Incheon, Korea
Successful bloggers usually exhibit one common trait.
Pros typically guide readers to do one thing at the end of blog posts.
Maintaining this level of clarity guides readers to do 1 thing.
As highly-targeted readers do that 1 thing, bigger traffic and income flows to and through the blog.
On the flip-side, struggling bloggers attempt to guide readers to do too many things.
Struggling bloggers appear to yank readers in many directions at the end of blog posts.
Hey; I’m about that abundance mentality, as much as possible. Giving readers abundant choices seems like a good idea on one level.
But trying to inspire readers to take 5 calls too action at post end is a Herculean task consistent with asking a guppy to murder a pack of killer whales.
Unless the guppy has access to a neutron bomb this scenario ain’t happening.
Unless the 5-action-calling blogger has crystal clear intention on asking readers to do 5 different things at post end, none of those things are happening, either.
Guide readers in one direction versus yanking readers in 5 directions.
Guiding readers to do one thing results in readers actually doing that one thing at an increased clip.
Asking for too Many Favors?
Imagine this scenario.
Someone asks you for a favor.
Being charitable of heart, you fulfill their favor wish.
But the individual immediately asks you for another favor.
Charity wearing thin, your guilt scares you into begrudgingly fulfilling their favor request.
The seemingly bold but helpless being asks for yet another favor, instantly.
You finally put your foot down and say:
“No, I cannot help you.”
Why?
The person already received help twice through your 2 favors. Asking for more favors and help suggests neediness.
Neediness is fear. Fear is repelling because fear is annoying. Being annoyed sends you away from seeming sources of annoyance.
Fear usually asks a blogger to make 3 separate calls to action at the end of blog posts. Like asking someone for 3 favors in rapid fire succession, you will annoy these people and send ’em heading for the hills sooner or later.
The fear in your mind motivating you to ask for 3 calls to action eventually mirrors back to you as individuals ceasing to follow your blog.
Imagine if you asked those readers to do one thing for a while?
Like asking for one favor, an increasing number of readers would grant that request.
Observe the power of clarity in action.
Asking readers to check out your eBook goads more to check out your eBook.
Asking readers to check out your course inspires more readers to check out your course.
Imagine if you asked readers to:
- check out your eBook
- check out your course
- share your blog posts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
at the end of all posts for a few months?
How much are you gonna ask these people to do?
Give them a freaking break or they may make a break for the blogging hills.
Ask for one call-favor then get as busy as hell doing your own work to handle the other calls-favors.
Ask readers one thing: check out your eBook.
Proceed to busy yourself with promoting blog posts, sharing posts on social media and engaging in genuine blogger outreach to increase social media sharing through your blogging campaign.
Do some of the heavy lifting to take the pressure off of readers to do a series of things for you. Make your blog about helping them and they will give you all of the help you could ever need.
Why this Strategy Works
Calling readers to do one clear thing at the end of blog posts makes it easy for readers to:
- understand that one thing
- process that one thing
- act on that one thing to fulfill the call to action
If readers have one thing to do and understand it, they tend to do it.
Simplicity wins.
Give readers just one step to follow and an increasing number will follow that one step.
Face Fear to Shed Multiple Calls
Giving readers one thing to do involves letting go the the list of things fear in your mind wanted them to do.
Shedding depends on facing, feeling and releasing fear in your mind.
Feeling fear removes the wish to ask readers to do multiple things.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Step into fear.
Let go the fear.
Release multiple calls.
Give readers one thing to do.
Bruce Lee Wisdom
Bruce Lee once said that he does not fear the opponent who practices 10,000 different kicks but the one who practices one kick 10,000 times.
Muslim wisdom stressed this point by recounting the story of a child who practiced writing one number on a chalkboard daily for years. Kids mocked him until years down the road he began writing the number and the chalkboard shattered.
Call readers to do one thing at the end of a blog post for a sustained period of time. Call readers to do the identical thing through social media. Call readers to do the identical thing through your email list.
Bruce Lee practiced one move relentlessly. The Muslim child practiced one skill with such intensity, power and persistence that he split a blackboard, in the legend, of course.
Guide readers to do one thing patiently, persistently and mindfully as you promote the identical call through your online marketing arms.
Imagine the power of that one call repeated over the long haul?
Conclusion
Get clear.
Stop yanking readers all over the place.
End blog posts with one clear call to action to give readers a loud, clear signal, to help readers and to accelerate your blogging success.
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