Written on March 28th, 2010
5 Kinds of Blog Posts
That Attract Clients
via FreelanceFolder by Lexirodrigo on 3/19/10
Many times I am sent an article that just is perfect and usable exactly the way it is. Sometime I have to research and work the information into my subject matter. This article is perfect just the way it is, and was shared with me. I am passing it on to share with you. It is worth the read.
By now, you should already be familiar with the many benefits of
blogging for freelancers. But, are some types of posts better than
others for attracting clients? I think so.
Below are five types of posts that seem better than others for either attracting prospects or turning prospects into clients.
1. Case Studies
In a case study blog post, you describe a specific project you
completed for a client, what the goals were, what strategies you
implemented, what results you got, and how your readers can do the same for their business.
This type of blog post is almost directly promotional of your services. It demonstrates that you know what you’re doing and that you get concrete results for your clients.
When publishing a case study, remember to change the client details to protect your client’s privacy. And so as not to be overly promotional, identify the take-away lessons for your readers.
2. How-To or Tutorial In this blog post, you show your readers how to do something, step by step. This type of blog post lends itself very well to a video blog, particularly to demonstrate a particular software or other visible process.Your readers may decide to skip the trouble and hire you instead.
3. Review of Products/Services
Reviews tend to be traffic magnets. Web savvy individuals almost always Google reviews of a product or service before they decide to buy it. Your review will be particularly weighty if you don’t stand to make monetary gains from it (that is, you’re not an affiliate or owner of the product/service).
To write a good review, make sure to include:
- A general description of the product/service
- A photo, illustration or even video depiction of the
product/service
- Your thoughts on a product/service
- Who can benefit from it
- How your readers can make the most of it, if they buy it
- Alternatives to the product/service 4. Special Offers
This type of a blog post is particularly useful when you’re having
a “slow season” (a term I prefer over “famine”). This is probably
the most promotional type of blog you could publish, because
you’re calling out for clients.
Your offer could include free consultation, a limited-time discount, or a special bonus (such as a free report, design, or other digital
product relevant to your service) for every client who avails of a
particular service.
5. Opinion Pieces on Upcoming Trends
Like the case study post, the opinion post has the potential to
showcase your expertise and give you authority status in your field.
However, this will happen only if you write the post properly. To do
so, you have to keep abreast of developments in your industry, provide a unique insight, and possibly provoke an in-depth discussion.
Although an opinion post entails plenty of preparation and thought,
it’s definitely worth the effort.
Don’t wait until a slow season to publish these client-getting posts.
Schedule them into your blog editorial calendar regularly. Of course,
you don’t want to do them too often. Intersperse them with purely
informational posts.
And That’s it - Mary
Written on February 25th, 2010
I have privately emailed many of my fellow photographers and entrepreneurs, and given them a free ticket to this event. Armand, because of the many years I have worked with him, has allowed me to invite guests at no charge - to be involved in this event.
http://www.armandmorin.com/live/guestof/Mary%20Mazzullo
We all know that our education and savvy about business is always in need of fine tuning. Armand will be covering some topics that will surprise and enlighten you. He will be showing and teaching ways to approach your marketing, and tactics to add revenue into your business that you may not have considered.
So it really is fun for me to be able to pass on this to you. I appreciate that he is allowing me to do this. Everything I have learned over the past 7 years that has allowed me to travel, be invited on Caribbean Cruises and to Vancouver and Ottawa, Las Vegas, Florida, Atlanta, Orlando - you get the picture! This is all because of what I have learned and how I have learned to present my business.
Now I am THRILLED to be able to offer this opportunity to you.
Here is my link to register for a FREE ticket to Armand Live. The tickets sell for $497.
http://www.armandmorin.com/live/guestof/Mary%20Mazzullo
Hotel cut off for Armand Live!
I JUST RECEIVED THIS AFTER MIDNITE LAST NITE!
http://www.armandmorin.com/live/guestof/Mary%20Mazzullo
We have an important note to pass along…
February 25th marks the cut off date for the
hotel discount for the upcoming Armand Live
event.
So if you are thinking about coming, now is
the time to make this decision!
If you want to know the latest information
which everyone is talking about right now…
meet Armand in Los Angeles.
Join Armand in LA in just a few short weeks!
http://www.armandmorin.com/live/guestof/Mary%20Mazzullo
Register TODAY for your Guest Ticket - and call the Hotel to reserve a room. This is one of my favorite hotels in LA!! Very close to LAX, bus service to hotel.
GO FOR IT - It rarely happens that I have an opportunity like this to help so many friends and acquaintances and entrepreneurial business owners.
Until Next time - Mary
Written on February 24th, 2010
As you have been reading my posts for the past year, you know I have mentioned Armand Morin often. He is the main promoter I work with at events throughout the year. Armand has at least one event a month where I shoot the events and often the individaul portraits as well.
Everything I have ever learned about Marketing and having a presence online and offline, has come from the way Armand teaches.
Because of this, Armand has told me that I can have a few private invitations to give to people who have been learning from me in return. Armand is having another one of the few Armand Live events that he holds a couple of times a year. This one is in Los Angeles on March 12th, 13tth and 14th.
The cost to attend this event is $500. If you will email me privately, right away - I will gift you a ticket to this event. Remember - these are private invitations - and you can ONLY get them at no cost though me.
SO email me right away at marymazzullo@gmail.com. Let me know if you need one or two tickets, and I will send the private link for entry at no cost. This is February 23rd - so HURRY!!
Until next time, Mary
Written on February 24th, 2010
Group Photos at ANY Event – Creating the Best One Possible
As you know from my posts, I photograph a lot of Event Photography. Many times the promoter will want a Group Photo to use in their marketing, to show social proof of the amount of people in attendance.
And believe me – a good group photo of anywhere from 50 to 400 people is not the easiest photo to capture! Often there are smaller sub groups, like coaching groups within the larger group, and they request group photos also – as long as I’m taking them already!
And as much as they want their photos taken for posterity – or more likely to include into a blog post or article about the event – they don’t want you to take any of their time to get the job done! So, you have to be prepared to move them quickly into the positions that you need for a good group photo.
So here are some tips on how to be prepared for whatever comes up at your event.
Be Ready for the Group Photo Request:
You know it is going to happen. So as a matter of course, always think ahead and choose the best location possible that will accommodate the amount of people, and have the best lighting for you. You know how many people are in attendance, and can estimate how many people will fit into your camera lens. Shoot it in your mind’s eye so you are ready.
The location will be important to group shots for several reasons. First, the location you choose can give context to your photo. Your promoter will love that! I try to make sure their banner or event marketing is visible in the photo. Or if you are in an especially unique Read More
Written on February 19th, 2010
Everyone with a website has the dream and goal of being listed on the first page of every search engine in existence. You can spend a lot of time and brain power trying, when you should really just think about it and approach the process in a much simpler way.
Too many Local businesses with websites, think that if they are not listed #1 on Google, that their website does not matter, that no one will ever find them, that they are wasting their efforts of even trying to be an online presence. The first phone call you get promising you top rankings for $395.00 per month (each and every month) to be listed on the first page of Google sounds like your only option, and you hope you can make enough sales to make that pay off.
I know – I have received those calls myself. Fortunately I have enough experience to realize that this is an exorbitant fee for this service. So reject that. There are other MUCH less costly, and more importantly Read More
Written on February 17th, 2010
As Photographers with talent and equipment - with excitement at the possibilities around us - we CAN make a difference for others, while we open up new avenues in our own careers.
Until Next Time - Enjoy, Mary
