I am taking a page out of my Blogging for Prospects playbook today and drafting off of a thought leader. This blog post was really too good to pass up and I had to let you know about it.
Here are the first two secrets (out of seven) to running a wildly successful blog from Copyblogger:
1. Have a conversation
People don’t like to be lectured or talked down to. They just like to talk. And a blog is really a form of conversation between you and your readers. Even if people don’t always directly communicate with you or leave comments, the tone of your posts should be more or less conversational.
Don’t write like you’re delivering a sermon. Write like you’re chatting with a friend. Keep it easy and informal.
2. Lighten up
You don’t have to tell jokes, but it’s smart to keep things light-hearted. Consider the Men with Pens blog. James always has a lot of fun when writing a post, and her sense of humor makes the information more readable and entertaining.
Your readers are probably having a tough day. Their desk is groaning under the weight of all their projects. The economy is crappy and their life is full of responsibility.
If they read your blog and come away feeling just a little happier, they’ll keep coming back.
Copyblogger is one of the blogs that I featured in MLM Blog Code and one that I read on a regular basis.
You’d be crazy not to check out the other 5 secrets over at Copyblogger.
Great tips Ty.
I think we often times get cuaght up with keywords, format, etc. and forget that we are actually writing the content for a human to read.
We as humans don’t want to be talked AT, we want to be talked TO, we want light hearted conversations. And that is exactly what we should be doing on our blogs.
If our posts are like a conversation, I think more people will comment and carry on that conversation.
I personally need to get better at that.
Thanks for the post.
Michael Novak´s last blog ..The Best Industry to Learn Leadership
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Yep. In MLM Blog Code I talk about SEO and HEO (Human Emotion Optimization). If a bunch of keyword gibberish is SEO’d, there is little chance that the reader will become a fan. Thanks for stopping by Michael.
[Reply]
Dayna Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Michael,
And if someone has the same name as your son-in-law you tend to want to see what they are all about. My son-in-law’s name is Michael Novak!
Ty, that is exactly how I feel. It’s no fun writing like a robot. I’d much rather write like I’m talking to a friend and just be myself.
Thanks for all your tips!
Dayna
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:51 am
You sure it’s not your son-in-law? = )
[Reply]
Michael Novak Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:54 am
As soon as I saw this reply in my email I had to jump over here to see the little Gravatar and the name just to make sure it wasn’t my mother-in-law
Guess not.
Michael Novak seems to be a very popular name.
Michael Novak´s last blog ..The Best Industry to Learn Leadership
[Reply]
Dayna Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 4:07 pm
I guess it is a popular name. But unless you are a campus minister at Trinity U. you are another Michael Novak.
I wish you much success on your blog!
Dayna´s last blog ..Success- Taking It To The Next Level According To Don Hutson Part 1
This is SO apropos, Ty. Thanks. I was having a conversation with myself earlier today (don’t worry, I’m not dangerous) about this topic: “who am I to my readers?” I think I sometimes try to project a personna that’s not really natural. I want to be honest with folks, so I can’t represent myself as a marketing “guru”, but I can share who I am and rely on people like you for content until I have some of my own.
Thanks again!
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Hey John, I hope that I am not seen as a guru on a pedestal. I really try to be an evangelist for MLM Blogging. I know what is possible and I want others to have fun and build their business without those “icky” feelings.
[Reply]
Hi Ty,
Oh boy, do these 2 really hit home for me. I was in HR for many years where it was critical to “watch your P’s and Q’s” so when I started in network marketing, I was WAY too “serious” (professional)
Learning to “lighten up” definitely was work in progress for me. So, it’s important to provide valuable information in your posts but do it in a way that you let yourself shine through – just be real!
Great tips! Thanks, Laura
Laura Paulson´s last blog ..Write Better Blog Posts
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Thanks Laura! That was one that I never had problems with. You really hit the nail in the head. Be real and be you. That’s what people want.
[Reply]
Two things came to mind. The first you talked about in the last reply and something I go over with my students, is the duel readership. Writing search engine friendly posts and articles that are still appealing to humans.The second is also tricky, being in a position of leadership or mentor means helping people without being condescending or patronizing. Sometimes it is even unintentional that the tone be a little preachy. All great things to think about when marketing online, thanks for the post.
Terry Tiessen´s last blog ..My Problogger 7 Link Challenge 7Links
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:01 am
I like your 7 links challenge. Good job, Terry.
[Reply]
What great tips Ty.
#5 and #7 really hit home with me. Everything I do tries to stick to both of those. I firmly believe this is the best way to do business.
Thanks for passing these on.
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome Ratliff´s last blog ..Take Control of Your Marketing
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Love what you are doing Jerome. Keep it up!
[Reply]
Great information. Your videos have left me with two feelings. One is guilt for getting all this information for FREE and the second is that I am sold. I will be purchasing your product. It is great.
I look forward to learning more.
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Hey Christine, I wasn’t trying to “guilt you” into buying anything but believe it or not I talked about something called the “law of reciprocity” on one of the first MLM Blog Secrets webinars. It’s basically “responding to a positive action with another positive action” (via Wikipedia). It’s important to what we do with our blogs. It also ties in well with a philosophy that I picked up from Bob Burg and John David Mann’s book, The Go-giver and that is to give more in value than you ever expect back in payment.
[Reply]
I find it helpful to imagine I am writing a post as if talking with a friend. I will think of a specific friend and what I would say to that person if I were sharing that information about that topic. It really helps me to break it down to where the people I really know are coming from rather than imagining I’m writing to people far away on the web. Does that make sense?
Carla Clayton´s last blog ..Seven Reasons to Start a Blog
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Makes total sense, Carla. I hadn’t thought of writing in terms of a specific friend before…that is a wonderful tip. Thanks so much for sharing it.
[Reply]
People definately like light hearted conversation and very few like a lecture. Jason better had one of the best blogs for the matter. Great post Ty
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
I agree. I was sad to see that little cartoon man go inactive.
[Reply]
Hi Ty, Mike is totally right. We get caught up on SEO. I will carefully review my posts. Thanks for the great tips!
And get some sleep tonight, ok?
Ligia
Ligia Fleckenstein´s last blog ..What is MLM
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:07 am
I stayed up until 1:30am reading blogs again. Such amazing content out there today,
[Reply]
Hey Ty
I toggle back and forth between “getting seen” and writing valuable entertaining content. It always comes down to quality before quantity and baby steps every day
Thanks
Mark
Mark´s last blog ..Secret Facebook Advertising Tips
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:09 am
Hey Mark, Thanks for stopping by. Good article on Facebook ads on your blog!
[Reply]
Good advice Ty for someone like me who’s just starting to blog. So many time as I write my blog, I have to keep from sounding like a sales ad or writing to much about me. But thanks to your info in Blog Secrets and Blog Code I’m starting to do it the right way.
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 11:09 am
Thanks Tommy. I look forward to reading your blog!
[Reply]
Hi Ty,
Those are awesome tips! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in finding the right keywords that it might not sound like I’m having a conversation.
The other thing that hit home was ‘being yourself’ and ‘trying to hard’.
Really great points! Thanks for sharing them!
Ilka
Ilka Flood´s last blog ..Are You Sabotaging Your Own Network Marketing Success
[Reply]
Two thoughts.
1) Everyone has a blog now, don’t they. It’s putting me in major freak out mode. I don’t do well with competition.
2) Which is what led me to your tips. They are truly a huge, giant help. Thanks for talking me down from the ledge!
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
1. The door has never been more wide open to launch your blog.
2. There is virtually no competition for those who are consistent.
3. You really must have a home base online and there is no better way than a self hosted WordPress site.
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Hey patty, now is the very best time to launch a blog. We need to get you rolling with WordPress (self hosted) so you have control over your content.
[Reply]
Great tips Ty!
Just getting started…
Thank You!!!
Martin
Martin Rysan´s last blog ..Breakthrough with Tony Robbins
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Hey Martin, I look forward to watching your online success develop!
[Reply]
Hi Ty,
Darcy and I are so thankful for your courses. We have created our blog and have put your “secrets” and strategies to use and we are seeing tremendous increases in traffic in a few short weeks!
Thank-you.
Greg Dullum´s last blog ..Be A Work From Home Mom And Build A Website!
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
July 29th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
You guys are great students. I’m honored to work with you.
[Reply]
Ty I must be doing something wrong. No one is commenting on my blog. Must i adjust something in the discussion section?
Wendell Wilkins´s last blog ..MY BLOG HAS “PETERED OUT”…BUT…HERE’S THE SECRET TO MASSIVE BLOGGING TRAFFIC
[Reply]
Ty Tribble Reply:
August 5th, 2010 at 7:38 am
Blog post on getting comments coming soon… = )
[Reply]
What we converse, we must first rehearse, then our opine, will be just fine. This is my way of adding humor to what you just said, Ty. I’m happy to be on your team. Look for more of my quotes in TheNetworkMarketingMagazine.
[Reply]