This might be teaching you to suck eggs, but sometimes stating the obvious can serve as a reminder in case we forget.
What’s the lesson?
Simply this, don’t sell in your blog! People don’t like it and will quickly move away from your site.
New bloggers often say that they want to use the blog to generate business. And there is nothing wrong with this.
Business blogging serves that exact purpose i.e. to bring potential clients into the world of your business.
But……
The blog should be written to give the reader information.
The chances are they found it because it was offering information about a certain topic that they were hunting for in a search. They came to find that information from your blog when they clicked the link.
They did not come to the blog to be sold to.
In reality, if the person likes what they see on your blog, they will click through to your “selling pages” if they are interested in buying what you have to offer.
So you are selling by using your blog but it is being done in a non-intrusive and pervasive fashion.
Your blog provides a shop window.
If the reader wants to come on in after browsing what’s in that shop window – great. If not, no problem.
Take heart in the fact that they may have learned something new from your post and may come back in the future.
Photo: Nick J Webb
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Barney Austen, Start To Blog. Start To Blog said: Are you selling or informing in your blog? http://cot.ag/hjLRRL #blogging [...]
Blogging – information not sales…
New bloggers are often challenged with understanding the difference between selling in their blog vs using their blog to generate sales. Blogs are written to provide information and this draws readers (potential clients) to your site. They read the con…
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
I totally agree with you here. Many miss the point of having a blog on their website by turning it to their own fancy billboard… when it should be used to build credibility and trust by offering something valuable to your readers. Your advice makes perfect sense.
Ajeva recently posted..How to Get Feedback from Your Freelance Workers
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
Absolutely agree! I thiunk here are a few levels of generating sales – e.g. company blog vs. personal blog of company employee…
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]
[...] Don’t sell in your blog! Hold on a minute! Now, what did we say in the paragraph above? Well, yes, social media is about boosting sales and that includes blogging, but it’s the way you go about it that counts. Think inviting shop window rather than blaring advertisement when creating your blog posts. Start To Blog [...]