{"id":3776,"date":"2019-09-04T13:14:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T17:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bizmavens.com\/academy\/?page_id=3776"},"modified":"2023-04-23T07:35:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-23T12:35:37","slug":"module-1-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bizmavens.com\/academy\/blog-smarter-dashboard\/module-1-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Establish Authority: FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"

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My Account<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Support<\/a><\/p>\n

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BLOG SMARTER DASHBOARD<\/a> :: COMMUNITY<\/a><\/p>\n

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Module 1: Establish Authority<\/em><\/h3>\n

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01. Define Your Target Market<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”How do I figure out who my ideal reader is?” _builder_version=”4.16″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

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First, you need to research your target market: go through all the places listed in this lesson and look for clues. Put your\u00a0<\/span>sleuthing hat on and<\/span>\u200b<\/span>\u00a0try to <\/span>\u200b<\/span>read between the lines<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> What\u2019s important to her? What does she admire about you? (Side note: The things people say they admire are typically things they aspire<\/em> to themselves.) Copy and paste from anywhere you can what your readers are saying. Don\u2019t worry about whether they\u2019re \u201cultra-devoted super fans\u201d yet \u2013 just take each clue step-by-step, and gather them in one place: your Treasure Trove. Remember, you’re looking for <\/span>\u200bdetails<\/strong>\u200b\u200b<\/span>. Her habits, her annoyances, her needs, her fears, and so on. Or as another example: what was that person facing this morning when she read your post, right before she commented? In a future lesson, you’ll start zeroing in on who your ideal reader actually is.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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You are not alone! Here’s a quick bonus video to help you move forward.<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I have a lot of data to go through! What do I do?” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

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If you have a lot of data, you don’t necessarily have to go through every single<\/em> piece of it. Prioritize the data from the top of the Most Valuable Reader pyramid. For example, here are a few specific situations you might find yourself in:<\/p>\n

If you already have products or books for sale, then you have a shortcut\u200b\u200b<\/strong>.<\/strong> Your \u201csuper fans\u201d are those people who have bought more than one of your products, shared about them on social media, written you emails about how great your products are (and why), and so on. As super fans, their words weigh at least 10x more than anyone else\u2019s, so start there. If you can get 3 superfans on the phone or chat for a Target Market Chit-Chat, you’ll have what you need.<\/p>\n

If you already offer services or work with clients, then you have a shortcut<\/strong>.<\/strong> Your \u201csuper fans\u201d are those people who have worked with you not just once but on multiple occasions. They\u2019ve referred their friends to you. They\u2019re a \u200bdelight\u200b to work with, and you experience a lot of personal satisfaction due to the transformation they\u2019re undergoing. If you could clone this person 100x and fill your business with \u200bjust\u200b them, you would! \u200bThat\u2019s\u00a0your target market<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong> Think specifically about this person when you\u2019re working through this module’s assignments.<\/span><\/p>\n

If all your data is online and you have lots to look at:\u00a0<\/strong>Go slow and methodically look through it. Limit it to the last 2 or 3 years worth if you need to. You’re building a <\/span>\u200b<\/span>habit of listening<\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span><\/strong>. Right now it takes focused effort, but keep going through your data, reading between the lines and looking for clues. Eventually,\u00a0<\/span>this habit of <\/span>\u200blistening for and to your target market\u200b\u200b <\/span>will become second nature to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a ton of blog comments, try this trick:<\/strong> Inside WordPress in the \u201cComments\u201d section, sort by author (commenter) and quickly skim through to find <\/span>\u200b<\/span>multiple comments by the same author\u200b\u200b<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>(Doing this will also help you filter <\/span>\u200b<\/span>out\u200b\u200b <\/span>your own comment replies.) Someone who comments <\/span>\u200b<\/span>frequently<\/em>\u200b <\/span>is <\/span>\u200b<\/span>definitely<\/strong>\u200b\u200b <\/span>one of your fans. Also, you can click “Screen Options” at the top of the Comments page in your dashboard to\u00a0display more comments at one time.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a lot of emails from readers, try this:<\/strong> Search your inbox for the phrase “thank you” and prioritize reviewing the messages where a reader has expressed gratitude to you. When a message from a reader includes that phrase, often that reader feels like you’ve already helped solve a problem they’re experiencing. Pay special attention to what comes after<\/em> the “thank you” because often, the reader will describe (sometimes in detail!) the transformation they experienced, and that is pure gold<\/em> for your target market research.<\/p>\n

Check out \u200bthis Google Sheets template\u200b <\/a>for organizing your data<\/a>, also linked in the lesson. <\/span>\u200b<\/span>Note the two tabs <\/strong>at the bottom\u200b\u200b<\/strong>. Try copying this to your own Google Drive and using it as your Treasure Trove.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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If you have a small online following and therefore not many people or comments to research\u200b\u200b<\/strong>,<\/strong> then you get to choose! Think about \u200bwho you want to be a hero to<\/em>\u200b and find this person in real life. Ask around in your Facebook groups. Ask your friends to introduce you to someone who fits that description. Then use the Target Market Chit-Chat Toolkit to guide you as you talk to those people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I wouldn’t recommend emailing your whole list at this stage. You’re likely to get more responses than you need and then have to spend extra time turning people away. Instead, you could check your email list analytics to find a handful of your most engaged subscribers, then follow up with them individually.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Should I send my current subscribers a survey using the questions from the Target Market Questionnaire?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t do a survey yet if you don\u2019t already have one\u200b\u200b in place<\/strong>.<\/strong> The reason? You may want to <\/span>save that<\/strong><\/span>\u200b\u200b <\/span>for later in the program, when you\u2019ll be learning <\/span>\u200b<\/span>specific things<\/em> to ask<\/em><\/span>\u200b <\/em>your entire community. Don\u2019t spend that amazing currency yet. Keep looking at the data already available in your community. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you\u2019ve already done a survey in the past, <\/span>\u200b<\/span>do<\/strong>\u200b\u200b <\/span>go back through the results to look for clues, and listen to what your readers are<\/span>\u200b <\/span>telling you as you read between the lines. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I have a lot of %22I love your blog!%22 or %22I’m so happy I found your blog!%22 but what does that really tell me?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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Dig deeper. <\/span>\u200b<\/span>Why<\/strong>\u200b\u200b <\/span>did your reader like this post enough to comment? Try to take a step back and think about what makes THIS one special to that reader. Even if you don\u2019t have a ton of hard data to go from, you\u2019ll be picking up extra places to do this valuable research as we continue moving through the program. For right now, pull out the facts and move forward. Remember, keep going back to the <\/span>\u200b<\/span>why\u200b\u200b<\/span>. And don\u2019t forget to check other places for comments \u2013 Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and <\/span>\u200b<\/span>especially<\/strong> <\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>emails. <\/span><\/p>\n

To show you how to look deeper, here are some example comments on a food blog, taken from one Blog Smarter student\u2019s site, and what they could be saying: <\/span><\/p>\n

“I was asked if I bought the cheesecake because my family couldn\u2019t believe I could make something so pretty and delicious\u201d <\/span>\u200b<\/span>\u00bb\u200b\u200b Gains:\u00a0<\/strong>Their family is super impressed. Beautiful food means more recognition for the cook! <\/span><\/p>\n

“I have now made this cheesecake at least 5 times and every single time I get rave reviews from my family! Tonight I made one for my sister\u2019s birthday. Everyone always loves it, as do I!\u201d <\/span>\u200b\u00bb Gains:<\/strong><\/span>\u200b\u200b <\/span>Praise and recognition; special enough for special occasions when she wants to impress others and show her love for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I am actually enjoying my slice of cheesecake right now from my sister\u2019s birthday…..it is divine! (Wish I could include a picture…I piped the frosting into Rosette\u2019s and rimmed the edge with raspberries). Again, everyone LOVED IT! It is my go to recipe now for cheesecake that everyone requests!\u201d <\/span>\u200b\u00bb<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Gains:\u00a0<\/strong>\u200b\u200b<\/span>Praise and recognition; wants to put her own special touch on it to make it personal and special for a loved one.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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02. Start Your Perspective Map<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Put yourself in the shoes of that reader. For example, a food blog might get comments like this: “I made this and it was great! Everyone in my family ate it.” What the reader is saying is this: “I have a hard time finding recipes that will please my whole family. This one fed everyone and I feel so good about it. I’m proud to have served it.” Do you see the why? Just keep thinking about her problem and what she wants to <\/span>\u200b<\/span>accomplish<\/strong>, think<\/strong>, do <\/strong><\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>or<\/span>\u200b <\/span>feel<\/strong>\u200b\u200b<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Is it possible to have two target markets?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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More details: I have two target markets. They do overlap, but they also have some very specific needs\/goals that are quite different. Is it possible to have two target markets, or does that just end up diluting what you do? Would I just be creating extra work for myself?<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes as bloggers, we have ideas about the direction we want our businesses to go that <\/span>\u200bmay not necessarily reflect<\/em>\u200b <\/span>the opportunities in front of us. It is possible<\/em> to have two target markets, but it’s not a common path to success to start out with two distinct target markets at this stage. Keep in mind that stepping up to being a CEO means looking objectively at what\u2019s in front of you and deciding what to do <\/span>\u200bfirst<\/strong>\u200b\u200b<\/span>. You have limited time and resources, so if you pursue very different markets at the same time, you risk not effectively reaching either of them. Can you hit the “pause” button on one of those target markets, so you can focus on the other and build your authority more quickly with them? (In the “Uncover Your Zone of Authority” lesson, you’ll see why this is an important question for this situation.)<\/span><\/p>\n

That doesn’t mean that you’ll never<\/em> help people outside of your target market. But at this point in the program, think about \u200b<\/strong>who that super fan is who you can serve best,\u200b\u200b but base that \u200bfirst<\/em>\u200b on \u200bwho is actually showing up<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0their struggles, their hopes, their needs. Try to set aside what you already think about the direction of your blog or topics \u200byou\u2019d<\/em>\u200b like to write. It’s easy to get ahead in your mind (we’ve all done it) but\u200b just start simple<\/strong>\u200b\u200b. In this module, focus on the \u200bperson<\/strong>\u200b\u200b first, and eventually in a later module, you\u2019ll have so much more clarity about the \u201chow\u201d \u2013 how you can help her, what she wants vs. what she needs, and so on. You \u200bwill<\/em>\u200b have some tough choices to make during this program, but knowing your ideal reader well will help with these big decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I see 2 or 3 very clear target markets. Should I fill out a Perspective Map for each one?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Read the previous FAQ entry first, then come back here if you still have this question. This answer is primarily for bloggers with established authority in more than one area already \u2013 in other words, they have paying customers in more than one target market. If your separate target markets have very different challenges and goals, you can do a separate Perspective Map for each right now, and then after this module, you may get some clarity between these groups. At some point, you’ll need put on that CEO hat and choose a direction as your primary target market. But follow through with the research and see what themes surface from each Perspective Map.<\/p>\n

Here’s a little forward thinking if you decide to fill out multiple Perspective Maps: Remember, this is for research purposes. This is a tool you will continue to build on throughout the rest of the program. Consider whether you want to continue researching both tracks for the purposes of this program, or if you want to focus on one target market for the duration of the program.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Would it make sense to choose a target market with more longevity over one that is transitory?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

More details:\u00a0For example, should I choose stay-at-home moms instead of pregnant women because you’re only pregnant for a limited amount of time?<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s more what you<\/em> have the longevity to write about and create products for. Pregnant people have babies and then have friends and coworkers and sisters who also have babies. The need is never ending. Word of mouth can be powerful. Or as another example, the wedding industry is billions per year \u2013 and top-to-bottom, a wedding takes only about a year (or less) until it’s planned and finished.<\/p>\n

Also, look at what your readers are telling you. What are they already responding well to?<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”This sounds like \u201cniching down.\u201d Is that all we’re doing here?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

No because \u201cniching down\u201d is about your topic. Blog Smarter starts with the people<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Blog Smarter framework doesn’t tell anyone to pick one topic over another (that’s your choice!). But if you’re truly wanting to grow your business, ask yourself: Which of your target market options presents the biggest business opportunity? In other words, are there lots of products you could recommend, products you could create or offer, and so on in that area?<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I get emails asking for specific things. Is that my ideal reader?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Not necessarily. Try to go deeper than \u201cmy target market wants me to do xyz\u201d and find out why<\/strong>\u00a0she wants that. When you read between the lines, you’ll start to uncover common desires for your target market.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I’ve done this exercise before, so I was able to easily fill in the form. Do I really need to dig deep through the data?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

More details:\u00a0I feel like I know my audience pretty well already. Is this just an initial assessment that we’re going to continue to refine, or do we need to spend hours trying to dig deep through data?<\/em><\/p>\n

Even though you’ve done a similar exercise before, try to push it a bit further. For example, you know what you think you know<\/em> about your audience \u2013 but what does your data<\/strong> tell you? What is the underlying thing that\u2019s important to your target market?<\/p>\n

No need to spend a ton of time on digging through your data if you truly do have your finger firmly on the pulse of your target market already. But even if you already know\u00a0exactly<\/em> what your target market wants and needs so that you can deliver the perfect content and products to them, I still recommend you go through and collect quotes to use<\/strong>. Not just your words, but your actual readers’ words. Their words are a goldmine<\/em> when it comes time to sit down and write marketing\/sales copy for your products. And it\u2019s something you can\u2019t replicate. Copy and paste those little bits of language into your Treasure Trove so you can refer back to them. They’ll be great raw material for developing messaging later in this program.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”What kinds of things will I blog about now that I\u2019m getting to know my ideal reader?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Try not to worry about what<\/em> to blog about yet. This is who<\/em> you\u2019re blogging for. For now, keep it people-focused and keep researching that ideal reader!<\/p>\n

The insights you\u2019re getting into your market at this stage will lay the foundation for everything you do from now on: the posts you\u2019ll write, the social media posts you create, and especially<\/em> the products you develop. This is a muscle \u2013 always be listening<\/strong> \u2013 and the more you use it, the more naturally it will come. And then in the “Uncover Your Zone of Authority” lesson, we’ll talk about which topics you should tackle.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I\u2019m getting a lot of ideas for products and blog posts and dreaming big for the future! When do I start working on that? I\u2019m ready to move on.” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

More details:\u00a0I\u2019m so excited about what I\u2019m learning! I\u2019m getting a lot of ideas for products and blog posts and dreaming big for the future! When do I start working on that? I know my reader and I\u2019m ready to move on.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wait<\/strong>. Trust the process. Take this a lesson at a time without moving on in your head to the next thing. Master this part of the program before you attempt to move to the next step so you’ll build a good foundation for your business in the long-term. Concentrate on this target market person and hone in on her. Hit the “pause” button on everything else for now\u00a0and just concentrate on figuring out what your target market needs and wants. Especially<\/strong> if you already have your own products.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”When should I ask my Facebook group or email list what they need from my blog?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Don’t ask them what they need because they won’t be able to tell you. Also, you might accidentally ask a leading question (which wouldn\u2019t give you real data \u2013 it would be biased because of the question). I recommend listening to, researching, and analyzing your existing data. Or in a real conversation with a reader, just listen<\/strong>. Ask just a few questions about their experience, why those things are important, what hasn\u2019t worked for them in the past, and so on. Then you’ll also<\/em> be able to derive their need from what they don’t<\/em> say. Let the conversation flow naturally and see what you can learn. And then in the “Ask the Golden Question” lesson, you’ll learn about one powerful technique for reaching out to your existing readers.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”For the Problem Statement, do I really need to condense this all into one sentence?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Yes.\u00a0A great problem statement will be a single powerful sentence you’ll be able to remember and use as a mantra to guide you in making the best decisions for your business.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”The Problem Statement format, \u201c_________ needs a better way to __________ so that __________\u201d seems too short and restricting. Can I change it up?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

There’s no need to get creative here: you’ll have the best long-term results if you use this exact structure for your problem statement. Your #1 goal is clarity, not creativity.<\/p>\n

Aside from the template pieces, don\u2019t be afraid to cut extra words, get down to the nitty gritty, and keep it simple. Focus in on your target market person. Is your Problem Statement something she herself would say? You don\u2019t want it to sound like a research paper but like you\u2019re chatting with her while sitting on the sofa.<\/p>\n

For example:\u00a0Would your target market say she\u2019s looking for \u201csimple budget decor?\u201d Sure, that\u2019s specific but probably not what she\u2019d say. Look for her actual words<\/em> and reflect those in the Problem Statement if possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

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03. Uncover Your Zone of Authority<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”When can I pan out to other topics?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

In general, you’ll wait to pan to a different target market until you\u2019ve hit a plateau. In other words, no matter what you do, you can’t grow anymore. But a strong brand must come first.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a well established blogger<\/strong> and already have a strong following from several different segments of people, that\u2019s great! Now think of each product\/service\/book you already offer and how it relates to a specific target market. It\u2019s time to take an honest look at the types of content already on your site and which ones are outperforming the
other ones. You may be narrowing things down to 2-3 target markets now, or all the way down to a single one. The more you can narrow down your target market(s), the easier it will be to develop strong brand messaging to attract more super fans.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I\u2019m discouraged by the low numbers in my analytics.” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Numbers can help when you\u2019re trying to understand what\u2019s happening, but remember that they\u2019re not the whole story<\/strong>. Part of the Blog Smarter process is identifying that target market and using your website to call out directly to her, so that when she does arrive at your site, she feels instantly<\/strong> that she\u2019s in the right place. We\u2019ve had Blog Smarter alumni with a tiny<\/em> following who have increased their conversion rates (% of visitors who subscribe) by anywhere from 10X to 32X before the program is even over!<\/p>\n

And if nothing<\/em> has worked for you in the past, then that gives you an amazing opportunity. Because you get to decide<\/strong> who to focus your energy on. And when you focus on that market during this program, you\u2019ll get the tools you need to connect with – and convert – her to join your community of super fans.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”What if my Zoom and Pan gets me to just focus on __________. Is that too narrow? I don’t want to leave anyone out.” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The real fear lurking behind this question is…if I make my focus too narrow, then won\u2019t everyone else just leave? What about all those other people?<\/em> But narrowing your focus doesn\u2019t turn people away \u2013 in fact, strongly calling out<\/strong> to a specific target market helps people understand whether you\u2019re worth following. The stronger your focus, the stronger you stand out as a leader \u2013 and then people can decide for themselves<\/em> whether they want to follow you and\u00a0whether you can help them with their needs\/desires. (And with the messaging you\u2019ll develop in later modules, when your Target Market arrives on your site, she\u2019ll see herself there instantly<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

For example, Trina Holden, who you see in the Google Analytics video from this module, has built her brand around \u201csmarter systems in the kitchen.\u201d And some of her top posts (traffic wise) are related <\/span>very loosely<\/em> to that. They\u2019re on \u201coil pulling.\u201d But she gets emails <\/span>all the time<\/em> from new readers who say, \u201cI <\/span>came<\/em> because of the oil pulling\u00a0<\/span>post, but I stayed<\/em> to learn about smarter systems for my kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n

But remember:\u00a0<\/strong>At this point, we\u2019re focusing on the people<\/strong>, not necessarily the topic.\u00a0Throw out any outlier topics<\/strong> that don\u2019t get you any traction (or that clearly don\u2019t fit with the desires of your target market). If you focus on the people first<\/em> (\u201cpeople-first blogging!\u201d) you\u2019ll find that you have a lot of freedom within your topics. But we\u2019ll get to <\/span>that later in the program.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Some readers really do like my family posts and updates. Do I have to stop writing those?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Not necessarily. You do have to build a business around serving the needs\/desires of a target market because that’s who will read everything you write, tell others about you, and buy everything you make. But that type of content can<\/em> still play a role in building relationships with your superfans. Hang tight, and you’ll get some techniques for handling those \u201cfamily posts and updates\u201d in a later module.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”But I\u2019m just a __________ blogger. It’s not like I’m blogging about life-changing things.” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Your target market person sits down at her computer and searches\/browses for a reason<\/em>. As long as you see yourself as \u201cjust a producer of content\u201d or \u201cinspirational\u201d you\u2019re competing with any other<\/em> source of content. Like Pinterest, for example. And they have a WAY bigger marketing budget than you. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

You may have trouble seeing yourself as an authority, but that\u2019s part of going through the Blog Smarter process. By the end of this program, you (like another Blog Smarter grad) might be saying, \u201cI\u2019m not just a ‘food blogger’ – I\u2019m a kitchen mastermind, helping people solve real problems in their kitchens and providing solutions, not just recipes!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

If you focus on listening to your market<\/strong> and solving their problems<\/strong> or helping them achieve their desires (whatever they may be), you\u2019ll build your authority.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”How do I write from the heart with an emotional connection when I don\u2019t always feel inspired to write that way?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The emotional connection is something internal<\/em> that happens within your reader herself. Starting in the next module until the end of the very last lesson in the program, you\u2019ll discover all the different ways<\/em> to build that emotional connection with your target market \u2013 and most of them go beyond<\/em>\u00a0the style you use to write your blog posts! For now, just work on your target market, and the rest will come as you go through this program.<\/p>\n

But with that said when it comes to writing and struggling to feel inspired, this is the quote that always gets me back on track:<\/p>\n

“I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o\u2019clock sharp.” \u2013 William Faulkner or W. Somerset Maugham or Raymond Chandler (or maybe all of the above \u2013 nobody really knows!)<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”What do I do with holiday or theme posts that have gone viral?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll treat these as their own category because they\u2019re relevant only at certain points during the year. We’ll talk about what to do with this content in module 5.<\/p>\n

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04. Ask the Golden Question<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”How do I reconcile these two things: giving my readers what they want\/need and giving my readers what I WANT to write?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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You can look objectively at the data and choose to move ahead with the business opportunities sitting in your lap (what the reader wants\/needs) \u2013 or you can go with \u201cwhat\u2019s my favorite thing….\u201d and write what you want. These are two different choices, <\/span>\u200b<\/span>usually with two different outcomes.<\/strong>\u00a0If you stick to the program of writing <\/span>\u200b<\/span>what you want to write about <\/em>without regard to where the business opportunities are,\u200b <\/span>you risk staying in the camp of hobby bloggers. Especially when it comes to selling your own products. <\/span>\u200b<\/span>People\u00a0don\u2019t buy because you<\/em> loved making your products. <\/span>\u200b\u200b<\/span>Focusing on the market <\/span>\u200bfirst <\/em>and <\/span>\u200bthen<\/strong>\u200b\u200b <\/span>creating interesting ways of tying in your personal touch is what builds a sustainable business.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry – later in the program (especially Module 5) we\u2019ll address <\/span>\u200bcontent\u200b\u200b <\/span>and give you some great ways of handling those things you REALLY want to write but may not fit into your target market’s care-abouts.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”My email list is a mess with subscribers I need to clean out. Should I do that before sending my Golden Question?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

More details:\u00a0My list was attacked by spambots a while back, so I have a bunch of invalid subscribers. Also, I once participated in a giveaway promotion and got a bunch of other bloggers signing up for my list instead of my actual target market. Should I do anything about fixing that before I send my Golden Question?<\/em><\/p>\n

If you suspect your list has a large proportion of invalid subscribers, ideally you should address that before sending out your Golden Question – or any other emails. Here’s why: Every time you email your list, you risk those invalid subscribers marking your message as spam and damaging your sender reputation, and that can be hard to recover from.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself in this situation, you can contact your email marketing tool provider to ask for help tracking down invalid subscribers. If cleaning your list is not possible, consider sending the Golden Question only to your engaged subscribers, such as those who have clicked a link in an email in the last 6 months or so.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”What percentage of subscribers might we expect to hear back from?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

More details:\u00a0I’ve experimented with asking a question in my welcome message before (to be sure, not the best question), and so far I’ve received zero responses.<\/em><\/p>\n

It depends on how you ask the Golden Question \u2013 if it’s in its own email, it’ll get a bigger response than if you tack it onto something else. But even so, your response rate will \u200btypically\u200b be less than 5 percent.<\/p>\n

Think about it like this: Suppose you have 100 subscribers, and the email gets a 20% open rate so 20 people open it. Then those people have to read the whole message, so let’s imagine we lose a few who get distracted while reading, and now we’re down to 12 people. Then they have to think of an answer (now we’re at 9), decide they’re going to reply (now we’re at 7), and actually follow through with typing out their answer and hitting send (now we’re at 4). That’s a lot of steps for someone to go through!<\/p>\n

Also, if you’ve never asked your list to reply to your emails before, you’re opening up a new channel of communication with your readers. They may need some time to get used to the idea of replying to you and sharing what’s going on in their life. As you continue to ask the Golden Question and then reply to any messages you get back, you’ll be deepening relationships with your super fans.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”What if I don’t get many responses to my Golden Question?” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Remember from the lesson: The goal isn’t to get a ton of responses but instead to get a few high-quality responses from your engaged subscribers. Quality not quantity.<\/p>\n

With that said, if you feel like you should have gotten more responses, here are a few areas to look into:<\/p>\n