Writing a Call to Action in your Blog
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When we write a blog post, we want to connect with our readers on a personal level. We want them to see us as an authority, as someone they can trust. We want to be involved in a conversation. Blogging, more than just about any other activity online, is geared toward interaction.
This interaction stands in contrast to traditional ideas about sales and marketing. When we think about marketing, we think about long sales pages that tell the reader all of the wonderful things about a product. We don’t think about a conversation; we think about a declaration.
Still, if you’re going to make money online, there are times you need to call your readers to action. You want to motivate them to buy a product or click on a link or download something. But, how do you do that in a conversation? How do you do that without going from dialogue to monologue?
One of the most important skills to learn when writing blog content is to be able to call your reader to action. The way you do this is with a logical progression of thought.
For example, let’s say you want to promote the Thesis WordPress theme. You might start out with a blog post talking about how you chose your blog theme (whether or not it’s Thesis). At the end of that post, give your readers a simple, open-ended question: “How did you choose your WordPress theme?”
From there, you can create a post on why premium WordPress themes are better than free WordPress themes. Again, ask your readers to engage the topic at the end of the post. Ask if they have and free theme horror stories.
The next time you post, you might move from there into looking at some of the WordPress themes available. Compare them fairly, and ask readers what their experiences have been.
You would finish off the week with a post about Thesis. Do a thorough review of the theme. Write in such as way as to answer the three essential marketing questions: “Why do I need a theme?” “Why do I need this theme?” and “Why right now?” Instead of ending with a question, though, end with a suggestion. Ask your readers to buy Thesis, and then to come back and let you know what they think of it. It’s still about interaction – you want them to tell you about their experiences – yet you’ve also written a call to action.
So here is my call to action…. Opt in to my list, download my ebook and click on my sponsor ads oh ya and have an AWESOME WEEKEND!
tr td a:link, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:visited, table#itemcontentlist tr td a:active { color:#000099; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} John Cow dot ComWriting a Call to Action in your BlogPosted: 16 Jan 2009 03:08 PM CST When we write a blog post, we want to connect with our readers on a personal level. We want them to see us as an authority, as someone they can trust. We want to be involved in a conversation. Blogging, more than just about any other ac
Very Clever!
Also very true. As a blogger you need to try and engage your reader. Build confidence by ensuring your audience trusts, that your posts are both interesting and of some value to visit and click around. Having something of value within the post and the indication of value ‘beyond the click’.
Cheers!
Jeromy
I do agree with your post. I think the main problem with my blog is that i post just to get extra content on my pages so they will get visits and hopefully clicks. If I become more interactive I can see how that will pay off. I like ur post. I think the next step is to actaully have motivation into doing so.
Great point. Most people kinda interchange the idea with long sales pages and blog post that persuades. Anyway I am subscribed to your opt-in, I have your ebook but I’ll never click your sponsors..
I don’t know that would be so quick to say that…
I was recently searching for a WordPress theme and I knew that a few of my favorite blogs are advertising these, so I checked them out. The simple reason being there are sooo many places selling themes. Some are good, many are not. I expect that a reputable blog has reference to only quality products/services (in the authors opinion). So going to sites referenced by my favorite blogs is way to skim out most of the garbage and find the sites that actually offer some sort of value. This only works with a blog author that you have come to trust though. As we all know there are plenty of blogs that have no other interest but to push anything and everything, including the latest paid survey scam.
But there are a good handful of blogs that really aid a person in finding reliable info, products and services. I am subscribed, have the guide, read the posts and, if I need something you advertise, I’ll check it out.
Cheers!
Jeromy
If you don’t provide a call to action for your blog, you site visitors will not know what you offer or are asking for. You have to make clear statement to what exactly you want your readers to do.
That’s right, and a perfect way to do it is through questions at the end of your posts!
Very true Donny.
I totally agree.You should provide a natural transition between your blog post and the desired action which you want the reader to take.If it is not there then the reader may never take the desired action based on your assumption.
I also completely agree with the apect of making your blog more of a dialogue that just a one-sided monologue.
Kevin Njoroge
You have to clear with your reader regarding your call of if you have any call of action be clear no need to shy most of blogger using their blog professional.
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You really have to adopt the call of action.Also post some *FUNNY* posts on your blog like THIS
http://vishtecho.blogspot.com/2008/07/funny-google-search-results_15.html
You really have to adopt a Call to Action in your blog.Also you need to post *FUNNY* posts on your blog like this
FUNNY GOOGLE RESULTS
Call to action is a wonderful thing and one of the elements of marketing. It can be a call to read your post, write a comment, click on a link or opt in to a newsletter.
Works like magic if you have a readership that trusts you. New blogs have to work on their image and reputation though…
Cheers,
Alex
That`s true i have adopted a a call to action in all my campaigns and have seen a significant growth.
When writing a post it’s good to step back think about where you need the influence to lead readers. just like John Cow did here. like most Bloggers who rap action in to useful content. If the content helps the reader they are more like take the action needed.
Work hard and the rest will happen on it’s own.
yes, i am leaning how to convince the reader to buy the product, since so far i don’t earn anything from those product that i put on my page. i believe maybe i should focus only one or two product first, recommend them about something i really know about and not to show up too much product on the page.
thank for sharing this, i got some idea now.
cheers.
sometimes visitor too lazy to give responses…they only came to our blog and read our informations but not contribute… at least leave a comment..
I agree with ahmad, but I have found that a good way to encourage the community you form from a blog / site etc is through contests/giveaways. This may not be something that is easy to organise, but I am in the middle of my first one (link below if your interested!) and I have found that by encouraging that first post from a user, they then post regularly on other sections of the site.
Once a few people post, other users then feel more inclined to do so.
That’s what I have found anyway but I would be interested to hear others opinions too!
Your blog is an excellent means of striking up a dialogue with your readers – getting them to tell you what they want from you and providing validation of your authority, or eliciting questions from your readers about the subject of your post. In fact, your post is in many ways just the “conversation starter.”
Yes, there should be a call to action in the body of your blog posts, even if it’s just to say that your next post is one your readers won’t want to miss. But the real power of your blog lies in what we’re doing here – providing feedback and engaging one another. It’s a mean of continuing the conversation with your readers beyond your initial post. Your call to action can then be gently or strongly reiterated, and is given much more weight based on the validation provided by your readers in the comments section.
You know the message of your post is getting through when the comments by your readers start rolling in. By responding to commenters, you step down off the lecture podium and become much more “real” in the eyes of your readers. That’s priceless.
Excellent post, John – keep ‘em coming!
A blogger need motivate his target speaking in her language, thats the reason why the blogger exist
Very nice post, the lead in towards the purchase, and I especially liked the build up.
Keep up the great writing, I have to get my blog more interactive, and this is just awesome information.
I just start my blog but I appreciate the advice I can find here and in other similar
greetings
It’s just like when I write a copy on ads at the last bodycopy “Ask for action”, right?
John,
Great post x 2! Thank you for this information.
I’ve been writing blog posts for some time now. Although I knew the point of the blog was to become known as an expert and for your readers to learn to trust you, I missed a step.
Because I’ve overlooked including a call to action.
So thank you for putting it all out there, and for the gentle nudge.
Karen
Nice post there Jason. Getting conversions is not easy if you don’t do it well. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks for all that useful information about WordPress themes, and how I should go about writing blogs. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
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My readership is not very chatty at the moment and I hope that I can get a community going and then I can start trying this kind of thing out.
Thanks for a great post.
Hehehe
You realy know the trick of”call of action”…
thats why i have commented here…ebook dloaded already
So much truth in your post cow, hoever the ‘call to action’ and long sale letters work only for Clickbank marketing.
Thanks for the tip! I’ve bounced around with my blog posts — some informational posts with a P.S. that contained a call to action, some personal ramblings “just to build a relationship.” But I like your suggestions for developing the conversation before approaching the call to action.
You are completely right. If you are going to blog you might as well do it right. And since this is a “personal mode” of communication a call to action is very important. Great post!
Very true, I’ve generally heard that with email lists, you should write about 3 informative emails that don’t sell anything for every one that’s selling something.
Either way, the most important thing is to build up trust and then sell something, which your tips would accomplish.
A call to action is very important when engaging readers! I try to do this as much as possible and sometimes have to go back and add a call to action if I forget… Open ended questions seem like they work the best because it gets a conversation flowing.. Great work man!
-Mike
I often ask people to leave a comment on a blog post I wrote.When they share their opinions I get more content bu also new ideas for future blog posts.The commenter gets a link back to their site, so I think it is a good deal.
No matter how powerful and engaging a blog post or a white paper may be, it’s value is radically reduced if there is not a clear call to action.
“Contact me today to learn more” is better than nothing.
“Download a complimentary white paper” is better.
If you can offer them something they need, your foot is in the door.
Sometimes we forget that a Blog is a communication tool, and as any form of communication, interaction is the key. We must use our blog to ask for information, listen to our readers, etc.
Nice Post!
Regards,
Alex.
online web stores
I think asking questions is a great way to spark conversation. It gives the reader the idea that they should do something instead of leaving your site and going to a different one. The amount of comments I receive usually has to do with the questions I ask within a post.
I think you can give me information that I want. But it is good enough. Thank you
Call to action is as important to blogs as it is to a sales letter. Every one of us need someone to provide us with a direction to go because most of us spend our life in a trance.
Tell someone what to do, do it the right way, and people will do it.
Blogs are all about communication and sharing ideas. That’s why I come back to this site, to get new ideas and discuss them with other people.
It makes a lot more sense if there is interaction in blogging. This allows for an open exchange of ideas and views on a certain subject. Blogging is like talking in a way. So when you blog, talk to the rest.
Talking about eliciting comments, it is recommended to use dofollow but make sure spamfilter or spamguard is on or install a plugin to avoid heavy spamming. It’s amazing how ideas and views about your subject would flow if you leave an avenue for your commentors to ponder on.
You have to clear with your reader regarding your call of if you have any call of action be clear no need to shy most of blogger using their blog professional.
seo service