Conversational Business Blogs
Yup, I say it a lot here, but I’m not the only one that thinks this way. You need to talk to your readers, not at them. Here’s a great little piece from Web Helper Magazine:
Conversation leads to trust. Conversation leads to negotiation. Without Conversation… there will be no Conversion — no sales. Seem like common sense? It is. Then why am I writing about it? Because a lot of businesses just don’t get it. They pay to customize and install a business blog, then make key mistakes that leave possible paying customers out in the cold.
Amen and amen. Can I get a hallelujah from the back row brethren?
A business blog is just that, bidniz…
When you’re doing business in front of the customer, that is, with them right there in front of you, you need to talk to them. You need to be a person they can relate to. The same is true with the web. But with the web all you have is your words.
Yes, the content rules all, and yes you need a ton of it to compete, but you also need to be a human being when they read what you’ve wrote.
If they can’t relate, if they can’t build an image in their mind of a person talking to them, then, get this, it’s coming…
THEY WON’T BUY WHAT YOU ARE SELLING..
So take your business blog to a level your competition just can’t wrap their minds around. Get personal with your readers and talk to them.
Your sales numbers will show you the difference.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Hi – thanks for the quote from my article. You know, I keep seeing people make the same mistake. I recently posted on a forum for Social Marketers, suggesting we place links there to articles at which we’d like to receive comments. One fellow with a nicely designed blog asked people to stop by and comment. Fine. Problem is, his articles are mostly news style reviews of expensive “Blogger Secret” type courses, on which he asks for our comments… if you’ve purchased and used the course. Of course I “get” his sales ploy — buy it, then comment — but it’s COMPLETELY backward of a real sales approach. He should engage me, before the sale, in such a way that I might like to purchase in the future, and in the meantime strike up a conversation with him via his blog. So he doesn’t get it… and he doesn’t get many comments at all. – Scott
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
I feel you Scott. We offer a lot of services for our clients as well, but one thing we tell them, and try to practice here as well, is to talk to our customers. Your post hit the nail on the head my friend. Keep on truckin’ my man!
P.S. I dig your blog. A lot.