What’s been happening this week?
Hello Everyone and welcome back to my blog!
This week has been a bit quieter on my end with my business. I have been preoccupied and busy helping my neighbor with his move: packing and trying to sell his stuff that he’s not taking. Thankfully, that will come to an end by the end of the month. That way I can focus more on my business. I also have been shopping for my son’s graduation. Gathering decorations for his party, getting things ready and in order for his trip. Doing the same for my other son’s trip too. I’m getting more and more excited as we get closer for the both of them!
Let’s talk about what’s been happening lately in my business. One thing I’ve still been working on is refining my email sequences and brainstorming content ideas for my email marketing campaigns. Crafting engaging and valuable emails that resonate with my subscribers is crucial, but it’s also a process that requires careful thought and experimentation. I’m still figuring out the best approach to strike that perfect balance between providing valuable insights and promoting my offerings without overwhelming my audience. I know I’m thinking too much about it, but I’m a bit of a perfectionist, unfortunately.
It happens to the best of us – despite our best efforts, sometimes things don’t quite go as planned. One recent hiccup I had crafting a welcome email for my subscribers, only to find it land straight in the dreaded spam folder upon sending it for a test run. Frustrating? Absolutely. But do I have all the answers as to why it happened? Not quite yet.
Was it a formatting issue? A trigger word that set off spam filters? Or perhaps a technical glitch that eludes my understanding? The truth is, I’m not entirely sure. But that’s okay. Part of being in this business is navigating through these bumps in the road and learning from them.
To troubleshoot, I sent the email to another one of my addresses for a secondary test. Surprisingly, it didn’t land in either the inbox or the spam folder. What could be causing such inconsistency? It’s a puzzle I’m determined to solve.
While it’s frustrating not to have immediate answers, I’m taking this as an opportunity to dive deeper into the complexities of email deliverability. I’ll be doing some research in training, and reaching out to my mentors for insights. After all, every setback is a chance to grow and improve.
Now I’m going to give you some insight on the importance of blogging and how it can help your business grow.
Blogging
What is blogging? Blogging is a powerful tool for connecting with an audience. What sets successful bloggers apart? It’s not just about crafting catchy headlines or mastering SEO techniques. At its core, effective blogging is about building trust and fostering genuine connections with your readers. By consistently delivering value to their readers, affiliate marketers can foster a loyal following who are more inclined to heed their product recommendations and follow through with purchases via affiliate links.
Furthermore, blogging provides affiliate marketers with a potent avenue for organic traffic generation. By optimizing their content for search engines and targeting relevant keywords, bloggers can attract users actively seeking solutions or products within their niche. This organic traffic not only boosts visibility but also reduces dependence on paid advertising, offering a sustainable and cost-effective approach to affiliate marketing. With the ability to diversify revenue streams and refine strategies based on data-driven insights, blogging empowers affiliate marketers to maximize their reach, drive conversions, and ultimately, achieve their business objectives.
The Know, Like, and Trust Factor
The “Know, Like, and Trust” factor holds unparalleled significance. It’s a simple yet profound principle that forms the foundation of successful relationships between businesses and their audience.
How does it apply to blogging?
1. know: Your blog is your platform to introduce yourself to the world. Share your story, your values, and your expertise. Let your audience get to know the person behind the blog. Transparency is key here; be authentic and genuine in your interactions.
2. Like: People are drawn to personalities they resonate with. Show your human side in your blog posts. Share your quirks, your passions, and your sense of humor. Engage with your audience on a personal level, responding to comments and messages with warmth and sincerity.
3. Trust: Trust is earned over time through consistent actions and integrity. Be reliable in delivering valuable content that enriches the lives of your readers. Avoid hype and gimmicks; instead, focus on providing genuine solutions to their problems. And perhaps most importantly, be honest about your business endeavors. Share both your successes and your challenges, and demonstrate a commitment to transparency and authenticity.
The Power of Honesty in Blogging
Honesty is not just a virtue; it’s a competitive advantage. Readers can spot insincerity from a mile away, and they’re more likely to engage with content that feels genuine and trustworthy. This is especially true when it comes to sharing insights into your business journey.
When you’re honest about the day-to-day realities of running your business, you create a sense of authenticity that resonates with your audience. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, grappling with a setback, or simply sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your workflow, honesty builds rapport and fosters trust.
Beyond Honesty: Keys to Successful Blogging
While honesty forms the bedrock of effective blogging, there are other essential elements to consider:
1. Consistency: Regularly update your blog with fresh, valuable content. Consistency not only keeps your audience engaged but also signals reliability and professionalism.
2. Quality Content: Focus on creating content that educates, entertains, or inspires your readers. Strive for excellence in every post, whether it’s a how-to guide, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking opinion piece.
3. Engagement: Foster a sense of community by actively engaging with your audience. Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and encourage discussions. Building a loyal readership requires more than just broadcasting; it requires genuine two-way communication.
4. Optimization: Pay attention to SEO best practices to ensure your content reaches the widest possible audience. But remember, SEO should never come at the expense of quality or authenticity.
Building a successful blog is about more than just driving traffic or generating leads. It’s about forging meaningful connections with your audience based on trust, authenticity, and mutual respect. By embracing honesty, transparency, and integrity in your blogging efforts, you can cultivate a loyal following that will support your business for years to come. So, go ahead, share your story, be true to yourself, and see your blog shine as a genuine voice in a world filled with distractions.
What did we learn today?
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How it can benefit you to start a blog for your business.
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The know, like, and trust factor is important to have with your viewer’s.
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Key factors to have for a successful blog.
Now that you’ve gotten a feel of what a blog is and how it should work for you, please let me know what you think, and what questions you may have in the comment section below.
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Hopefully, next week I will have good news for you about my email sequence set up, and my sending deliverability. Tune in for next weeks post to find out…
Until then!
To Our Success,
Meredith, It sounds like you’ve had a lot on your plate this week, but you’re handling it all with determination and positivity! From helping your neighbor with the move to preparing for your son’s graduation, you’ve been busy. And amidst it all, you’re still focused on refining your email sequences and connecting with your audience through your blog. It’s inspiring to see your dedication to your business despite the challenges you’ve faced. Keep pushing forward, and I’m sure you’ll overcome any hurdles that come your way. Looking forward to hearing more about your progress in next week’s post! Thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
Thank you so much! I’m still working on the email sequence. It will come together hopefully soon. Thanks for your comment.
Meredith
This post is so good and full of helpful thoughts, particularly in the area of blogging! With your busy schedule, it is impressive how much you have accomplished this week. And, shopping for your son’s graduation…how exciting and congratulations to you and your son! Have a great week and thanks for your valuable post!
Hi Ernie,
Thank you! It has been a busy month it seems like. I’m trying to be available everywhere that I’m needed right now. It has been a little rough. I sure hope I get a break soon. Thank you for your comment.
Meredith
Your recent experiences of balancing personal responsibilities with business endeavors is the entrepreneur’s reality.
You are dedicated to perfecting your email marketing campaigns is inspiring particularly the recent challenge you faced with your welcome email landing in the spam folder.
Your proactive approach to investigating and seeking solutions shows a commitment to improvement.
Emphasizing the importance of building trust and fostering genuine connections with readers, you underscore the value of transparency and authenticity to blogging.
Your breakdown of the “Know, Like, and Trust” factor about blogging communicates the foundational principles for successful content creation.
Finally, your discussion on the power of honesty in blogging resonates deeply.
I as a reader appreciate your sincerity and authenticity.
Hi Eleanor,
Thank you for all the kind words. I’m working on it, and I’m gonna figure it all out. It just takes time. Thank you for your comment.
Meredith
Meredith,
Sounds like you have a lot going on with helping your neighbor and your son’s graduation party. Good luck with troubleshooting and correcting your email issues. I have confidence you will figure it out. I like your statement about blogging being about forging meaningful connections with your audience based on trust, authenticity, and mutual respect. Such a true statement.
Sherri
Hi Sherri,
Thank you for having confidence in me to figure out my email/spam issue. I’m sure I will figure it out. Thank you for youe comment.
Meredith
Meredith,
Sounds like you’ve been keeping busy with your neighbor’s move and preparations for your sons’ graduations. It’s always exciting to celebrate milestones like these!
As for your business, refining email sequences and brainstorming content ideas for your campaigns shows your commitment to engaging your audience effectively. Dealing with the occasional hiccup, like your welcome email landing in the spam folder, can be frustrating, but it’s all part of the learning process.
Your insights on the importance of blogging are accurate. Building trust with your audience through authenticity and consistency is key to success. And your breakdown of the “Know, Like, and Trust” factor is a valuable reminder of the core principles of effective blogging.
Keep up the great work, and here’s to continued growth and success in your business endeavors!
CJ
Hi CJ,
I’m sticking with it and gonna get down to the bottom of why my email went to spam. There’s always struggles. It all depend on how you figure it out and fix the problems. Thanks for youe comment.
Meredith
Hi Meredith,
How frustrating for your email to go straight to spam. I do hope you find the answer. I had a similar experience recently with TikTok. I have been temporarily banned from direct messaging AGAIN, apparently violating some guideline or other. I have no idea why.
Good on you for helping out your neighbour with their move. All the best.
Andy
Hi Andy,
It is frustrating when things don’t go as planned. I will stick with it, and ask question to why this happened. I’m sorry you are having your struggles on TikTok. I’m sure it will work out for you. Thank you so much!
Meredith
Hi Meredith!
I like your statement, “Honesty is not just a virtue; it’s a competitive advantage.”
It’s strange that something so simple can be a superpower. Also, we embolden this strength with consistency.
I almost didn’t post a blog this week, but I thought of losing this factor and posted what I could.
Consistency also builds trust. We keep showing up for our audience.
Wonderful post!
Nakina
Hi Nakina,
Thank you for your comment. Consistency is everything in business. If you don’t have it then things will fall by the waist side. Some weeks I find it hard blogging too, but I want to be able to be there for my viewer’s, so I show up every week for them. Thanks and take care.
Meredith
Your email problem can be solved by one of our mentors. Chris is my go to. He is always helpful!!
Another challenge is sending emails or SMS to our customer’s. We could soon have multiple lists and hopefully multiple streams of income. I hope to have a clear idea of how to do this soon.
Hi Kate,
Thank you for referring me to our mentors. I plan on getting help from them. Yes, hopefully Dean will go over that too. Thank you for your comment.
Meredith
Excellent post this week, Meredith! I really like how you arranged your content and talked about the importance of being authentic and honest with the human factor. I think it’s so important for readers to connect with you by first liking, knowing, and trusting you. This only comes out when you successfully convey in your writings that you are likable, relatable, and trustworthy. Well done…
Hi Vanessa,
Thank you for your comment. It is so important to be able to relate to your subscribers.
Take care.
Meredith
Hi Meredith,
Working through the trial and error of emailing or any other business practice can be quite frustrating, but when it’s figured out, so exciting! I’ve faced my share and know there will be more ahead to figure out. You got this 🙂
Blogging is something I really enjoy and enjoy it even more when I get to be myself and share my journey instead of just teach and train others with it. Look forward to hearing about how you fixed your email. All the best!
Denny
Hi Denny,
It has been a challenge lately, but I will figure it out in time. Thank you for your comment.
Meredith