Step 1: Looking good (your blog)
The first step in a relationship is making that connection and spark. Without a good presentation that usually doesn’t happen. Whatever our natural beauty is, grooming, dress, appearance, and how we carry ourselves influences the impression we make. Think of yourself as that raw beauty. You are a leader. You have knowledge, insight, and skills. That’s beautiful! Your blog presents that beauty. If you aren’t sure your blog is working, easily available tools can tell you your popular pages, which opt-ins are working, and what is driving visitors to your site. Even if your blog is doing well, any blog can get better. Re-examine your approach and take some tips from successful bloggers. Be sure to ask yourself…- Do you blog often enough? Weekly is best, with twice monthly being the minimum.
- Are your headlines catchy?
- Have you found out the best keywords? Did you put one or more in the title and use it every 300 to 500 words in the article?
- Are your posts too short or too long? Analysis by Medium suggests 1,600 words is ideal.
- Do your articles include images that pop? Pixabay, Unsplash, Refe, and Magdaleine are a few of many fantastic sites for free images.
Step 2: Making the connection (social media)
If a tree falls in the forest, does anybody hear? If you look dazzling, does anybody see? Your blog may be full of well-presented insight. But that won’t mean anything unless someone reads what you wrote. When someone reads your blog that’s like your “date.” If you write a great blog and no one sees it, that’s like being all dolled up, but “Home Alone.” Move over Macaulay Culkin.Social media is an invaluable way to ensure that you, the author, get those “dates” with readers.
It is important to not be shy in this regard. Not every tweet is seen by every follower, nor is every Facebook post seen by everyone on who likes your page. Even if all those people did see every post, not everyone swings at the first pitch, nor will the same pitch work on everybody. This means that frequent and varied posts with varied hashtags are essential. Tip: If this is not something you want to take the time for, you may consider hiring a social media service to do it for you.Step 3: Let it Grow (repeat and repeat again)
Not everyone who “dates” wants something that outlasts the morning dew. Someone may see your blog, like what they read, enjoy it, and not necessarily come back. If you want them to be a keeper, it will require more posts, more social media promotion, and many happy returns from your potential suitor. All of this takes time—at least six months according to some experts. Give up early and you’ll be like a farmer who planted a crop in spring, got sick of all the weeds and no crop in summer, and walked away before the harvest. You see, there may come a time when that casual dater wants something lasting. When they are looking to make a transaction—a “marriage” you might say, who will they choose?
It will be someone they have built a relationship with, had many dates with and thought that person had the right stuff. Suddenly, all that looking good, the diligence of your matchmaking friend, and your mutual perseverance pays off.
Ta daa—a wedding that doesn’t cost you anything. And your suitor pays!
Quit early and you’ll never know that. Keep going and you’ll be saying, “I’m a Believer” like the Monkees in their famous ‘60’s tune.
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That’s the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all of my dreams…
I thought love was more or less a giving thing
The more I gave the less I got
What’s the use in tryin’
All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine I got rain
Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I’m in love, I’m a believer
I couldn’t leave her if I tried
Blogging works. Re-tune, repeat, and reap the rewards.