Blog

The best way to build traffic and sales to your blog, assuming that you already have quality content, is to build relationships rather than trying to sell your readers something. By letting your readers get to know you and you getting to know them, you’ll be practicing that age-old concept we hear about all the time: relationship marketing.

Building a relationship with your clients or customers is the best way to build a business, especially online where the only “real estate” you have is your website and your words. If you take the time to form relationships through your blogging, sales will follow. The key is learning how to form relationships via your blog.

Here are three simple ideas to help you build relationships:

1  Read other blogs, both in your niche and in similar topic areas. For instance, if you write about beauty and skin care, fashion trends and clothing blogs offer a natural connection. Get to know other bloggers by leaving comments, reading their posts, adding them to your blog roll, linking to them, offering to swap posts, or inviting them to your Blog Carnival.

2  Visit online discussion forums where other bloggers, or customers hang out. You’ll find some of your most loyal online friends to be those who are also bloggers themselves. And that’s okay! Though you want to make friends with prospects as well. Online forums are a terrific way to get to know people online and let them get to know you. Don’t try to sell them anything. Just chat, offer helpful information, encourage and share. Remember, the goal is to build a relationship with as many folks as you can.

3  Use your Facebook page or Twitter to get to know people as well, then post links to your blog posts and encourage your friends to visit you there. You’ll be surprised at the number who do, especially if the content is something useful.

The joy of making friends online can be as fulfilling as in your own home town. Be yourself, talk to others via chat, email, IM, blog posting or comments. Ask questions, offer tips and advice and more, just as you would if you were sitting down talking over a cup of coffee in a local cafe.

What would you like to see covered here? Do you have questions or comments? A topic you’re interested in? Share your thoughts and let me know what kind of posts you’d like to read!