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Biggest misunderstanding I had about "adding value"

by aldentan
19 replies
Hey guys,

So I've written a lot of guest posts and my own blog posts to build my own list.

As far as it went, I always felt I'd inspire people and blow their minds even with some good writing.

It did work. It was all good. I get emails all the time from readers wanting to chat.

But then it hit me...

I've been making a lot of friends... but NOT customers.

I always felt adding value was just making readers feel good and then from there they should buy something from me, affiliate product or my own.

But I'm not making much sales. Man what a eye-opener!

Can someone shed some light on this?

Is there also a specific way to create content that converts readers into buyers?

Thanks!
#adding value #biggest #misunderstanding
  • Profile picture of the author ejullya
    Aldentan,

    I can certainly relate. We are so caught up in providing value (and rightly so as our readers deserve that) that we sometimes forget about being paid for our efforts.

    I think the one problem with everything that is happening online is that we became extremely cautious and are afraid that if we offer a product our readers will abandon us.

    I noticed that when reading article posts even on popular blogs with a lot of traffic there are no links in the article to the products at all.

    Recently, on one such blog I read a strategy for traffic (I believe). In the article, the very popular blogger mentioned one of her favorite research tools. She happened to mention it 2x but not once did she link it to the source.

    I think the over cautiousness is causing people a loss of sales. Perhaps this is why you are seeing it too.

    But I understand, it is a catch 22.

    Best of luck, hope things will improve for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
    you need to have some type of funnel or goal in mind for every person that reads your content

    you need to always make it possible for people to learn more by being able to opt in somewhere to your list or possibly a product from you which covers more on the topic which they just read about

    this is where you need a sales funnel in place and also a range of products too

    a good example is i sometimes create in depth blog posts giving out really good info around a particular topic and then at the bottom of the post i link to a relevant wso which expands on the topic
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    • Profile picture of the author Tony Marriott
      I know where your coming from.

      Before working online I had spent my whole working life delivery services to companies.
      I had a complete "service delivery" mindset. That actually held me back from making money online. Actually it almost cetainly still does.
      However I have reached a balance I am happy with.

      You need to start putting your "marketers" hat on.
      Giving fantastic "added value" doesn't help anyone really.
      Think of it like this. If you can make a decent amount of money online then you can spend more time "adding value" That way both you and your readers/customers/subscribers win.

      If you are not making money from your readers you are doing them a disservice.

      People will always place a higher value on something they had to pay for as well.
      They are also more likely to do someting with it. Most free advice never gets followed.

      Truth is most people are more than happy to pay for stuff that they can benefit from.

      Set up a sales funnel. encourage subscribers, build an email list. Send out affiliate products (good related stuff). Link to related products in your posts etc

      Don't be afraid to sell.

      If people who read you now take offense to being sold to and if they do stop reading you have lost nothing. If you want to do it just for the glory then fine but if you want to make some money you have to take a business like approach.

      I actually get more positive feedback and thanks from my subscribers and customers now than when I was making no money.
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    • Profile picture of the author aldentan
      Originally Posted by paul nicholls View Post

      you need to have some type of funnel or goal in mind for every person that reads your content

      you need to always make it possible for people to learn more by being able to opt in somewhere to your list or possibly a product from you which covers more on the topic which they just read about

      this is where you need a sales funnel in place and also a range of products too

      a good example is i sometimes create in depth blog posts giving out really good info around a particular topic and then at the bottom of the post i link to a relevant wso which expands on the topic
      Cool. So I guess it's a matter of a clearly showing the path towards something people can buy?
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  • Profile picture of the author jamescanz
    Originally Posted by aldentan View Post

    Can someone shed some light on this?
    How often do you ask for a sale, or even recommend an affiliate product that will help person X achieve their goal of XYZ?

    This is something that is sooooo huge in the fitness niche, or fitness business (how ever you want to refer to it as)

    So many people will come in and out of the market because they put zero focus on helping themselves.

    At the end of the day, hey, if people still like them for the fact that they got a rockin' bod and bulgin' biceps...

    Sometimes that is all they are looking for.

    Just some insight for you. I understand the fact that it is awesome to help out others, but I am going to make an educated guess that you might not be asking for the sale as much as you should be.

    Which niche (or niches) are you currently tackling?
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    • Profile picture of the author aldentan
      Originally Posted by jamescanz View Post

      How often do you ask for a sale, or even recommend an affiliate product that will help person X achieve their goal of XYZ?

      This is something that is sooooo huge in the fitness niche, or fitness business (how ever you want to refer to it as)

      So many people will come in and out of the market because they put zero focus on helping themselves.

      At the end of the day, hey, if people still like them for the fact that they got a rockin' bod and bulgin' biceps...

      Sometimes that is all they are looking for.

      Just some insight for you. I understand the fact that it is awesome to help out others, but I am going to make an educated guess that you might not be asking for the sale as much as you should be.

      Which niche (or niches) are you currently tackling?
      Dude you're right man.

      I keep thinking I don't wanna piss my readers off or lose subscribers. So I hold back on recommending too many products.

      Well to narrow it down, I write to give people the courage and inspiration to do what they love.
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  • Profile picture of the author Broyde
    Start giving them some good sales pages to look at along with the high class information that you had been. And then ask them for a sale.
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  • Profile picture of the author aldentan
    Thanks for all the replies guys!

    What I'm hearing is to be not afraid to sell and start showing readers what they can buy immediately.

    However, is there a specific way to build/design a blog and write content that, for the long term show readers I'm a real business and not some random, happy blogger who writes when he's in a good mood?
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    • Profile picture of the author Rob Howard
      Originally Posted by aldentan View Post

      Thanks for all the replies guys!

      What I'm hearing is to be not afraid to sell and start showing readers what they can buy immediately.

      However, is there a specific way to build/design a blog and write content that, for the long term show readers I'm a real business and not some random, happy blogger who writes when he's in a good mood?
      There was an awesome post by Colin Theriot not too long ago about this very problem. He's an excellent copywriter and great marketer.

      Anyway - I can't find the thread and don't have a lot of time, but the gist of his message was this:

      Open their wound and then provide them with the link to heal it. That'll make some sales.
      What that guy said.

      The content of your blog needs to focus on their PAINS.

      For example, say I sell an SEO service.

      On my blog, I could write content that goes something like this:

      "Do this correctly and you'll gain rankings faster...

      (Blog content - why SEO is important...

      the difficulties with SEO - time suck, risky, may fail, etc.

      1 cool tip to really help

      BTW - let me do it for you and skip all the problems - here is my service (link to sales letter))"

      As you can see, my content is structured to show them why such and such is important, but yet relates back to them their struggles. Then I share with them 1 cool tip that will help them, something they can see themselves doing and alleviates that pain. Then I say "or you could save yourself all the effort and let me do it for you".

      This works in any niche - why such and such is important, here are the pains you go through, here is a quick tip to help with that pain, and if you want more help, click here.

      Hope this helps.

      Rob
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    • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
      Originally Posted by aldentan View Post

      What I'm hearing is to be not afraid to sell and start showing readers what they can buy immediately.
      Yes - you need to change how you look at selling - especially
      as a list owner...

      Instead of looking at selling as a negative/bad thing that
      you do with your list , change what you do so that selling
      is a way for you to help them achieve what they're looking
      for.
      Originally Posted by aldentan View Post

      However, is there a specific way to build/design a blog and write content that, for the long term show readers I'm a real business and not some random, happy blogger who writes when he's in a good mood?
      Be clear from the outset that you're a real business and
      that you're not just a source of great free information.

      Make it clear up front that you expect a fair exchange:
      You give your subscribers SOME valuable content for
      free and that you also will be making some paid offers.

      (Unless you want to be an unpaid writer).

      Work your way backwards from the target products you
      want to sell and then identify what information you can
      give away that will motivate people to buy.

      An old adage is to give away the "what" and the "why"
      and sell the "how"

      There needs to be a fair exchange of value BOTH ways
      if you want to have a real business that lasts.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
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      • Profile picture of the author daniell686
        Wow, that's a pretty good advice! thanks for sharing it

        Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

        Yes - you need to change how you look at selling - especially
        as a list owner...

        Instead of looking at selling as a negative/bad thing that
        you do with your list , change what you do so that selling
        is a way for you to help them achieve what they're looking
        for.

        Be clear from the outset that you're a real business and
        that you're not just a source of great free information.

        Make it clear up front that you expect a fair exchange:
        You give your subscribers SOME valuable content for
        free and that you also will be making some paid offers.

        (Unless you want to be an unpaid writer).

        Work your way backwards from the target products you
        want to sell and then identify what information you can
        give away that will motivate people to buy.

        An old adage is to give away the "what" and the "why"
        and sell the "how"

        There needs to be a fair exchange of value BOTH ways
        if you want to have a real business that lasts.

        Dedicated to mutual success,

        Shaun
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    Value + offer. You can actually sell in every single blog post and email you ever write IF you also offer lots of value. It can be as subtle as a simple recommendation of a related product to what you are writing about, no hard sell, no hype, just a mention that you use it to make 'X' task easier.

    As has been mentioned you need to have a goal in mind when people are reading your useful blog posts and that goal is to get them to take a particular action whether it be to join your list (usually this one), like your content, share it or buy from you.

    Don't be scared to promote to them, this is why you do what you do. Making friends is great because a friend will almost always do what you ask them to but just being friends isn't going to make you any money.
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  • Profile picture of the author ToniMaltano
    A few years ago when I started out I wrote lots of articles. Well I discovered that if my articles provided too much information, people would not feel the need of optin
    in or clicking on my link.

    So I decided to go with shorter articles and just write enough to make them curious
    and wanting to learn more. Because if you are telling them everything in your article
    there is no need for them to take further action since they already got their answer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    You can still write incredible and detailed content in your articles and blog you just need to offer exclusive content on your email list and / or an incentive to get them to opt in.
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  • Profile picture of the author jbaxter
    Little bit of Call To Action! in your posts, as everyone has pretty much mentioned. Give value along with call to action and you should be set.
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    To Your Success,

    Jamie B!

    P.S Don't Say your going to do it... Do it and say it's DONE!
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  • Profile picture of the author aldentan
    Cool guys thanks!

    Does the content need to strictly stick to "How to" guides that directly solve the pain or is it okay to just sort of talk about it?
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    • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
      Originally Posted by aldentan View Post

      Does the content need to strictly stick to "How to" guides that directly solve the pain or is it okay to just sort of talk about it?
      The "how to" guides that solve the pain are what you
      SELL.

      Depending upon how much "how to" material you have
      in reserve, you could give some of it away to prove
      your credibility in the area.

      The mistake many people make is giving away TOO MUCH
      information for free and then creating a audience who
      just expect great content for free, forever.

      However, as a general rule, information you give away
      should be a "taster" that moves people closer to actually
      BUYING your paid offers.

      The stuff you give away should make people more aware
      of the pain they want to remove, and position you and
      your paid products as the way to remove the pain and
      move towards pleasure.

      Dedicated to mutual success,

      Shaun
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  • Profile picture of the author aldentan
    Awesome Shuan thanks so much!
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  • Profile picture of the author khooster1
    I understand your concerns.

    It is true that most people are afraid of selling.
    They felt embarrassed, pushy when delivering
    the buy button.

    I used to face this issue too.
    All my blog posts are of at least 500 words
    with great contents/tips.
    But no sales.

    Until I met my mentor.
    He mentioned that
    In offline Market,
    There is nothing wrong that
    you demand a fee/payment
    after providing great content/services
    to your customers.
    Nothing is Free.

    You got to treat Internet Marketing
    as a BUSINESS.

    Similarly, we should have the same
    mindset when promoting online.

    This re-aligns my mindset immediately.
    Since then, I will always condition
    my post/content to deliver
    the sale pitch without fail.

    This works perfectly.
    After a while, it become normal
    for me to sell every time I post.

    Do check out my Signature then.
    Cheers.
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