As a strange hybrid of Internet Marketer and Blogger (amongst other things) I noted with interest Darrens worry about Talking to Internet Marketers about Blogging
The —˜daunting’ feelings don’t come from being afraid of public speaking (I’ve been doing that for years) but more because to this point I’ve always found internet marketing —˜types’ to be slightly different (or extremely different) to blogging —˜types’.
I spend all my time with one foot in both camps so I feel I understand both quite well. Even though I had a blog for years it was only in 2005 I ever considered a blog as anything other than a tool for communication. Perhaps that is where a lot of Bloggers are still at today. There are still some who do not like commercialisation of blogs in any form.
At first I didn’t see any value in changing my winning formula, my affiliate sites were doing reasonably well and my client sites were considered a success. It was partly reading Darrens blog that changed my mind.
There are more similarities than differences between the two groups but there is still a definite difference in culture between marketers and bloggers.
- Both camps want to attract an audience. Internet Marketers build lists, Bloggers like to gather their audience however the audience chooses.
- Internet Marketers inevitably want to make money, only a segment of bloggers have that motivation.
- Blogs are conversational and don’t like overt sales language, marketers are used to direct sales writing.
- With a blog (a good one at least) you are entering a conversation, whether you like it or not. With Internet Marketing the communication is mostly one-way
If I was standing before an audience of Internet Marketers I would be telling them what I often advise in private
- Make an effort to understand blogging. The best way of doing this is to read lots of blogs.
- Decide what your blog will be for from the point of view of your reader. Answer “What’s In It For Me” – it can not be all take take take, you have to provide value.
- Blogs can be a powerful weapon in your arsenal, use them to attract attention and help build your lists.
- Funnel traffic to your sales sites, do not try to do everything at once
- Most important, join the conversation; a blog is NOT a series of sales letters.
Many bloggers will be surprised at how many Internet Marketers, the best ones, already do get blogging and social media and are using it to their advantage. You don’t notice them because they have integrated. Same with pro-bloggers who are crossing over into Internet Marketing as they develop the money side of their activity.
Blogs have a terrific benefit for Internet Marketers and Bloggers could learn a thing or two from their Internet Marketer friends.