are the ones that work.
Here are my favorites, and why they work so well.
1. Share personal stories about your life with complete strangers.
You can't just talk about authenticity; you have to reveal it. This is the only way you will build a fan base for your blog or social media pages. This is your reality show. Sure, you can be shocking and over the top, which is entertaining. But unless your name is Fred and your audience is little kids, my recommendation is to just use some social media wizardy and pull back the curtain.
2. Blog consistently when you know nobody is reading.
I did this. Virtually no stats after well over a year. Though to be honest, knowing that Google was reading helped to keep me in the game. Every once in a while a post would get indexed. It was very exciting stuff back then. These days it seems Google will index just about anything.
Nevertheless, after achieving critical mass, I can now play with those numbers as subscribers leap on or drop off based upon new strategies that I am constantly tinkering with. There are indeed subtle nuances to blogging that make a big difference. Besides, the game is constantly changing, so you may as well get in and learn now because we'll soon enough be learning yet unproven ways to accomplish our objectives.
3. Share confidential information with your competitors.
In some industries the competition is especially fierce. Yet, when you freely share information with your marketplace, it is bound to fall into the hands of your competitors. In fact, I have no doubt my competitors subscribe to my blog as I do theirs.
C'mon, get over yourself. First, nobody is that good. And if you really are, you have no worries. Read Seth Godin's blog. Do you think he's worried that I borrow an idea or two every now and then? I doubt it, because he knows there are plenty more where that came from! Today he had a great post about lemonade stands. Those are real stories you can't make up. (See rule No. 1 above again.)
4. Study the rules of grammar that you've ignored your entire life.
I've always considered myself to be a good writer. The truth is I wasn't. I was just better than most of the people that I was studying or working with. Learn how to write for your blog. Subscribe to blogs like Copyblogger that focus specifically on this component of this social media craziness. I especially like Sonia Simone's work there.
When you study your writing, you'll start realizing you'll need to learn a few of those rules of grammar most of us have ignored, save for that year of Freshman English. A helpful exercise is to read a page or two daily from the Elements of Style. Then read it again. I don't know what they charge for it now, but my copy shows a handsome investment of $1.25 that is paying off nicely, thank you – now that I'm actually using it!
5, Agree with viewpoints that are completely opposed to yours.
If you can step back and look for points of agreement with anyone, you will find them – guaranteed. That agreement may simply be that you understand how one could have such a perspective. Now, that you have opened their mind, you have an opportunity to restate your point from a fresher and more thoughtful perspective.
This discipline is excellent for helping you to shape your viewpoints to achieve even better levels of interest. No tension means no interest, and that means no audience. You don't have to be controversial, but it is helpful to have something to say that hasn't quite been said like that before. (See rule No. 1 above again.)
You know what's really crazy? Continuing to spend heavily on traditional marketing without giving this a try.
If you have enjoyed this post, consider adding a comment or subscribing to it. I'm happy to have you around. Jeff
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