If you don’t seem to be able to attract the right customers or clients to your business with blog, it’s probably because you’re making some mistakes that prevent you to from building that bridge between you and your ideal customer.
In this post, I wanted to briefly show you why blogging is important if you have a business, and why you’re not attracting the type clients you are looking for.
Are you Blogging to Create more Business?
10 years ago, blogging was still in its infancy.
Most companies and businesses didn’t know anything about blogging, and even if they did, blogs were just some type of journals, rather than the powerful online tools that they are today.
Moving forward 10 years, though, and you have over 60 million blogs on the web, all trying to get people’s attention.
This is good and bad at the same time.
Here is why:
1 – It’s good because, now, people are looking into blogs to find more information about what there are interested in (purchasing), and potentially connect with the business owner, whether it an online or offline business.
2- It’s bad, because the competition is quite huge, and bloggers (business owners) need to be on top of their game in order to be able to use their blog efficiently.
To tell you the truth, it took me quite some time to refine my own blog to what it is today, and really understand where I was going with it.
I learned the hard way, with lots of trials and errors.
For some of us, it takes time to keep tuning up our blog until it’s just right for our target market.
One of the reasons you may be struggling with your blog, is because you’re not really clear on the purpose of your blog, or don’t know how to use it efficiently.
If it’s your case, send me an email and we can talk.
Why Blogging is Important if you have a Business
Blogging is important for your business, because you can use your blog as a smart promotion tool.
As path between your potential customer/client and you.
And as a way to communicate with them in an open manner.
Through your blog your potential customer can get to know more about you, about the way you do business, and about your expertise in your niche.
That’s where your blog is going to be very useful here.
You will be showing your target market – you ideal client/customer – that you are an expert and that they can trust you.
People tend not to buy from total strangers, but prefer to buy from someone they know and trust.
This is why your blog is going to be very useful for your business.
Now, you might already have a blog, but for some reason, you’re blog is not attracting the right clients or customers to your business.
What could be the reasons for that?
Here are few main reasons I found, why your blog is not attracting your ideal client.
You are not specific enough with your Content
Let’s say you have a clothing store.
If I say, clothing store, it’s rather vague, isn’t it?
What type clothing do you sale?
For men? Women? Both? Teenagers? Children? Newborns? lingerie?
Now, let’s say you’re selling women’s clothing.
Is it for all sizes? Petite-size? Plus-size?
Now let’s say that you are selling clothes ONLY for plus-size women. In this case, that’s the only type women you need to have in your store.
No regular size or petite size customers would be interested in your store.
However, plus-size women customers are you ideal market.
So, if you had a blog promoting your plus-size clothing store, you would have to focus on that specific market, and no other.
If your blog is not bringing in enough customers, make sure that your visitors will have no doubt about what business you’re in.
If you still have doubt about what business you’re really in, as my friend Don Purdum calls it, I invite you to read this article of his.
Once you do know, make sure that your blog content specifically talks to your market.
You do not Produce Fresh and Valuable Content on a Regular Basis
Your blog needs to be active. A stagnant blog is a dead blog.
This means that you need to produce fresh content on a regular day(s) each week.
People are creatures of habit and they like to know in advance when to expect new content from on your blog.
Once a week, twice a week, three times a week…
It doesn’t really matter. What matters most is to pick a frequency and try to stick to it as much as possible.
Once you know the frequency at which you are going to publish articles on your blog, make sure it’s some valuable stuff.
Your content can’t just be lousy information.
You need to write informative and useful articles that speaks to your readers in such a way that they will keep on asking for more.
If you are an expert in your business, it should be too hard to write very specific, educational, informative and even entertaining articles that will pull customers in.
Your Blog doesn’t have a Voice
Now you could have the most detailed information on your blog, if it’s not written in such a way that touches the emotional buttons of the reader, your blog may never be very successful.
It would be very difficult to attract new clients with boring methodical type articles that have no pulse and no personality.
Put some life in your writing.
Find your voice.
Your voice, in writing, simply means to put your personality into your writing.
Your blog needs to have your voice. Your personality. Your experience. Your story, etc.
If you don’t know how to bring your personality into your blog, a freelance writer could do it for you.
Yes, me, for example.
I can’t take anyone’s voice when I write.
I have done it many times.
Yes, that’s right!
Not only I’m a writer, but I used to be an actress as well, so taking someone voice, or even an imaginary one is something I can do well (just so you know).
Your Writing is Poor
As a blogger and a writer, I see too many blogs which writing is poor.
It could be the grammar, the punctuation, the formatting, etc.
Or a combination of all of them.
Poor writing will never be able to pull customers to your business, because people tend to trust experts, and it would be difficult for them to see you as an expert if you can’t write properly.
If your writing is poor, but can’t hire someone to write for you, your need study other popular blogs and learn from them.
How is their writing style compare to yours?
If you were a potential customers, would you rather read their blog, or yours?
If you have a successful business, but writing is not your forte, why don’t you hire a freelance writer who could write fabulous blog posts for you?
Many successful business who have other things to do than spend long hours writing for their blog, do just that!
They hire qualified writers to write for them.
It’s a wise investment.
So, they can concentrate on what they do best, while the writer is paid to do what he or she does best.
Since the writing style is tailored for their target market, their blog becomes way more profitable.
In Conclusion
If you’re not too sure about what type of specific content you need for your target market.
If you don’t have the time to come up with top notch valuable content on a weekly basis.
If you can’t really find your voice to write content that attracts readers and incite them to become customers or clients.
Or if your writing is simply too poor to compete with other blogs out there…
You may want to hire someone to write for you.
If not, you might want to at least consult with someone that could take you in the right direction.
Please, leave you comment or questions below!
Hi Sylviane,
I don’t think many can say it any better than you just did.
Learning what business you’re “really” in, finding our voice, engaging with your target audience… that takes some effort, time and the willingness to not cut corners.
I learned a long time ago that initially people are interested first based on either competency or price.
That can look different from industry to industry, but the truth is there is no relationship in the beginning so you are defined by one of those two things.
The relationship comes later after you’ve either solved my problem, made a difference in my life or offered me what I wanted.
We have to talk to the core issues of our audiences and I believe we have 3 different audiences at any one time:
1. Primary audience – these are our prospects and customers
2. Secondary audience – these are our influencers and people we network online with who have access to the same audience we are after but serve them in a different way.
3. Everyone else – those who maybe read our content but never comment, share or buy… note: that doesn’t mean they won’t be in the two other categories in the future.
I really loved your post. There is so much there to really think about and digest.
Thank you so much for including me. I just included this article in the post I released a little bit ago that you can see in the commentluv below.
You’re awesome Sylviane. 2015 is going to be really good to you!!!!
~ Don Purdum
Don Purdum invites you to read..Are You Wasting Time Doing Content Marketing or Blogging?
Hi Don,
Wow, how cool is that! You’ve already shared that post in yours? See, that’s the advantages of linking to other people in our posts when it calls for it. I’ll be sure to check it out in just a few minutes.
After I had written my first draft, your name popped in my head, so I had to look for a post of yours and link it.
The 3 audience types you mention here are right on. And yes, I agree that before there would even be a relationship there’s got to be something else, and I feel that blogging for business could be that link to fill that gap. But I agree that competency and price are deal breakers. Actually a good blog can show how competent your are. Showcase you as an expert.
I’m really glad you liked this post and thank you so much for the kind words 🙂 Who doesn’t like that!
Have a great week ahead.
Yep, you tagged me right as I was finishing my article and I thought the timing was perfect!!! It was pretty cool.
It’s interesting that the post you linked has been read as much as it has because the truth is that it’s about me, which I normally advise against. However, as I read back through it I can see how it shows people my thoughts and inner workings and it has helped a few people who’ve read it, so it turned out better than I ever planned it, lol…
It’s interesting the more I have thought about the both the logistics and processes of marketing (in particular content marketing and blogging) those three audience types came to me in November and it just offered me clarity as I thought about who am I reaching.
I appreciate you Sylviane and I hope you have a great week!
~ Don Purdum
Don Purdum invites you to read..Are You Wasting Time Doing Content Marketing or Blogging?
Hi Again Don,
Well, if the article is about you while your intent was to use your experience in order to help others, it’s not only about you. That’s why people appreciated it more than you thought they would.
Thanks for been a great supporter of my blog 🙂
Hi Sylviane,
It is so true that our blogs have to be written to attract our ideal client! I too have learned the hard way. Writing about this that and everything. Then that AHA moment came whereby I had that wake up call to re-arrange things and stick to one point.
I seen you have done a fantastic job on your blog putting everything under one roof and being so consistent with each of your niches that I know what day you are going to write about a specific thing. You have done such a great job with this and I’m so happy that it is working out so well.
We all go through that journey in blogging where we find that moment where we take action and gain traction. Well….hopefully for others
I like the way you narrowed down content…you sure have given good advice here using the example of a clothing business…We do have to get down to a specific part of our business to write content that people will come back for more and opt into our products/services.
Thanks for another fantastic post!
-Donna
donna merrill invites you to read..Earn More Affiliate Commissions
Hi Donna,
As a regular reader of your blog for now almost 3 years, now, I can tell you that your blog has improved tremendously. Your content is way, way better now. And I don’t mean that it wasn’t good before, but as you said yourself, I can FEEL that you had a swift and you know exactly what business you’re in now. I feel that Don Purdum has really put that phrase in my head now 🙂 I guess it’s because it was such a relation to me when we discussed that few months ago.
My content has improved also. Now, I know exactly (or way more) to whom I’m writing for. Plus I’ve got more compliments about it than I ever had before. So, I noted that I’m on the right track.
As Don (again him :)) said in his comment there are 3 type of visitors on our blogs.
1 – Our prospect (potential clients/customers).
2 – Our good old commenters (our network)
3- Everyone else (visitors who don’t comment and are no client – yet)
When I write I try to write for them 3, but I am making more sure NOW to address my call of action to my prospects or maybe-prospects.
For example, this post, you may have noticed, is telling my prospects how I could blog for them, if they don’t have the time or can’t do it. Thus the call of action speaks to them.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that post Donna, and we seem to have gotten it, you and I, now LOL!
To better, and better blogging and a wonderful week!
Hi Sylviane,
I liked what you said about a blogger’s voice.
It’s important to be more conversational in tone than one would in a conventional article when blogging. Too many business blogs read like article directories full of formal and stale facts and announcements.
The great blogs, whether personal or professional, have a personality that you can pick up on almost immediately. They’re full of life, full of chatter, and draw you in past the introduction.
“Your blog needs to have your voice. Your personality. Your experience. Your story, etc.”
My favourite line. It’s so true!
Great post Sylviane.
Edward
Edward Beaman invites you to read..31 Blog Post Ideas for Website Design Agencies
Hi Edward,
I don’t know you yet, but I’ve seen you around, and I’m very happy you landed here.
That’s so true, some blogs do sound like article directories. They are very much matter of fact but the voice of the blogger is missing.
I think that’s something that we get over time. This morning I had a chat over Skype with a blogger friend of mind and she was saying how she hated her old posts and I was telling how I did hated mine too 🙂 So we do get better as time goes on.
I’m glad you liked that line, and thank you so much for coming by and sharing your thoughts with me and my readers.
Hey Sylviane,
This should be my first comment on your blog this year and I am so glad I came down here today with this special content in front of my screen!
You see, I did a post on this topic recently why people will not be reading some blogs this year. The truth is that many blog posts will be published but only few will be receiving valid clicks and openings.
The major reasons why a blog is not attracting its ideal clients are all you have outlined and mentioned here. The truth can’t be hidden, it’s garbage in, garbage out. What you offer on your blog determines how people will see you. I mean nobody will be willing to flip open his wallet for you if you have a niche less blog posts, poor writing and perception about a topic.
It’s simple and ideal to admit to lack of feature and then either pay for it or put your head down to learn it. The problem we have today is that people right from day 1 announce themselves as pros and that mindset alone keep them in the dark from coming out to learn.
In my opinion, I think the best way to remain on top of our blogging games is to either calm down to learn from people who have achieved visible results or simply hire bloggers or writers with great writing skills to either write for us or do the coaching one on one. Whichever one is worth the move.
Very interesting and thought-provoking article you have written here.
Thanks for sharing!
~Jackson
Jackson Nwachukwu invites you to read..Why Nobody Will Read Your Blog in 2015!
Hi Jackson,
I agree with you, I feel that pretending that we are expects while we’re still at the learning stage can only prevent us from learning, improving and growing.
Years ago I belonged to an affiliate training program and they would tell you to build blogs and portrayed ourselves as expert, but I can tell you that this didn’t really help me at all. I still had so much to learn and I was a bit lost at times. I made lots of errors. So I feel like I totally understand what you’re saying and totally agree with it too.
Thank you for your input and have a wonderful day!
I think you can fine tune an audience a bit too far and create a niche that’s so narrow that it’s nigh on impossible to actually reach a target.
As an example, let’s look at your mention of the plus-size clothing store for women. There are secondary audiences you can influence above and beyond the women themselves.
Do smaller mothers, grandmothers, sisters and friends never purchase gifts for those wearing the plus-size?
What about husbands of women of this size? Do they go to your store because you’ve made it easy for them or do they go elsewhere because you’ve ignored them amidst your “perfect” target?
There’s no perfect audience. As Don Purdum mentioned, there’s a primary audience and then secondary and tertiary audiences. Ignoring those smaller audiences completely could negatively impact your bottom line.
Mallie Hart invites you to read..Lust For List Largess vs. Money For The Mortgage
Hi Mallie,
Yes, I understand what you mean here, but this was just an example to show people how you can narrow down a niche.
Now, if I am a mother or daughter of a plus-size person I can still search for that store/niche and find it with the correct keywords. Then all I have to do is get in and buy.
When it comes to niche blogging, my experience is that the more vague we are the more visit we have, but the least sales as well. So narrowing down a niche is not a bad thing at all.
As for the audience that Don talks about they are not all 3 customers. The second on is most likely a non-customer, as a matter of fact. It is for me.
Thank you for engaging the conversation.
Have a great day!
Hi Sylviane,
That’s a well written post and you really hit it out of the park.
Yes, a blog is a great tool if we use it as a platform to promote our business and help people at the same time if we know what we are into and can reveal that through our content like how you did here by offering your services to write for those who need that service. I loved how you simplified it.
I just changed businesses and I am in a cross road at the moment and I need to put more of what I do into my content but I am still in the training phase of my new business but little by little, I will bring more of what I do into my content. This post came at the right time and you really explained your point.
Thanks Sylviane for sharing such a wonderful topic, I really loved the post. Have a great week ahead.
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Neamat Tawadrous invites you to read..9 Strategies For Leaders To Sharpen Their Leadership Skills!!
Hi Neamat,
Well, I can tell that you like the post, so I am so very happy about that. The fact that you’re saying that this post came at the right time for you, is the type of comments that would make me jump out of joy. That’s really great!
There has been a switch in me lately. I’m still a work in progress and my personal development post tomorrow will tell all about that, but there’s been a light that came up, so that reflects in my writing, which is great.
Thank you so much for coming and for you encouraging input.
Hi Sylviane,
You bring up good points here. Yes, I agree with you and have no doubt about it.
Create your own voice, publish posts with a scheduled basis, they are all good points that could bring our blog in a better state, I think.
You said it took quite some time to make your blog now, well, I understand how you feel. yes, I also experienced the same thing. I’m still struggling, I guess 🙂
Thanks for sharing this with ua, Sylviane.
Have a nice day!
Regards,
Nanda
Nanda Rahmanius invites you to read..Email Marketing Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Success
Hi Nanda,
I’m glad you enjoyed this information and can relate too. I guess that it takes time to figure it all out. We are not all born having swallowed the know it all pill 🙂 you know!
Thanks for coming by. Appreciate it.
Hi Sylviane,
Great post.
It’s interesting how much blogging has truly grown in 10 years. back in 2004 … and even a bit before that, I never even heard of blogging. But now, like you said, it’s difficult to go a day without hearing about it.
And especially with that number you threw out there with the 60 million blogs. That only means MORE competition. And unless you have an “angle”, you’re competing with everyone else for attention.
“To tell you the truth, it took me quite some time to refine my own blog to what it is today, and really understand where I was going with it.
I learned the hard way, with lots of trials and errors.”
That’s the only way we learn. I’ve been blogging for a year and a half now and I’ve made more than 20 mistakes (I’ve documented them all) and I’m still making mistakes now. But what’s important is that you’re not making the same mistakes over and over again. If you are, then you’re just not learning from those mistakes. And that can really stunt your growth as a blogger.
Blogging is important for anyone that has a business. Look at what Don Pudrum, who you mentioned, does and what he’s doing. Especially if you’re providing some type of service like Web Design or Freelance Writing, you need to have an active site. Like you said, a stagnant blog is a dead blog.
Greta post here, Sylviane.
– Andrew
Andrew invites you to read..The Secret to Creating Blog Posts that Grab Hold and Keep Your Readers’ Attention Every Time
Hi Andrew,
Well, for one thing, you’re doing OK, because let me tell you that it took me way more than a year and half to get that blogging thing. For one thing, the first 2+ years, I didn’t know about the importance of connecting with other bloggers, so by the time I did I felt that I was way behind:)
But we all have to go through a learning curve for sure. I think that you’re doing great with your blog, and really was honored to be included in that last post of yours.
Thank you for coming, Andrew.
Hey Sylviane,
I’ve seen how much blogging has grown within the past 5 years. I can only imaging how the blogosphere was some 10 years. Either way it goes, with each and every year progressing blogging has become more competitive as far as for entrepreneurs.
You have to really be on point with your blogging, from having a clear idea of who you’re writing for to making sure that your audience can take you serious by how you write. These are very important to know so that the type of of people that comes to your blog are consistent. When it comes to this, knowing who the perfect model client that you pattern your writing for is very important. I figured this out by writing the type of content that I would be interested in.
Plus producing fresh content is very important not only for your readers, but also for search engines. They love to see a blog that is active, which meets a criteria for them to send traffic to your blog. Also your readers love consistency when it comes to this. When you have something new to say if give a different perception for a topic, this by all means keeps them coming back for more. The suspense itself gives them a great reason!
Thanks for sharing Sylviane! You have a good one!
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Hi Sylviane
Very useful post especially for those having a blog like a deserted town with no any big response on it.
No doubt the most common objective of a blog is mostly to earn money with it. But the second most common objective is to get help from a blog to earn money.
It may be to boost one’s blogging consultancy, or online outlet or a fundraising. But the ultimate objective is to get promotion of a business as all the activities we do on commercial basis is a business.
Very important point you mentioned in this wonderful post that so many people publish wrong contents to promote their business. If their business is to sell products to boost website traffic they should not publish contents on how to write great contents and fully focus the direct traffic generation methods in their contents.
Thanks a lot for sharing this very very useful post as I do face such problems while guiding my clients what is the best strategy to promote their business with their blog.
Mi Muba invites you to read..7 wicked ways to spice up your dud blogging mentor program
Hi Mi,
Yes, there are two ways to make (generate) money with a blog.
There’s the direct way as you teach over at your own blog, and there’s selling our service or product through our blog, such as I’m doing.
Either way, writing appropriate content is a vital key to success.
Thank you for your input.
Hi Sylviane
I am new in blogging world and i found your content very useful. Such type of content motivates newbie like me.
As you said that “the competition is quite huge in blogging world” How newbie survive in this field? Do you have some more tips for fresher on your blogging world.
Thanks a lot for sharing informative content. Looking forward to your valuable answer
Anant Patel invites you to read..How To Use Whatsapp Web On PC Without Bluestack
Hi Anant, and welcome to my blog.
I’m not sure I understand your question “Do you have some more tips for fresher on your blogging world.” Did you mean to create fresh content on your blog, on a regular basis?
If it’s what you’re asking I would say this; be sure to be on the lookout for top information about your niche and write about it adding your expertise, experience and your own voice.
I hope this help a bit.
Thank you for coming and leaving your comment/question.
Hi Sylviane,
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us!! I will follow your tips and then i will share my experience with you.
Anant Patel invites you to read..How To Use Whatsapp Web On PC Without Bluestack
That would be great, Anant.
Thank you 🙂
Hi Sylviane,
Its definitely important to blog with a purpose. Recently, I have new insights to this effect from the articles of Don Purdum!
Attracting the ideal client with a blog can be achieved if the content and the context on which it is delivered meet the needs of the target market.
Consistent value creation and delivery in blogging will sure do the magic required!
This comment was shared in kingged.com as well.
Yes, indeed, Sunday.
I know that Don has really opened our eyes with his blog posts in this regard.
Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Sylviane,
You are SO right and spot on with this post.
I was at someone’s blog earlier today who was celebrating having been here a year now. When he first started though he was just writing for himself. Sharing what he wanted not fully understanding that if he wasn’t honing in on his particular target audience and giving them what they wanted that’s why he wasn’t getting many visitors to even stop by. He was all over the place.
Maybe when you first start out you’re not 100% sure what direction you want to go. I know for me I’ve changed directions four times now but I wasn’t happy with any of them if I’m honest. I eventually fell into blogging about blogging because I was sharing my results and that sparked a lot of attention because people love to get great results as well.
You do have to be specific though because it’s like the example you used for women’s clothing. We aren’t all alike and blogging is too general. There is SO much to it so what exactly is it that we need to teach. You definitely need to know what business you’re in or you’re going to fail. How can you not!
Great tips and share Sylviane, thanks for pointing this out.
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend and thanks again for this post.
~Adrienne
Adrienne invites you to read..16 People I Highly Recommend and Why
Hi Adrienne,
Well, me too, for sure. I’ve been going many different directions, and nothing really worked for me in the past.
But since I’ve decided to get a brand new blog platform, things have started to get better and better – much clearer in my head – and I have felt a swift in my writing, and I’ve even noticed that my readers have noticed that too.
Now, I write with a true purpose, and I know I’m on the right track. What can I say? For some people it takes much longer than others 🙂 That’s been my case, anyway 🙂
In your case, there’s no doubt that you’ve found your niche and your blog following and success really shows that. I think that the key is to find our very own unique voice.
Thanks for coming all over today and enjoy your Sunday afternoon!