If you want more sales leads or enquiries from your blog, the following tips may be just what you are looking for! What I am about to share with you, is based on years worth of testing and measuring feedback. (I’m too good to you!)
Many business bloggers find that they put a great deal of time and energy into writing great blog posts, but they get very few sales leads or enquiries for all that work. I get email enquiries all day, every day of the year via this blog and would like to share some of my secrets with you.
So, here they are!
Stop placing so many barriers in the way
Most sites use some kind of a form, in order for people to contact them. Although many people like putting these forms on their blogs or websites, I’ve tested and measured the impact of forms, as opposed to just offering my email address and the results show (every time) that forms reduce the number of enquiries I get.
Why?
Forms generate a number of additional barriers, between you and your readers. We know, for example, that people do not like giving too much personal information away on sites. Some worry that their details will be sold on or shared with marketers. They also know that those forms are used by people who sell data, because forms collects people’s data in a format that’s database friendly – ready for selling.
Then, to make prospective customers even less likely to contact them, many bloggers insist that the person using their form includes; their full name, email address, company name, phone number, location etc, etc. If you really must use a form on your site, just ask for their email address and name. Each additional piece of data you insist on, makes them less likely to contact you.
Also, make sure that you CLEARLY state that you will not share or sell their details to anyone.
By the way – Almost everyone who emails me after visiting this blog, includes their full contact details, as part of their email signature file or simply to show they are serious about connecting with me.
If you want people to approach you, be approachable
Some bloggers are very smart and really know their subject, but they come across as distant or hard to approach. Some are confrontational in their posts and in their comments. Others write in a way, which distances them from their readers.
In my experience, the best bloggers are like a host at a party. They mix with (and look after) everyone. They want people to have a good time and so they work hard to create a great experience. The party host approach is what I aspire to. Friendly, professional and approachable. In my opinion, you should try to make people feel as comfortable about contacting you as possible. Aim to make them feel like they already know you.
Ask people to get in touch, but only at the right time
If you want people to get in touch, remember to ask – but ask at the right time. For example, if you look at the bottom of this post, you will see a box that asks people, who found this post useful, to think how much better their marketing results would be, if I was working with them. If they click the link, it takes them to this page, which makes it super-easy to find out what I do AND get in touch with me.
By putting that box right at the bottom of every post, I get my marketing message in front of people at the exact time, when they are thinking how useful my information is.
This is exactly when you should give a call to action – when people are ready!
Build trust. Don’t hide behind an email address
Too many legitimate business bloggers, lose the trust of their readers by failing to give their full contact details. They hide behind an email address. We’ve all heard people say that they liked the look of a provider, but felt it odd that they worked behind an email address, rather than a “real” address. This is why I believe it’s a good idea to show people you are totally open.
If you look at my contact page, it has everything you need to get in touch with me, from my full postal address and office phone number, to my email address and Twitter account. This shows people I am out there, in the open, nothing to hide, a “real” business.