Are you accountable?
I am known for telling my clients “Don’t be vanilla” as they are building a brand message and influential voice. I frequently see it when people blog. Suddenly, they become scientific, bland, and almost robotic in the writing. There is no personality, no polarity, and no opinion strong enough to matter. When I tell people that their blog can get them business, as well as PRESS, this is a key factor.
Last week I opened my email to find this: Pete Thomas, the Season 2 At-Home winner of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. His book will come out in September, published by Penguin/Avery. Pete would like include a lengthy quote from a blog you wrote about accountability. Would you agree to let Pete use this quote (of course you would be cited) in his forthcoming book? You would have to sign something that says you give him the right to use it in any format, overseas volumes all that stuff.
I have given Pete permission of course! I love that he didn’t just pick a sentence; he chose to quote three paragraphs about what a coach’s responsibility is in coaching.
Congratulation isn’t the point. The point is what and how you write when you blog.
- Are you opinionated?
- Do you think bigger than “what you sell”?
- Do you write from a perspective that ignites people?
- Are you strong mined enough that you know someone might not like the post?
- Do you create polarity?
- Do you keyword manage your blog and share it repeatedly?
- Do you blog at least once a week?
If you answered YES to all these questions, then these opportunities WILL present themselves. If you answered no, maybe your brand message is just too safe. Vanilla.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Great post, and a good reminder to all of us who blog Ann. Thanks again as usual!
thanks Irene!
Such important advice, Ann. Nothing worse than a dull blog that doesn’t motivate or even aggravate!
Funny, The one question I’m waffling on is Am I opinionated? I found I didn’t want to say yes. But I am opinionated! I have a belief system that others may not like or approve of. I know many who do agree with me. I may not be polarizing enough but I believe I create some polarization.
Julieanne CaseAlways from the heart!Reconnecting you to your Original Blueprint, Your Essence, Your Joy| Healing you from the Inside Out |Reconnective Healing | The Reconnection| Reconnective Art |http://thereconnectivehighway.com
I watch you start along this path, then pull back. I love it when you are the most you @julieannecase !
Tho I don’t look it, think I might be vanilla. I’ll flavor it up more as I go. Kinda tricky tho because my ego can quickly escalate a disagreement into full-on war.
Sounds like that is the part to work on @Rowenastarling ! I had to at first too- then I just breathe and think how I would want to be responded to if it was my comment! I have said to you for a LONG time if you’d truly embrace the feisty side of you-WOW- things would start happening!
Blogging for me is a chance to share my images and tell stories. How to translate that into sales, I am still figuring out. Learning how to write from the customers perspective would make sense, I will have to work on that! Congrats on the publish!
Cheryl, this post says NOTHING about selling, BUT every blogger I know, even ones that just start a blog to share a journey eventually monetize it, or agree that if you write in a the manner I am speaking you will get greater exposure to what you do. The point of “Bigger than selling” is to write about things you DON’T sell
Yes, I know that, it is not about selling openly, but it is about making people aware of what you do- exposure- in a way that let’s others know that you DO have a business not a hobby right?
Your questions are interesting because they intersect with personality and life story so much. Being “polarizing” is not something comfortable for me (although many members of my family were very happy to be polarizing!). Even the word “opinionated” has a strong (somewhat negative) connotation to me, although I do express myself and I admire people who take a stand. But I completely relate to the idea that blogs have to have personality and something strong enough to attract and engage others.
Judy
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing
hmmm I do know in my vlogs there are a whole crew of martial artist/qigong colleagues who might not like how I have departed from “traditions” so I am good there. I probably don’t think about selling enough. One of the things I absolutely love about your blogs is how in your face they can be, but always with a strongly anchored heart. And even tho you say congratulations are not the point here, I HAVETA say Mazel Tov. The more your words are out there, the more we all grow.
hmmmm….I didn’t say anything about selling @vickidellojoio I said to think bigger than what you sell. See, I don’t coach “accountability” I wrote a blog about it though!
I do get that, Ann. ANd I think your message is right on. I think what I meant is that I get so engaged (which is good) that I forget that I even have a business or what the link to my biz could really come to. My biggest gap, I think is strategy and the places I get stuck about how to hone in on the “who I am” that is so important to use in So ME (and networking, and oh yeah, life) I remember your blog on accountability and will look at it again.
I think I’ve yet to be called controversial, but I will keep that in mind! I try to write from my passion, to share things that made me think or that have transformed my thinking and experience. Since I don’t “sell” from my blog, it will be interesting to see how my passion for understanding human experience and behavior will spark and ignite the interests of others. The feedback from other bloggers via Ann Evanston’s Blogger Monday on Facebook has been exciting and engaging. I guess it is an organic process for me. I’m putting the information and myself out there, aware that it will open doors that I never even knew existed!
I too write from my passion, it starts there- then adding these little extras to bump it up a notch. The point isn’t “selling” though @maureenabivins (as a state above) it’s creating YOU as a BRAND. Every blogger I know, truly wants this kinds of activity happening on their blog, otherwise, might as well just journal!
I had (and have) a great teacher/coach/mentor who taught me to blog so I think I can answer yes to these questions. The one thing I have to look at is the times when I may hold back with my opinion. I’m pretty clear that my opinion on many topics does not belong on my blog or least it’s not pertinent and I’m also clear that when it comes to what I do, I’m not afraid to give my opinion even if others disagree. After all, that can make for an interesting conversation! BTW, my great teacher/mentor/coach – you know who that is! 🙂
Susan Berland
I miss you Susan!
I always find it interesting when people place judgement on certain words. I realize often when I have done that- it is the thing in me, that holds back my success
I guess this is what you mean about the bonus. Too busy this week to keep up. I bet you are having a grand time in Pleasanton today.
Sue Bock
http://couragetoadventurecoaching.wordpress.com
I need to share again. I used to feel I didn’t have to blog every week. Now since I’ve been doing it, I love it. I believe I do bring a perspective of thinking, feeling, and action. I get a lot of compliments about my blog. Most of the time I feel I strike a chord with those that read my blog. That’s what I want. I want to make an impact.
Sue Bock
http://couragetoadventurecoaching.wordpress. om
love, love, love!