4P's modified from German wikipedia (German translation removed) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Using the concept of marketing as meaning not only movement of goods and services, but also influencing others and selling ourselves, persuasion to me is at the top of the list of what the marketer must achieve to be successful.
Whether it be trying to convert someone to a religion or a political party, convince a romantic interest to go out with you or your child to eat their vegetable, make a plea to a judge or save your job--the powers of reasoning, the promise of rewards, or your personal charm are put into play to sell whatever it is you are trying to sell.
The same goes for your blog. Do you want to keep the reader captivated? Then you've got to persuade them to stay on your site and keep reading to the end. Then you've got to give them a payoff--something that will make them feel good about you and about what you have to offer them. If your blog visitors feel overly hyped or walk away empty handed they are not going to be happy.
Your goal as a blogger, a teacher, a writer, a parent, or whatever it is you do in your particular marketplace for your target audience is to deliver what your "customer" is expecting or will make them feel enriched in some way. If you persuade them to like you and trust you, then it's easier to persuade them to accept what you have to offer down the road.
For the letter P I'm choosing "Painting":
On the blog Watercolors by Mimi Torchia Boothby the artist introduces a new painting every day. She does some beautiful work so I'm trying to persuade you to check her out.
In the bigger picture of things, what do you most want to persuade your blog visitors to do or think? In other words what is your primary goal in blogging? Do you have a particular tool of persuasion that works especially well for you?
More great P words Lee. all important to life.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Thanks for the advice on product placement, promotions and pricing. All very important in establishing your brand.
ReplyDeleteMy main aim in blogging is to establish a dialogue with my readers. I encourage discussions, and try to respond to all comments. Of course, I also try to make it as easy as possible to leave a comment.
Oh, and giveaways work really well as a promotional tactic. It doesn't always have to cost you: think of an old book you've read you want to pass on, or even offer a manuscript critique for a prize.
And off to check Mimi out.
J.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
This is actually some good advice in my opinion Lee, especially whenever it comes to blogging, it's important to provide a pay off and if you don't do that then you're losing out. Interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnother great "P" word in marketing is Positioning...coined by marketing gurus Al Ries and Jack Trout. Hope my blog did the trick.
ReplyDeleteI mainly want people to enjoy my reviews and take part in the discussions I start on my blog. I'm really bad at persuasion though, so I'm not sure if it works :)
ReplyDeleteJamie
Fellow A-Z Buddy
Doing a monumental blog catch-up
Mithril Wisdom
great advice
ReplyDeleteI have no tools of persuasion. It's a miracle I have any blog readers and followers at all and so I'm super grateful for my wonderful Zigzaggers!!
ReplyDeletei am not sure how to persuade someone to read my blog--other than to write what i know or feel inspired to write---i am sure i need some tools -thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Lee - you follow your topics .. and promoting Painting by Mimi is just great .. her watercolours are lovely ..
ReplyDeleteThis will be an excellent Marketing series .. cheers Hilary
I am great at persuasion in person, but not so much on line. I don't know what the difference is. But, it seems like a lot of places to be at once. I am trying though. Thanks for the interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to get my blog off the ground, so I can only speak in terms of my primary goal.
ReplyDeleteI want to challenge my readers to stand apart from themselves. It's easier to learn and laugh that way.
I also want them to challenge me. I appreciate it when people point out my mistakes and misconceptions.
Painting, yes, love that.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I want to get across? Well, during A to Z my theme is Creative Life, so at least for this month, I want to create a full picture of all that entails. Normally, I try to do a broader mixture of that. And more and more, I also want to help other bloggers with their books and tours and the like. On Friday, for instance, I'm featuring my fave freelance editor! Thanks for the follow, BTW!
For the A-Z Challenge in particular, I'm trying to share some motivation and positivity. I know I can use as much of it as possible and I figure we all could use some now and then. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, Lee. This challenge has been a great adventure for me. I will tell you though, if I hadn't prepared in advance I could have never done it.
ReplyDeleteMimi Torchia Boothby Watercolors
Persuasion is so powerful. It's better than knowledge for quite some time...until someone finds out. But if you have both...I was going to say it's deadly, but that sounds like the opener to a book, doesn't it? Maybe I just came up with my first book idea. I'm writing a variety of forms (a to z) of poetry (a to z) for the younger set or at least lighthearted stuff for this challenge at mainelywrite.blogspot.com. Hope you get a chance to visit! I'm a follower.
ReplyDeleteSuch an influential tool persuasion can be. I appreciate the idea of applying the 'P' elements to our own blogging experience. I joined this challenge for just that reason and it's a wonderful experience so far!
ReplyDeleteMy goal at Bible Bloggers is to give readers a new and fresh perspective on Bible characters and biblical truths as well as introduce basic blogging concepts. I want readers to leave feeling encouraged, uplifted and inspired. However, I need to work on my persuasion and promotion.
ReplyDeleteMy P word in this vein is "Potty" which is probably what most people think after reading some of my posts!
ReplyDeleteYvonne --Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJC -- Great blogging goal. Connecting with one's audience is vital to future promotional efforts.
Yeamie -- The blogger relationship should be a relatively equal trade off: the reader's time and attention for something they can carry away and connect with you.
Em --Supermarkets certainly have learned to take advantage of the concept of positioning. There are a number of marketing theories that all provide valuable insight.
Jamie -- There are some fine books on the art of persuasion. Studying the techniques of debating can also be useful.
becca -- Thanks!
Laura -- You obviously have some power of persuasion. I think we all learn our own persuasive techniques starting in childhood. Some are more effective than others while some can be very obnoxious.
Lynn -- Part of the persuasive technique comes from the networking we do in the A to Z Challenge. Making your blog noticed is the first step in persuasion.
Hilary -- Getting endorsements from others is a helpful tactic of persuasion. Thanks for adding yours to validate my recommendation of Mimi's blog.
AM -- There are things you can do in person that can be duplicated well on the page. If you can figure out what you do well in person, find a online equivalent and hone that.
Lee
Hey Lee! I guess I'm missing out on the A-Z challenge this year. All the way up to "P" already?! Crazy...Great advice from you as always...I don't know that I have any tool of persuasion as far as my blog goes, although my intention is usually to make people laugh..I think just about everything can be funny, and the way I see it, we could all use more funny in our lives.
ReplyDeleteHope you and your family are doing well!
Kelly-- You have a challenging goal ahead of you. If the content is strong enough I think you do well at engaging readers. They need to have a stake in what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteCatherine -- It sounds like you're doing your part in establishing community.
Madeline -- This is good. I find myself writing about things like that as well, sometimes in hope of helping myself at the same time.
Mimi -- The advance preparation makes a world of difference.
Donna -- When you're trying to persuade others it's best to know what you're talking about.
Archna -- Glad to hear it's working for you.
Brianna -- Listen and learn for starters, and then keep trying things and build confidence. You can attain your goals.
Claire -- Don't be too hard on yourself :)
Lee
My primary goal is to inspire, as well as attract business for my photography shop. But I have a hard time staying inspired myself. You have a wonderful blog with many tips that I need to read.
ReplyDeleteEve -- Glad you stopped by. Laughter can be a great persuader. That's why public speakers and salesmen are recommended to start out with something humorous to break the ice. Humor is a gift.
ReplyDeleteLee
Photomom --Inspiration can be a difficult thing to keep fired on your own. Reading the tips offered by others can do a world of good for one's demeanor. I enjoy reading motivational materials.
ReplyDeleteLee
RE:"Donna -- When you're trying to persuade others it's best to know what you're talking about."
ReplyDeleteYes, that is so true, BUT it's so interesting to listen to people persuading others when they know not of what they speak...I guess that may be more dangerous, perhaps, in retrospect.
Perfect p-list to consider.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee, interesting post. It's a nervewracking thought though - if you don't have a goal, or an ultimate aim with your blog, what should your customers expect from you?!
ReplyDeleteLx
Persuasion is a difficult one for me. As a child I ws always taught that it was not the 'done' thing to talk about one's achievements, and so I still have problems 'promoting' myself or trying to persuade others to buy my books!
ReplyDeletePerhaps may I Persuade you to help me figure out which number I am on the list of gazillion other A-Z bloggers...I'm just curious about where I landed and my eyes are buggy looking. Stopped by a bunch of good reads on the way though!
ReplyDeleteLee, you are doing a marvelous job of consolidating important marketing information and providing an excellent motivational platform.
ReplyDeleteI hope entertaining and amusing is as good as enriching, because I don't think I do much more than that on my blog.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and a useful one. My blogs are a reflection of parts of me that hidden from the real world. Persuasion never works in my case, I can only try to entice one to visit again.
ReplyDeleteDonna -- So very true. As the saying goes, "A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing". I hate it when I've encountered a salesperson like this who convinces me to buy something that is not as it was touted.
ReplyDeleteWanda -- Well, maybe not perfect, but with important components to consider.
Laura-- Sometimes I guess you have to let the audience take the ride with you and perhaps even help chart the journey. Improvisation can be fascinating to follow if presented by an adept artist.
Paula -- I think sometimes it's a fine line between boasting and letting others know your credentials. When done with finesse, self-promotion is acceptable and even expected from your audience.
Kate -- You've hit upon one of the problems of the lengthy list as it is now. You'll just need to scan the list until you find your number. If you know your original number go up the list at least 100 to 200 spots above that number and see if you've moved up after bad links were eliminated. Sorry!
Paula -- Thank you. I always appreciate how encouraging you are.
Alex -- You obviously are giving your readers something that they like and want to keep coming back to. You are at a very persuasive position as a blogger.
Rekha -- Don't underestimate your persuasive powers. Sometimes subtlety speaks louder than a brash politician with a blaring brass band. The more the listener has to strain to hear you, the more memorable your words.
Lee
The first goal is to sell ourselves. Our book, our product, our service - that's second.
ReplyDeleteI've been persuaded to follow a lot of new friends during the challenge. They're great people! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link to Mimi's watercolors. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHey Lee,
ReplyDeleteMy blogger dashboard persuaded me to come over and look at your latest must read posting. I'm glad I did and actually, it didn't take much persuading of my dashboard to come over here for another informative visit.
My primary goal, my ethos in blogging is to reach out and demonstrate that my mental health issues are only a small part of who I am. Through awareness, interaction and the positive, empathetic conversations that have come via my blog, I see the unfair stigma that still surrounds mental health issues, slowly being reduced.
My only 'tools' are sincerity and being transparent. Folks admire that and it has inspired them to open up to me. A heck of a result.
Penny the Jack Russell dog, through her unconditional, non-judgemental love, is trying to persuade you to become a loyal participant in next year's 'A to Z Alphabark Challenge'...
And with that and without taking the "P", I'm outta' here....
L.Diane -- You're so right. Once you've build a loyal customer base they are more open to hear about what you have to offer.
ReplyDeleteJemi -- So true. This is what I've come to love about the A to Z Challenge.
Leslie -- Mimi does some very nice work.
Klahanie --You've been very successful at capturing the hearts and the trust of many who are more than willing to listen to what you have to say and confide in you. What you have done has worked.
Lee
A great "P"ost here, interesting and a delight to read.
ReplyDeleteI took a great class in college about the Powers of Persuasion and we saw the Nixon/Kennedy debates. Nixon got high ratings on radio, but of course Kennedy shined on TV. We also read Marshall McLuhan's The Media is the Message. You are the Marshall McLuhan of the blogging community, and thanks again for another fabulous A to Z! Julie
ReplyDeleteI should definitely think about what my goal as a blogger is, and where I plan to go with it. I do know of one way to keep readers happy: giveaways.
ReplyDeleteAnthony -- Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteJulie -- Yikes! That's an honored comparison. McLuhan was huge in the 60s. I also had a course in persuasion in college and studied McLuhan and others. I still have the books we used in the course because I thought they were so good.
Nellie -- You can blog for fun and that's fine, but if you are blogging for platform or whatever you want to call it then there should be goals that you should establish and work toward. I've never tried giveaways other than the A to Z Challenge--this is my version of a giveaway and it seems to work well.
Lee
I don't know how persuasive I am as a blogger. I think I do okay. As a teacher, it's all about persuasion. Make them care, and they learn. And hopefully have some fun in the process.
ReplyDelete