“How to Use a Manifesto to Spread your Blog’s Message” plus 1 more

How to Use a Manifesto to Spread your Blog’s Message

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 12:47 PM PST

This post is by Clare Lancaster, of WomenInBusiness.com.au.

Ever since I read Chris Guillebeau's manifesto, 279 Days to Overnight Success, I've been inspired to create one for my own blog. The way that it communicated the message of his blog, packaged in an attractive, shareable, valuable asset that cemented his place as a niche leader, was enough to make this blogger gush.

After nine months of blogging I decided to create a manifesto for my blog. I can honestly say it was one of the best things I've done.

It's helped me:

communicate the purpose and mission of my blog (which has helped keep my posts consistent in their message)
attracted the “right” people
built community and solidarity with those “right” people
spread my message to the networks of “right” people, attracting them to my blog.

It's been blogged, shared, tweeted, emailed, and printed out. I've received emails of thanks, one woman wrote to tell me she had printed it out and given it as a gift to her (all female) staff.

So, what exactly are blog manifestos, and should you create one for your blog?

What is a manifesto?

A manifesto traditionally communicates the values and beliefs of a group of people or organization. The most common form of blog manifestos are ebooks.

A manifesto that offers special value for your readers can act as a viral marketing tool for your blog. It gives the reader an idea of the bigger picture and purpose of your blog, and empowers them.

A manifesto is a method of structuring your message in a way that your audience finds relatable, desirable and, most importantly, attainable. It communicates a set of ideals and invites a reader to join you on your journey.

How to create your own blog manifesto

Like any trend, the more popular manifestos get, the harder it is to break through the noise. Look to see what's being produced in your niche and do something different. Be original: think about what your particular audience wants, needs, and will find irresistible.

I created my manifesto as a one-page poster designed to be printed and stuck to a wall. Find the best way to communicate your message to your audience. It doesn't have to be an ebook. It doesn't have to be a long story. It just has to have impact.

Give your manifesto away freely—you want it to spread. You also want it to be linked to your blog, so brand it strongly, but not obtrusively.

Don't forget about your own assets when promoting your manifesto. Link to it from your email signature, add it to your navigation bar and your mailing list welcome email, and blog and tweet about it.

What's your message?

Here's the catch; you need a strong message before you even think about creating a manifesto.

If you haven't already, taking the time to think about your message will improve:

your branding
how your audience relates to you
your value offer and niche positioning with your readers
your editorial direction and overall purpose

So my question to you is: what's your message? How does your message help your readers? What's going to make them share your message with their network?

Clare Lancaster offers blog reviews to help improve the business performance of your blog. She is passionate about helping people make their own path in work and life and can be found on Twitter most days (@clarelancaster).

Post from: ProBlogger Blog Tips

How to Use a Manifesto to Spread your Blog's Message

The Money’s Not In the List, it’s In the Connection

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 05:01 AM PST

This post was written by the Web Marketing Ninja—a professional online marketer for a major web brand, who's sharing his tips undercover here at ProBlogger. Curious? So are we!

What impact will changes to the flow of communications on the Internet cause by the rise of new options, like social media, have on the old marketing adage, “the money's in the list”? I was asked this recently, and I've been pondering the question ever since.

For quite some time, in all honestly, I dismissed the question, because I've literally made millions of dollars through email marketing—I'd be hard pressed to ignore that.

But then I thought about the main reasons I've been able to use that communication method as a monetization tool. The answer? It's about the connection, not the practical outcome of having someone's email address.

Then I realized that the money is not in the list, it's in the connection with a customer.

We shouldn't fear the changes new communications methods have brought to bear. We should see them as a great way to expand our channels to build even more connections with customers.

The same principles apply

It even gets better. You can take exactly the same approach you've been refining for your email list-building activity, and apply it to these new channels—the basic principles are exactly the same.

The four core attributes of successful email marketing are:

Make your email capture findable.
Provide incentives for people to sign up.
Craft well-written, engaging messages.
Give more than you ask from your list.

Now let's look at how that might translate into a social media channel like Facebook.

Findable: Set up your vanity URL and Facebook page, and link to it from your site.
Incentives: Offer something unique to your Facebook followers (a coupon or ebook, for example).
Engage: Put together a publication schedule specifically for your Facebook page—don't just syndicate your blog or Twitter feed.
Promote: Seed your promotional messages with real value, quality content, and so on.

The key here is to not treat the channel as a method to build your email list, but to see it as a new method to develop a connection with a customer in the place where they feel most comfortable communicating. If you're trying to fit Facebook pegs into email holes, you might be able to jam a few in, but you're costing yourself valuable leads in the process.

While these new channels need unique approaches, and different regulations govern what you can and can't do in each, at their cores, they're the same.

Patience pays

It took us all years to master the intricacies of marketing via email, so don't expect instant income from these new channels. But stick with it, and you just might discover greater success was you step away from the norm and embrace new methods of connecting with your customers.

As long as the medium allows for me to communicate with my list, and my list to communicate with me, I'm happy.

Stay tuned from most posts by the secretive Web Marketing Ninja—a professional online marketer for a major web brand, who's sharing his tips undercover here at ProBlogger.

Post from: ProBlogger Blog Tips

The Money's Not In the List, it's In the Connection