from an edition of the Click Tracks newsletter.
In that edition of the newsletter, the editor relayed a story of a company who had launched a company blog and insisted that key employees begin blogging. The employees did as instructed, but within 6 months virtually all blogging activities had stopped. The lack of comments on the blog had lead employees to believe they were "wasting their time" by blogging. However, after running a Click Tracks reports and tracking buyer behavior, the company saw that visitors to the blog portion of the web site were 60% more likely to buy than people who didn’t visit the blog. Suddenly, armed with the information that their blogging efforts were making a difference, the staff got back to regular blogging, no longer feeling that their efforts were a waste of time.
So don’t judge a blog by it’s comments. It’s possible for a blog to have dedicated readers who prefer to "lurk" rather than comment.
Quality Hosting for a Blog
Lorelle helps you learn more about Word Press and blogging via her Word Press blog. But while Lorelle knows blogging, she doesn’t know web hosting.
In her I hate my web host blog entry, she pleads for a recommendation and so far, she’s gotten approximately 80 replies, many of which are either thinly veiled affiliate links or blatantly obvious affiliate links. (eg: buyhostgator.com which redirects to the affiliate link with the end provider of the hosting service.)
Oh, and one comment suggesting that she take the BIG leap to dedicated hosting. It makes me laugh.Moving from a "typical" hosting solution to a dedicated one is very similar to making the switch from driving a sports coupe to an 18 wheeler…. both may travel the same roads, but the 18 wheeler requires a lot more skill and dedication than driving a traditional 4-wheeler. In that guy’s defense, he’s not recommending his affiliate link be used, but me thinks he doesn’t recognize that which comes easily to him doesn’t come easily to all web dwellers.
Blogging is easy.
Finding quality hosting is hard.
Finding quality hosting with great customer support…priceless.
Finding quality hosting with great customer support for people who REALLY don’t understand this whole "computer" thing let alone internet thing…. nearly impossible…with good reason.
5 Steps to Attracting Traffic to your Blog
I’ve posted recently about the client of mine who launched her brand new blog and six weeks later, wrote to me wondering why she wasn’t on the first page of Google for her desired keywords. What makes this even MORE sad is that the only post made to her blog was the "Hello World!" that comes as part of the Word Press installation.
So this list will start AT THE BEGINNING…..
Read more
Your Web Site Says A Lot About Your Business
I am at a web site and I am chuckling to myself right now. It’s another one of those "I’m an internet marketing guru and you can be too" web sites, where the site owner claims to have helped others become certified internet millionaires.
Let me tell you how I arrived at this web site, to give YOU insight as to how this whole "internet marketing" thing works. I signed up for his newsletter, using my hotmail "trash" account about public speaking. Since I used my trash account, I recognized that I was at a "Squeeze" page. He was obviously offering some sort of report on something…. I don’t remember, probably because the report was garbage and I forgot about it.
Well, the other day, one of my clients asked me where he could deliver his "marketing spiel", so while I was checking my trash email folder (for the confirmation link for yet ANOTHER special report) this guy’s newsletter "Great Speaking Tips: Places where you can deliver your message" caught my attention. The newsletter was set up so to read it you would have to click on a link, so I did. It took me to a page where the guy was hawking a CD telling you how you can make $200-$400 a day being a tour guide. UGH! That’s NOT what I wanted!!
Did he make me look? Yes. Did I buy? No.
Because it’s early (before 6:00 AM my time), and I’m in a bit of a mood…. I go to the URL of the site, and find the "home" page. This is what I see: Read more
Who is your target?
I’ve put this post under "building your business" because while defining your target customer is ESSENTIAL to your marketing, it’s also ESSENTIAL to building your business.
I sometimes feel in my consulting practice like a broken record, one that repeatedly says, "Who is your target audience?" Read more
The first three seconds at your web site….
GREAT article at IMedia Connection by Joseph Carrabis entitled Websites: You’ve Only Got 3 Seconds
Carrabis does an EXCEPTIONAL job of breaking down the visitor’s first 30 seconds at your web site into three manageable chunks, providinig insight to the web site owner of what’s REALLY going on in a visitor’s mind. Read more
Blogging for business….
Blogs began as vehicles for individuals to post their thoughts on the web…. but with the evolution of the web, many businesses are adding blogs to their marketing tool arsenal.
Over at the Undersigned, there’s a great post on "Why Business Blogs are Important"….. among the list are a blog’s ability to establish you as a "guru" in your field. On really unique benefit of a successful blog is…
Get the best employees
If your blog will be one of the heavy boys on the internet, within your field of business, you will experience that more people, and often more qualified people, will request a job in your company. It’s “human nature” - people always want to play with the heavy boys.
Wow. Not only does blogging help to establish you as an expert in your field, perform better in the search engines than a traditional web site, and allow you to quickly and easily add content, it appears that blogging also helps recruit the best of the best for your business!
Of course, I advocate a blog INSTEAD of a traditional web site for bootstrapping entrepreaneurs who want the most BANG for their web buck. However, if you have the budget for both, definitely do both! If you have to pick between one and the other, pick the blog.
Consumer Generated Content - A Tactic or A Strategy?
Great post over at Web Liquid about the "realities" of consumer generated content.
First it’s important to make clear that CGC (Consumer Generated Content) is not a marketing medium, it’s a conversation amongst consumers about the products/services they want to buy, might buy or have bought
Blogs are a great way to enter into that conversation. A company blog allows customers, both future and past, to communicate directly with the company.
Your blog: Powerful marketing tool or dribble glass….
I just signed up for BlogHer, a blog listing service of blogs written by women.
As I go in to see who’s posting what to their blogs, I find of the last 5 posts, one is about Baby Food Recipes and the other four are drivel. SELF PROCLAIMED DRIVEL!
- I am blogging my life story, from moving constantly while growing up, to being abused as a child and living in an alcoholic family. This is my life. …
- [name removed] news, views, and general maunderings. Political and social commentary plus some general kvetching of a writer trying to make it in the publishing industry in a very small way.
- The day to day musings of an adult child of alcoholics. There are also many resources for ACoA’s and those with codependency issues. Enjoy.
- All about me, my life, my pets, my family, my photography, me
Oh thank goodness!!! I just can’t get enough of reading about total strangers life, pets, family and photography.
With blogs like this taking "top" honors, it’s little wonder that I’ve had a few clients voice "reservations" about joining the blogging revolution. One client told of a blog she visited where the woman went into great detail about what she had for breakfast that morning. Fascinating stuff.
But if you’re a business minded woman (which after reading the posts at BlogHer, I wonder if I’m the last of a dying breed…..) a blog can be an INCREDIBLE tool to promote your business, especially a service based business.
People LIKE doing business with people they know and faithful blog readers feel like they KNOW the blog authors. So if you launch a blog and get some readers, you too can expand your circle of influence and as a result, see the difference in your bottom line.
Blogs CAN be magic for your business…. but not if you’re chronicling what you had for breakfast this morning!
Creating Marketing Magic with your Web Site -Content
Once you’ve got the design issues ironed out, the next step in creating marketing magic for your business is to populate your web site with words… yes content! Because, while a picture may replace a thousand words, an image can’t sell. Only words can sell on the web.
The word "sell" makes most of us nervous. For many of us, the thought of becoming a "sales person" ranks right up there with an IRS audit.
The mere mention of the word brings to mind images of sleazy characters in cheap suits trying to peddle everything from hair tonic to used cars. Most of all, the word "sell" connotes pressure and conflict. Being pressured to "buy" against your will and fighting to hold on to your hard earned cash.
Let’s be honest. No one ever wants to "buy" anything. Note: Shopping is not BUYING. It’s why your local department store installs theft prevention devices on the clothes they offer for sale. Shopping is looking. Buying involves parting with money. Money you’ve worked hard to earn.
While no one likes to part with their money, everyone has problems they need to solve. If the problem is pressing enough, people will be more than willing to part with their hard earned cash to solve it. For example, to avoid going around naked and cold, you go to the mall and buy clothing. We won’t delve into the deeply fascinating subject of other needs we meet by shopping here.
The point is, your visitors don’t want to part with their hard earned cash any more than you do. If they could get what you’re offering without parting with their cash, they’d do it!
Your job is to craft your web content to help potential clients easily "see" how your services will solve their most pressing problems.
As you create your web site content, it’s tempting to talk about the things that are important to you. The cold reality is no one will purchases your services because of what you think is important. Your clients will be purchasing your services because of what they believe you can do for them.
Your web visitors want to know whether your skills will provide real, tangible and immediate benefit for them. They want something. They’re looking for solutions to their problems. They’re looking for a way to meet their needs. That’s why they’re at your website.
Your website must tell potential clients how your service will make their life better. Show how you’ve helped other clients solve their problems or achieve their dreams. Convince them that you can help solve their problems or reach their goals, and they’ll be hiring you.
Your web site has to sell. If your web site isn’t selling, the first check to make sure it’s making a good impression with quality graphics. If your web site has a professional face, then the next place to look is the WORDS on the web site.
If the words or content isn’t converting visitors into customers or clients, it’s time to work on your web site’s copy.
-
Get your copy of
Keys to Small Business
Marketing Success
When you sign up for
Keys to Website Success