Podcast

Things I hear from my clients on a regular basis, about writing blog posts for their business.

“I want to blog, but….. !”

“I know blog posts boost my SEO so my future clients can find me online.”

“I don’t have time to come up with blog post ideas, let alone write the blog post!”

In the title of this episode I promised you a simple and effective blog post idea.

Like in the last quote, the main thing stopping business owners from blogging isn’t even the time it takes to actually write the post, it’s the brain space it requires to come up with a topic that is effective and will resonate with their audience.

We’re solving that here today.

Seven weeks ago I started an expiriment.

Today the seventh edition of my Five Friday Faves email goes out to my email list community.

The first edition was literally just the 5 things with links to where to find them.

I wanted to test it and see if my audience even cared about this idea.

By the 7th edition today, it has become more of a conversation with my audience, and it’s a conversation that I’m realizing looks like a blog post, and a very effective one at that.

As you might suspect, since today it is a podcast topic about this idea that I’m sharing with you, it is wildly successful.

I typically do have good engagement on my email list, but these emails have had better engagement that any other emails I send out, and by a long shot.

These have a very high open rate, a high click rate, and get a lot of replies that lead to awesome conversation, which is my actual favorite thing about email marketing.

I say these things about the email, to say that I learned that it is a genius blog post topic for you.

And of course for me too, you’ll see me adding these to a blog post in addition to the emails.

Here’s why it’s genius:

1. You don’t have to think very hard to come up with the content. We all have favorite things that we use because we love them. We use them daily. I’m looking at my desk and there are at least 10 things on my desk that I love using and that make my life easier. If you’re keeping track, if your blog post was like mine and had 5 of your favorite things, that’s 2 whole blog posts right there!

2. It’s a great way to connect with your audience, who are either your past, current, or potential clients, or if they’re none of these, they might be someone who refers a friend to you.

Think about how it makes connections this way. Wouldn’t you love to see what others have in their Amazon cart, or their past orders? I’m totally nosy and fascinated by this.

Or do you read review before you purchase something? Me too! It’s like getting a recommendation, which is just as good or even better than a review.

Here’s an example, one of my Friday Faves today is my favorite natural deodorant. What does that tell my audience that could be a connection point with them?

It says I prioritize clean ingredients, and the ingredients I put on and in my body. So if you’re in my audience, and you also prioritize those things, that’s something we have in common and can connect over.

It seems like a really small thing, but that’s the point.

Here’s another example. Another of my Friday Faves this week is the Ninja kitchen system. I mention in the email that I love making my morning smoothie in it. That’s another connection point. I know there are others in my audience who enjoy a morning smoothie after their workout, like I do.

I guarantee you I’ll get at least one email reply asking about what I put in my smoothie. That’s a conversation I get to have with someone new that I might not have been able to otherwise have!

3. You can talk about business things and personal things at the same time.

I love balance, and I know my entrepreneur friends like you do too.

We love our businesses, but we also have lives!

I always have at least one business thing in my Friday Faves. This week it is a link back to this podcast.

Sometimes it’s a favorite business tool or item. Sometimes it’s an app or a website that I love. Sometimes it’s a marketing method. I change them up but there’s always at least one thing.

This helps convert your audience into clients, of course, but it’s also the place where you get to add SEO keywords, which is a crucial way for clients to find you online when they search in Google.

4. It’s 5 things, so those could be broken up into 5 different social media posts, or even Reels or TikToks, emails if you have an email list, or hello a podcast episode if you have a podcast. Literally content for days.

5. You’ll make a little money in the process!

We talk about affiliates here sometimes, this is an example of an affiliate opportunity.

Here’s how it works.

For me, for this week, all of my favorites are Amazon finds.

They all link back to my Amazon storefront. (Shoot me an email at friends@letsbookclients.com if you want me to show you how you can also be an Amazon affiliate.)

When someone orders one of the linked products in today’s email, they pay the same list price they would have paid whether or not I’m an affiliate for it, Amazon just puts a little commission in my account because I’m an affiliate.

Now, it’s not a lot, but it does help cover some small expenses, or lets me give a little more.

You can also be an affiliate for apps or programs that you use and love, and those tend to pay out higher commissions.

I use and love a system called Ivory Mix, so I signed up to be an affiliate and make a commission every time I recommend it.

You can be an affiliate for us here at Let's Book Clients too! Let me know if you're interested.

The things to really keep in mind is that you should use and love a a product or service before you ever consider being an affiliate for it, and also know that it doesn’t cost the buyer anything additional by purchasing it through your link. Okay one more thing, also make sure you’re following their terms and services for how you can share about them.

Also remember that not all of your favorite things need to be things you are an affiliate for. Mine definitely aren’t, I just love sharing my faves with you and affiliate commissions are a nice perk on some.

I could go on and on but I always promise to keep these short so you can take action.

Your hot tip for today is an action item, and you’ve probably already guessed what it is.

Write a blog post of your 5 favorite things. Or if 5 sounds like a lot, do 3!

If you’re already an affiliate for products or services, start with those.

If you’re not, share your favorites and start exploring what you can affiliate for.

Here’s you a bonus hot tip, when you go all the way to the bottom of a website, you may see a section that some refer to as the “junk drawer”. There’s often a link to apply to be an affiliate in that space.

I’d love to hear what you decide to do in writing a “faves” blog post, or maybe even starting a series of them like I have. Send me an email, I can’t wait to see what your faves are!