When I went to my first Internet marketing conference I had a huge surprise.
It wasn't the amount of information that I picked up sitting in the audience.
And it wasn't the fascinating conversations I had sitting in the restaurants and the hotel bar in the evening.
It was the fact that people knew me.
At that time, all I'd done on the Web was create a few websites and sell an ebook about Google AdSense. But when I walked into the hotel that evening, I had people like Armand Morin walk up to me and say "Hey Joel, it's great to see you."
How did he know who I was?
I had my picture on my website. That was a bit of a giveaway.
But my blog isn't really about me. It's about my company. It's about Internet marketing. It's about the things that I'm trying to do to make life richer for other online professionals.
Occasionally though, I'll write about things that have nothing to do with business. It could be the service I've received from a major company. Or it could be a trip I took with my family. Or it could even be the fun I've had playing a new computer game.
Those things might seem off the point, but they do something very important. They tell people that my website is created by a real person. They draw me closer to my readers and they build a connection.
Most importantly, I enjoy writing them.
Whatever the topic of your blog, it's important to leave room for the human stuff. Try to write about things that touch other people as well as yourself. (Whenever I write about a company that treated me badly, for example, I know that other people will have had the same experience and that I'm likely to be touching a chord.)
Those might not be your highest-earning posts - so you wouldn't want to do them too often - but they can have a huge effect on your readers' loyalty, massively increase your brand awareness... and save you some introductions at your next conference too.
March 24, 2009 10:09 AM
I attended my first event (Ken McArthur's JV Alert Live) back in June, 2008.
I ended up volunteering at the event here in Philly.
Funny thing is, though, even though I was only a customer...
...people there approached me thinking I was you, Joel!
I just happen to be the grayer, fatter, & woolier (bearded) twin of yours.
My story about getting off the ground and getting my business started did not stop people from approaching me. They liked my ideas and wanted to talk to me about helping me out.
Attending events is an important aspect of the IM business not to be ignored.
Best,
-K
March 25, 2009 1:41 PM
Hi there Joel
I agree that our readers need to know that there is a real person who writes on our blogs.
Due to my own commitments, I don't get the chance to attend internet marketing conferences. It's a time where I have to learn as much as I can via the internet, phone or other types of communication.
Having a young family of four, I have to build my business around my commitments to them.
So, my growth is not as quick as I would like - each day brings with it something new and easy to learn...
All the best
Susan Connors
www.marketingforlife.com.au
Australia
March 26, 2009 10:02 PM
making popular blog need time and extra struggling...thanks for sharing
March 27, 2009 8:38 AM
This is a lot of food for thought, thanks Joel! I think there's a good work/life/privacy/company balance message in there somewhere. It's great to be known by those that come to your site, read your book, consume your content as people want to look up to someone and share ideas at the same time.
April 11, 2009 6:01 AM
Yeap, it is definitely more interesting to read something which I can relate to. What will even be better is that the post offers solutions to the issues I face =]