You want people to know what you stand for and know what you’re about right? I’m the same way. But what about the fear of giving it all away for free or giving it all right away? I’m with you there too but there’s a solution to that that I want to cover with you today.
Focus and planning ahead is a great way to make sure you’re always giving your readers more of what you have to offer without giving it all to them in one shot. Why do this? Because it makes them want more. They expect more but will wait just a while for it knowing that you have great things to offer.
We don’t have all the time in the world which is why planning ahead and knowing where we’re going is so important. Customers and readers look for what’s next and if they get a lot right now, at least make sure you have a lot more ready to go for later on.
Example: You are planning on releasing an ebook that you’re going to sell. Great! Before releasing it however, give yourself a time frame to get so much of whatever your next project is going to be, completed. If you don’t have another project, that’s fine but make sure you at least have the idea in your head and you’re actually acting on it before releasing much more.
I will be doing this because I find it a bit easier to do than just throwing something together that I hope people will like.
There’s also the case where your release something and have something else lined up soon because you are sure that your customers are going to love what you just offered. The results don’t go as you saw so you get down and wonder if you should be releasing your next project at all.
This can be solved by a simple technique of listening to what your readers want and really communicating with them so that you are aware of what they can use before actually releasing your first product, or second one on the way.
Above all, make sure you’re listening to your readers concerns and giving them a lot, but not all, right away.
What does everyone think?
Eric Heavilin is the author of BluePop13.com where he writes about various topics including Blogging and how to improve your blog and your business with your blog. He enjoys Music, Writing, Blogging, Movies, Entertainment in general, helping people succeed and more. If you want to know more about Eric I encourage you to visit his site. You can also follow Eric on Twitter.
Hey Eric,
Yeah, listening to your readers while providing you kick-ass products or services in way that doesn’t completely burn away your knowledge is quite a challenge.
I think it takes a fine balance – after all you want to sell only your best stuff. But I also think that you can NEVER run of ideas – even if you give all your knowledge away, a few months later (and diligent learning) you’ll have sooo much you can offer again, because of your new insights !
.-= Mars Dorian´s last blog ..The Winning Difference – do People Like or LUV You ?? =-.
You’re spot on here Mars.
We’re always learning so even if you give it everything you have right away you still have more to give later on down the road. I just feel that holding back a little bit not only gives you more time to actually push out the content for later but also more ideas that you may not have had before which brings in so much more to your blog and business.
Thanks for the comment!
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Are You Expecting Different Results Than The Effort You’re Giving? =-.
I have a content strategy plus an editorial calendar to make sure what I write is leading both myself and the readers somewhere bit by bit. I veer off the calendar when some juicy idea comes my way, plus I ask the readers what they want to know more about and respond to that too. I have a post coming up next week on the hows and whys of a custom content strategy because I think it’s essential to long term success. All businesses need a plan and the materials to execute that plan, and writing-centered businesses are no different.
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..How to Graduate to Your Next Level of Blogging =-.
Jean,
Totally right… Having a strategy in place and being ready for what’s to come next and planning it out makes things much easier to do. Sometimes you’ll go off course just a bit but that’s ok because you still have your ideas in place for what direction you’re going in over all.
Thanks much for your thoughts!
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Are You Expecting Different Results Than The Effort You’re Giving? =-.
Hi Eric,
You are totally right. While you want to provide readers with the best information possible. You have to leave them guessing. You have to create mystery for them. It’s that mystery that leaves them with questions that will have them wanting to come back for more. But if we give it to them all at once we take away some of the value, we don’t arise questions in their mind. Very good thought.
Thanks for sharing!!
Hey Jarrod,
That’s Exactly right buddy. !! Awesome comment
!
Thanks
Exactly and on the same note, even giving them everything you’ve got and then quickly adding something to it that even you didn’t think of until last minute can really make them want to come back for more because they’re getting something extra and they didn’t even expect more in the first place.
Having a killer strategy that provides complete value can and surely will take you a long way on the path you choose.
Thanks so much for your comment!
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Are You Expecting Different Results Than The Effort You’re Giving? =-.
Planning ahead is great advice for your blog, your business, or life in general. Actually, having a plan in place can make almost anything easier to deal with.Time is the one resource that we’ll all wind up running out of, and staying on track and planning ahead can definitely help people get as much done as possible.
Listening to your readers is of course very important, and that is just a small part of understanding what they want, expect and desire of you and your products.
As for looking ahead, planning and allowing enough time to deliver what your readers want, that’s all sage advise, especially as it is so tempting to rush particularly when the ideas and enthusiasm are driving.
.-= Mo “Mad Dog” Stoneskin´s last blog ..Delinquent child of Frankenstein =-.