First I want to thank Liz Strauss and Terry Starbucker for putting on a wonderful and enlightening event SOBCon08–Business School For Bloggers. Liz, I now know why I came to the event. Thanks for inviting me.

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How do you merge successful business practices with successful blogging practices? Can it be done?

I think so…

One week ago, I was in Chicago attending a blogging conference. What I learned there will change the way that do business from here forward.

In a 48 hour period, I was introduced to some of the most influential bloggers on the planet. What a rush!

This is a whole new world for business development. It is about creating community, building trust and establishing real value in the marketplace with information alone. The Internet has changed so much in the last decade. It went from the promise of the information superhighway. To now a social meeting place for people to interact with each other.

Back to business …

Businesses want community.  Businesses want relationships. Businesses want to instill trust so that people can and will transact with them.

But the words trust and profit usually can't be spoken in the same sentence. There is something about selling, marketing and promotion that raises a flag within all of us. Why is that?

As I've been pondering this question for the last week, I've come to few conclusions that may help me to move forward in the marketplace.

Business Blogging Idea#1: People love to buy but don't like to be sold to. This is an age-old concept. 

How many times do we find ourselves selling something that people don't want. What do we get?  Opt-outs and unsubscribes.

That is the problem with irresponsible marketing and promotion.

The idea of “tell everybody some will stick” will actually damage your identity the marketplace, if you're not careful.

We assume that people want what we are selling. That is not always the case. Just because we are in a community or have a list does not mean that those on the list want, need or can afford what we're promoting. Be respectful of this fact and know that that is true in every marketplace.

Segmentation is key. Who are you talking to and what is of interest to them? They are the center of the transaction not you.

The key here is just ask. And, I mean just that. There is no need to put the hard sell on everybody. When I promote to my list, which is not often at all. I sometimes say,  “if you are interested in this, here is information.” That is it. No hard sell, no push. People can smell sales. And people can sense the hard sell. On the other hand, if your information is good, unique and scarce people know it and will want more of it. Your job is to position it and frame it the right way.

Business Blogging Idea#2: Make your intentions known.

If you are trying to make a profit and running a business. Say so and make it obvious. When you walk into a hardware store is obvious that you are not getting out the hardware store with any good or service without paying for it.

On the Internet, there is this idea that everything should be free. That is just not the case. Any idea that you want (not need) to increase your happiness, improve income or handle your health is valuable to you. And most people are willing to pay for something that they value.

Everything that we buy. Starts with an idea. And then it grows into something that you can put your hands on. And this is true of everything.

Know that this is the case and don't be afraid to put a value on your information or your products and let people know that you are willing and intend to exchange your value for money, if they are willing to exchange with you. Everything can’t be free.

A Side Note:

Why is it no one gets upset when we pay a dollar for soft drink at a restaurant. The drink itself costs pennies to produce. But yet we gladly pay a dollar. But as soon as we put a value on our ideas, information or product we get upset and manifest this by devaluing it in our own eyes.(face it, we do) and the people that were offering it to get upset because we are offering “our stuff” for money. Why is that? Either they want it or they don’t either they are going to buy it or they are not. There is no maybe here. It is what is it.

Nothing on this planet moves without the exchange. Yet, it is the promotion of the exchange that upsets us (buyer and sellers) so.

End Side Note:

Business Blogging Idea#3: Build the community, the relationships, and trust first.

At the blogging conference, I noticed something.  Professional bloggers know how to build communities, build trust and create wonderful relationships online. Sometimes never meeting the people that they touch, and yet, still building meaningful relationships that can last a lifetime.

This is what every business owner wants to have. A following of lifetime and loyal customers that would not think of buying a particular product or service from anyone else. Why is it so hard for business owners to create this type of environment for their customers.  There are a few reasons that I see.

#1: Miscommunicated expectations. Does your product and service do what the customer expected. If your product or service is a very simple thing, this is not a problem. But as soon as you have several moving parts and many people involved expectations can spiral out of control. Be mindful of this.

#2: People have different value structures. What is valuable for me may not be valuable to you. Some people don't have any value ideas. Some people value family more than money. Some people crave the excitement of travel. Some people love fashion. Let's face it. People care about different stuff. Your goal is to find out how you are valuable to others. And then “be that value”.

So those are my three main ideas. I've learned a lot more. I’ll be blogging about it as I am able to articulate those things.

So what you think? How can the ideas that monetize a business be incorporated with the ideas that create a successful blog.

Til next time,

David Bullock

Here’s some of the bloggers that I met. They are fantastic and business owners could learn alot from them: (Thanks Guys…)

• Cliff Atkinson
• Shashi Bellamkonda
• JJ Betts
• Chris Brown
• Chris Brogan
• Harry Brooks
• Anita Bruzzese
• Dave Bullock
• Mark Carter
• Brian Clark
• Tom Clifford
• Clay Collins
• Valerie Combs
• Chris Cree
• Lisa Cree
• Thomas Croghan
• Donna Cutting
• David Dalka
• Kevin Dixie
• Tim Draayer
• Monica Duncan
• Easton Ellsworth
• Kevin Ferrasci O'Malley
• Jonathan Fields
• Sarah Filipiak
• Mary-Lynn Foster
• Annie Galvin Teich
• Brian Gardner
• Chris Garrett
• Jon Gatrell
• Phil Gerbyshak
• Jared Goralnick
• Karen Hanrahan
• Joseph Hauckes
• Vicky Hennegan
• Scot Herrick
• John Hong
• Stephen Hopson
• Robert Hruzek
• Timothy Johnson
• Sara
• Pete Jones
• Todd Jordan
• Bob Kakoliris
• Christine Kane
• Adam Kayce
• Kristen King
• Scott Kolbe
• Jen Knoedl
• Stephen Koernig
• Bryan Kress
• George Krueger
• Amy L
• Tammy Lenski
• James G. Lindberg
• Eli Litscher
• Rick Mahn
• Sim Margolis
• Michael Martine
• Becky McCray
• Maria Meadows
• Cory Miller
• Ann Michael
• Dawud Miracle
• Debra Moorhead
• Matthew Murphy
• Paul O'Flaherty
• Tim Padar
• Jesse Petersen
• Melissa Pierce
• Wendy Piersall
• Sandra Ponce de Leon
• J. Erik Potter
• Karen Putz
• Susan R Quandt
• Levy Rivers
• Barbara Rozgonyi
• Jeff Sable
• Sheila Scarborough
• Mary Schmidt
• Derek Semmler
• Maria Sharon
• David Sherbow
• Steve Sherlock
• Brad Shorr
• Louise Silberman
• Sonia Simone-Rossney
• Julien Smith
• Stephen Smith
• Michael Snell
• Derrick Sorles
• Terry Starbucker
• Liz Strauss
• Jon Swanson
• Ruth M Sylte
• Windsor Tanner
• Michelle Vandepas
• Lorelle VanFossen
• Colleen Wainwright
• Denise Wakeman
• James D. Walton
• Randy Windsor
• Sandy Wrenshaw
• Joanna Young

 

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