The best things you could ever write about

While I’m interested in a pretty wide range of things in this world, there are plenty of things that I’m profoundly not into. GI Joe & Barbie, Velveeta, heavy metal, comic books, hunting, skydiving, fruit cake and video games top the list.

Can you imagine if I had to write about them? Sitting down in front of the blank screen, I can imagine searching wildly for my muse to no avail – she hightailed it to a beach in Tahiti at the first mention of Toys-R-Us.

Whether you’re a marketing copywriter, a freelance writer, a blogger and/or a business owner, you will always be looking for good content, the next job and the mojo to write and make it good.

Of course, I understand the argument that the need for a paycheck might necessitate that we write about things we aren’t inspired by. But, really?  I’m taking issue with that concept.

What if I follow my interests and because these things light me up so brilliantly, I write so well that I get accolades for that work and then more of that same kind of work? What if it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy?

I’ve written before about the fact that your energy comes through to your readers via your writing. That readers pick up on your writing emotions, even if they can’t really identify why they feel a certain way. So, if you write about GI Joe and don’t like him (or what he stands for or how he directs kids’ play into war and fighting), the reader will get that – no matter how subliminally. And let’s just say it won’t be the best ad copy we’ve ever seen.

If you’re a great or solid writer, it’ll be fine. But, don’t you want more than that? Don’t you want to be inspired, fed by your work creatively, satisfied, feeling good, making a difference with your words?

I do.

Filed under Blogging, Critical Copywriting, How To, Marketing | Tags: blog, blog writing, blogger, Blogging, content, copywriting, freelance writer, how to write, Julie Roads, marketing content, marketing writer, problogger, professional blogger, web content, writing inspiration, Writing Roads | Comments (12)

Why you can’t quantify the ROI of Social Media & Blogging

When I’m working with a client to start a blog and/or use social media to grow their business, I’m always asked for the ROI (return on investment) because most people love the security of ‘if you give the Starbuck’s guy $5.00, he’ll give you a small coffee.’

But, using social media & blogging to grow your business doesn’t have a predictable ROI, or at least not one as quantifiable as the coffee example.

Here are some things that are guaranteed through the use of blogging & social media:

• Increased traffic to your website
• Increased rank
• Increased searchability

But guess what? These guarantees come with huge IF’s attached.

You’ll only get increased traffic, rank and searchability on your blog if you:

• Post on a regular basis
• Provide quality content and valuable information
• Link out
• Listen to what your readers or potential readers are looking for
• Read and comment meaningfully on other blogs and your own

You’ll only get increased traffic, rank and searchability to your site with social media if you:

• Participate consistently
• Listen
• Give more than you take
• Are authentic
• Provide quality content and valuable information
• Join in for the conversation and to learn – not just for the sale

But, there’s another huge reason why the ROI is a big IF. You may not know this, but I’m a yoga teacher with over 500 hours in training – I used to teach guest yoga and workshops at Kripalu Center – and it was one of the most creative and giving highlights of my life. And, one of the many lessons I learned through my own practice and from my teachers was that no two people will ever experience or do a yoga posture in the same way. In fact, you, yourself, will not do a yoga posture the same way twice – because we are all unique, moment to moment.

Think about that. I’m older hour by hour, I’ve learned new information, I’m tired, I’m excited about something – but I’m never the same, so I can’t experience or do anything in the same way. This applies to blogging & social media and the unquantifiable-ness of ROI because no one will behave the same way from day to day or network to network. The pose, if you will, consistently changes…and so, therefore, do the results.

So, your performance on your blog and on your social networks depends on you:

• Are your eyes open to networking?
• Do you take opportunities?
• Are you creative when you network?
• Do you experiment? See what works, try new things, recalibrate, re-try?
• Are you growing with the wave of technology and innovation?

And, finally, Chris Brogan (social media expert and fantastic blogger) answers this question on a recent livestream podcast. He said there is no ROI for blogging & social media. They are tools, part of a communications and marketing strategy. Your sales closing process determines your ROI.

Very good point. Blogging & Social Media make connections, they get you to the people – you have to close the deal. And, how you behave in those places directly impacts who you attract and your reputation while setting the foundation for said deal closings.

Like any other successful tool, blogging & social media work if you work ‘em. It’s all up to you – and I have all the confidence in the world that you can make it happen.

Filed under Blogging, How To, Marketing, Networking, Social Media | Tags: blog, Blogging, Julie Roads, marketing writer, professional blogger, ROI, social media, social networking, Writing Roads | Comments (11)

Competition, Humility, Reality

I met a new person yesterday. She asked me what I did for a living, and swear to god, she got really excited by my answer.

No, I didn’t lie and say that I’m a New York Times bestselling author. I said that I am a marketing writer for web & print and that I ghostwrite blogs. I can only imagine that the mystique of blogging, writing and ghostwriting got the best of her.

And you know what? It was really nice to hear that she thought what I did, and therefore I – myself, was exciting. Because this world of copywriters and social media experts is really odd, or rather, it presents an odd and dichotomous phenomenon.

Side 1. When I’m in the middle of it, say on Twitter, surrounded by a bevy of heavy hitters in the world of writing and social media, I can start to feel pretty small. And, not in a pity party kind of way. I’m proud of the business that I’ve built and how hard I work, but, on Twitter especially, it’s like a live newsfeed of people getting huge jobs and speaking at national conferences and launching new ventures with Fortune 500 companies and…so many other outstanding feats.

It can be humbling. There are random thoughts of who do I think I am?, I can’t compete, and even worse, trying to be something that I’m not in order to somehow compete with the big kids.

Side 2. When I’m not on my computer, this life and work look dramatically different. As evidenced by the story I launched this post with, I’m regularly seen as someone who does something really cool and who possesses knowledge about a world that few know about. To some degree, I’m extraordinary; occassionally, I’m envied.

The reality is that it’s all true. I am a small fish in a big sea…and what I do is fairly cutting edge and cool. It’s really just a matter of perspective.

But, what’s really important is what happens in my office and on this computer every day. No matter what anyone else is doing or thinking. I write, I learn, I consult, I produce, I collaborate, I network, I publish, I follow opportunities, I multitask, I procrastinate, I fail, I suceed, I do good work for myself, for my clients and for my community – both on and offline.

And? I like it.

I’d love to have you join this conversation with a comment. I talk back 99% of the time with a follow-up comment or an email…

Filed under Blogging, Critical Copywriting, Social Media, The Business | Tags: blog, blog ghostwriter, blogger, Blogging Roads, copywriting, Julie Roads, marketing writer, professional blogger, social media, Twitter, Writing Roads | Comments (23)