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?
