For the past couple of months, I’ve been immersed in the world of blogging. Many of my students have sought my advice on this topic, but I initially hesitated to teach extensively about it, feeling I hadn’t fully mastered it yet. However, recent success, including nearing the top 10,000 most visited sites, has changed my perspective. I’ve realized the unique power of blogging and want to share why you should embrace it too.
Let’s rewind a bit. My initial online success came before many of the tools and strategies I now offer. I lacked products and strong copywriting skills. My advantage was search engine ranking expertise. I built high-ranking websites and sold traffic to those with products and copywriting talent. While this worked, I now advocate for a holistic approach: develop your own products, master copywriting, and learn how to drive traffic.
Don’t underestimate the traffic business. Consider Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, who made his fortune selling software. Now, look at the top three websites: Yahoo, Google, and MSN (Microsoft). Even Gates is involved in selling traffic through MSN.
These sites generate revenue primarily by selling traffic. My own experience confirms this. I made a substantial income selling traffic anonymously through a corporation. However, my customers only knew the company, not me personally.
When I tried to connect with them personally by sharing tips and offers, the response was lukewarm. They were used to the impersonal nature of the corporation. However, one special offer email generated over $60,000 in sales in a single day, underscoring the power of a customer list. The ability to convert a large percentage of existing customers compared to new prospects is significant.
When I tried promoting my own products to this list, it failed. The connection was missing. They didn’t know or trust me as an individual. This led me to organize events, leveraging endorsements from well-known figures to drive sales. The key takeaway? You need to build a personal connection with your audience to effectively promote diverse offers.
And that’s where blogging comes in. A blog is the perfect platform to establish that personal connection. I promote my blog alongside my products, introducing myself as the creator early in the customer journey. This allows people to connect with me beyond the corporate facade.
Whether people discover my blog before or after buying a product, the goal is the same: to build trust and recognition. So, yes, you should have a blog. Ideally, start one around your third or fourth product launch. Here’s how to set it up for success:
* **Register your name as the domain.**
* **Use your name prominently on the blog.**
* **Share personal insights and experiences.** Avoid sounding like a corporate representative. Connect with your readers like friends, sharing your personality and perspective (within reasonable boundaries, of course).
* **Post consistently.** Aim for daily updates to encourage a daily reading habit among your audience.
* **Don’t fear giving away too much.** Focus on selling software, video, or mentorship programs. It’s difficult to give away too much through text alone. The tangible value of software and video will still attract customers.
* **Include a subscription link.** Make it easy for readers to follow your blog and receive updates.
This is why I blog and why you should too. It’s about building a personal brand and connecting with your audience. In future posts, I’ll delve into specific strategies for driving traffic to your blog. But for now, register your name, install WordPress, add a subscription link, and start writing! See if you can surpass my progress in the coming months.