Blogging For Business Tip #9

Filed Under Blogging Tips

"Is it okay to promote?"

Everyone tells you blogging isn’t about blatant promotion.

"You should be offering great advice to your readers. "

"Offer them something of substance."

But the whole reason you’re online is to do business. Can’t you promote yourself too?

Yes!

Adding a bunch of content is great. The purpose is to provide enough content to prove your expertise, and to develop relationships that enjoy the information you supply.

Online people have a choice. If they don’t like what you do, they have the opportunity to leave. I have many lists of email addresses that I promote to all the time. And occasionally I promote a product, service, or even a special promotion. And yes, I have people leave my lists every time, saying they don’t want to be sold to.

But think about that for a minute. If you’re offering a ton of quality information on a regular basis, occasionally you have the right to ask for the sale. You have to stay in business, and make a profit in order to continue offering the content your supply. If a person is gaining a ton of ideas from your free information, and are bothered by your occasional promotion, do you really want them on your list – or worse, want them as a customer? Chances are they would be less than an ideal customer.

Most people know that in order to stay in business, you have to create sales once in awhile.

The key is learning what your target audience will accept. I’ve heard everything from a 3:1 to 10:1 ratio of quality content to promotion. Give it a try, and see what your market will take.

image source b_d_solis