Month: May 2020

  • Blogging

    1 Common Misbelief That Keeps You From Growing Your Blog

    Misbelief About Growing My Blog
    Misbelief that leads to discouragement

    Maybe you know starting a blog would be great for your business, but you just haven’t done it yet.

    Maybe you already do blog, but you haven’t posted in weeks.

    Or maybe you’re just going through the motions but have zero confidence that it can or will move the needle whatsoever in your business.

    I get it. Been there.

    There’s a common misbelief we content creators tend to fall for. And this misbelief could very possibly be one of the main things holding you back. (Another major one is that you just don’t have the time, which I talk more about here.)

    If you continue to fuel this misbelief, you eventually give up on pushing forward. You fold your hands and sit down nicely—and miss out on what’s ahead for you.

    And the most frustrating part of this misbelief is, as the name implies, it’s not even true! 

    So what is it? I won’t keep you in suspense. Simply put, it’s that you have nothing to offer.

    Has anyone else struggled with this lie in their head? Or is it really just me?

    Even just this past week, I was wrestling with that thought.

    I have nothing to offer. What am I even doing? What could I possibly teach people about blogging or writing or content marketing that’s worth anything?

    Wow.

    Once I realized I was throwing myself a major—and rather embarrassing—pity party, I stopped what I was doing and took my thoughts captive as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5.

    Misbelief About My Blog

    Why Is This Misbelief So Prevalent?

    From listening to a lot of other business owners, writers and content creators share their experiences, I know I’m not the only one to have struggled with these kinds of thoughts. 

    Chances are, somewhere along your entrepreneurial journey, you’ve thought it too. Maybe you’re struggling with feeling this way even now.

    It’s easy to feel like a tiny guppy in a vast ocean. You’re trying to move forward, get the word out about your business, and serve the best you possibly can, and it’s hard.

    I mean, face it. Growing your business, your ministry or even your personal blog isn’t easy. It’s hard work and sometimes it requires a lot of trying new and different things until you discover what really works for you.

    It can be daunting and frustrating and confusing and overwhelming.

    And in the midst of all that, we can tend to feel inadequate. We begin to think that we’re not strong enough to push our adventure forward. Or we don’t feel smart enough to strategize. Or we don’t feel outgoing enough to network. (That last one was definitely a thought I’ve had several times since I launched my business in January.)

    And then that thought slips in: What do you really have to offer?

    In essence, why are you even doing this?

    At the heart of “What do I even have to offer?” is the fear that I’m not enough.

    And, in a way, that fear is actually true. None of us are enough to produce anything good in our lives apart from Christ. Jesus makes that super clear in John 15:5b—“apart from Me, you can do nothing” (NASB, emphasis added). 

    So really, when we’re in that place of saying we have nothing to offer and we shouldn’t even be doing what we’re doing—we’re telling ourselves that God is not enough to produce something good out of us and our endeavor. That’s a bold statement. 

    If we give that misbelief ground in our minds, it works its way into our entire business. It corrupts every blog we write or every podcast we record. The words we use to help or teach people lack conviction. We shy away from telling someone about what we do, even if we know it could help them.

    It causes us to shrink away from opportunities to grow, to put ourselves out there, to push forward toward the goal we believe God has put in our hearts.

    That would be a huge mistake. A mistake I really don’t want you to make.

    So How Do You Deal With This Misbelief?

    Now that you know you’re dealing with this misbelief, it’s important you know how to deal with it. But how do you do that?

    1. You have to recognize that it’s not true. 

    The same Paul who told us to take our thoughts captive also told us to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

    So if something isn’t true, should we really be wasting our time thinking about it? Obviously not.

    And yet when we’re in that place of telling ourselves we have nothing to offer, it’s because some small (or big!) part of us truly does believe it.

    That’s when we have to remind ourselves of what’s actually true.

    For me, that might mean sketching out a quick list of what I actually do have to offer, why I’m in this business to begin with, and my motives for serving my audience.

    Why am I writing about blogging, writing and content marketing? 

    Because in the last 5 ½ years of working for a Christian publishing and media company, I’ve written hundreds of articles and hosted hundreds of podcasts. In the process, I’ve learned the difference between an article that gets 100 clicks and an article that gets 100,000. It’s not an exact science, but I’ve experimented enough and written enough to know what it takes to write compelling content that people are eager to consume.

    In that time, I’ve also seen dozens of writers struggling to know how to write content that speaks to their ideal audience or write headlines that catch the eye. I’ve been able to give them pointers along the way and, hopefully, equip them with better tools to improve their writing.

    As soon as I remembered that, it was almost like an “Aha” moment. It snapped me out of my funk and back into reality. It was if my brain remembered, “Oh yeah, I actually do know how to write well and have experience teaching others to do the same. I can help people!”

    What is it for you? 

    I want you to take a moment and write down what you have to offer. 

    What experience do you have? (It doesn’t have to be a job! Real-life experience is just as important as, if not more so than, corporate experience.) 

    What have you done or accomplished in your niche?

    What lessons in your niche have you learned the hard way?

    Write it down. And remember it.

    2. Remember the people you serve.

    Yes, it’s important to earn money and make a living. But ultimately, that’s not really why you’re doing what you’re doing.

    Whether you’re writing for your business, your personal blog or your ministry, you’re ultimately not doing it for you. You’re doing it for the people you’re serving.

    I remember one writer who really took to heart what I was suggesting as an editor. This person was submitting content for our online publication, but the articles just weren’t resonating with our audience. I talked to this person on the phone and just coached them a bit on how to write for our audience better and how to choose topics our readers care more about.

    The next article I got from that person was a home run. The content exactly catered to our audience, and no surprise, it got a lot more views. That’s the power of coaching.

    Being able to help that person reach the goal they were after was so encouraging.

    So now it’s your turn. I want you to think of one person you’ve helped along the way. How did you help them reach their goal? Or if you sell books or products, how did those books/products impact them?

    Great. Now think of another. And another.

    That’s why you do what you do.

    3. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

    You know, this one really should’ve been first because it’s most important. But I wanted to save it for last because it’s the most precious to me.

    When I’m struggling with the misbelief that I have nothing of value to offer, I can guarantee you I’m not thinking about Jesus. I’m thinking about myself.

    I’m upset because I’m not enough or I’m not getting the results I want or I’m not like so-and-so.

    That’s all about me.

    But choosing to look at Jesus instead is a completely different experience. When I remember that my life is not about me at all but about the One who owns me and loved me enough to die for me, suddenly I gain a fresh perspective.

    Suddenly, I remember that my business is not about getting the results I want. It’s about honoring my Master and my First Love. It’s about being faithful with what He’s given me.

    If He has given me a talent for writing and coaching, you better believe I’ll use that talent for His glory.

    If He has given you a gift for writing, for networking, for speaking, for ministering, for singing … do it for His glory! If He’s entrusted you with an idea that can help other people or a product that can change people’s lives, then pursue those for His honor.

    Remember that He owes you nothing. And yet He’s given you everything.

    Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.”

    Next time you find yourself thinking, What am I doing? What do I even have to offer?, I hope you remember these truths. And most of all, that you remember to look at Jesus.

    Want to read more content from me? Connect with me on Instagram and Facebook. I’d love to chat with you about anything … especially if it’s about writing, blogging, business or Jesus!

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  • Marketing

    5 Real Reasons People Aren’t Opening Your Emails

    Why people aren't opening your emails
    Get your emails opened.

    If you’re having a tough time figuring out why people aren’t opening your emails, you’re not alone.

    And although I offer email writing services for those who don’t have the time or simply don’t want to go through the agony of figuring out how to write compelling email copy, I want you to know that writing your own emails doesn’t have to be scary.

    In fact, I would encourage people to write their own emails for at least a little while before hiring a copywriter to take over. Why? So that you can nail down your personal voice.

    After all—and let me establish this right off the bat—your emails are NOT a corporate newsletter. You are a human being speaking to other human beings. 

    Email is simply the medium. Your words are the message. And the message is what’s most important.

    So let’s unpack some of the most common reasons your emails aren’t getting opened. Shall we?

    Why people aren't opening your emails

    1. You’re writing emails to the masses instead of having a conversation with a friend. 

    I’ve heard several marketing experts say that when writing copy (whether for a blog or an email or social media), you should write to one person. Picture them in your mind and talk only to them.

    One of my mentors suggested that I actually have a picture that matches my ideal client and stick it by my computer while I’m typing. That way, I’m imagining just writing to that one person who needs my help.

    The reason this is so important is that although you may be writing to multiple people, your email is arriving in your subscriber’s personal inbox. That is to say, they don’t see you speaking to the crowd. The crowd isn’t around. It’s just them at their computer, reading an email from you.

    So speak to that one person as if they’re the only one you’re talking to. Make it a conversation. And I promise that the person reading your email will feel a stronger connection with you and what you’re saying.

    2. You’re filling your emails up with so much text and pictures that it’s hard to follow. 

    I believe that emails should be incredibly easy to read. When people open your email, they should know exactly where to look, what to read, and where to go when they’re done reading. 

    Think about your own inbox. How many emails do you get a day?

    For me, it’s at least 50. Yikes, I know. So when I open an email that is way too busy visually, it stresses me out and, without even thinking, I delete it and move on to the next one.

    Don’t create an email that sends your subscriber straight to the delete key. 

    The good news about this is that it actually makes it easier on you! You do NOT need the stress of feeling like you have to come up with an overwhelming amount of content and pictures. 

    Start by choosing a simple format on your email service provider. Design is fine and be visually appealing, but studies have shown that plain-text emails perform better than super duper fancy ones. 

    In fact, the founder of ConvertKit—who is a designer—doesn’t even include fancy templates in ConvertKit’s email options because his experiments have shown again and again that people prefer simple emails over heavily designed ones.

    Does this mean you can’t add a little pizzazz to your emails? I don’t think so. But just don’t let your emails become visually confusing. If you add design, make sure it’s clear to the reader where they’re supposed to look.

    That said, write an email in plain, simple language like you would talk to a friend.

    Then, end with a very clear call to action. I would recommend limiting yourself to one call to action per email. So in one email, you might tell your subscriber to click to read your latest blog. In another email, you may tell them to take advantage of a limited-time discount your offering on a product.

    By giving your subscribers one task to complete, you’re upping the likelihood that they’ll actually do what you’re asking.

    3. Your newsletter isn’t adding tremendous value. 

    This is a hard one, I know. But really ask yourself if your emails are meeting a need. 

    Are you answering a big question people have? Or are you offering encouragement to a weary soul? Are you building camaraderie with someone who needs guidance? Or maybe you’re giving insider information to a hungry reader.

    Every email you send should add value. 

    4. You’re not being consistent. 

    Nurturing relationships takes time and it takes consistency. 

    Your relationship with the Lord is a perfect example. If you’re not daily seeking Him, reading His Word and listening for His voice, it is much harder to nurture your relationship with Him into all it could be. 

    Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a guilt trip; it’s just how it is. Abiding is so much easier as you continually nurture your relationship with God. 

    In the same way, engaging your target audience is so much easier when you’re consistently nurturing your relationship with them. 

    That includes talking to them, listening to them and asking questions regularly. Relationships must always take precedence over sales. 

    5. You’re talking to the wrong audience. 

    Whoops! If you’re doing all the things above and people are still not opening your emails, then you may have a bigger problem. 

    Maybe people signed up for your newsletter for all the wrong reasons, or they signed up thinking you would provide one kind of content and you provided something different. 

    If that’s what’s happening with you, it’s totally OK.

    In cases like this, don’t be scared when you see people unsubscribe. Unsubscribes are really just cleaning out your email list for you of people who are unengaged and aren’t your target audience.

    In fact, having an unengaged email list can hurt you in the long run and make it more likely that your emails will be flagged as spam. 

    —

    Did you know I offer coaching and writing services?

    If you’ve tried my suggestions above and still aren’t seeing the results you want, schedule a call with me and let’s figure out a plan that works for you. Or hire me to write your emails for you! Reach me at jennyrosespaudo@gmail.com.

    Click here for more information on the services I offer to help your business thrive.

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  • Blogging

    How Personal Should You Be on Your Blog?

    how personal should you be on your blog
    Be personal on your blog

    Just how personal should you be on your blog?

    Some say you should never share anything personal online. After all, crooks could take advantage of  your personability to steal your valuable information. And creeps could, well, be creepy. 

    But there’s no denying that the more personal you are, the more people feel connected to you. And, as a result, the more engaged they are with you and your brand.

    By sharing personal details about your life, you give your followers a peek behind the curtain, so to speak. You make them feel like they’re actually getting to know you as a person instead of just what you do for your business.

    Just a quick look at any influencer’s Instagram or Facebook will tell you that the posts that get the most engagement are the ones that are most personal. And blogs that give you a deeper peek into the writers’ lives tend to perform better too.

    I’ve experienced this same pattern. People loved seeing photos of the backyard garden my husband planted. (And I can’t blame them. He did a great job!) And after I posted a heartfelt message about some difficulties I went through in January, people reached out to me saying how much my words meant to them.

    But keep in mind that being appropriately personal is not a way to get more followers. It’s a way to genuinely connect with human beings who can benefit from what you have to offer.

    So How Personal Is Too Personal?

    I actually think the Bible has the perfect answer to this question, so I’ll let the apostle Paul speak to it.

    how personal should you be on your blog

    “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29, NASB, emphasis mine).

    In other words, only share what you believe will build people up and help solve their problems.

    Think about it like this: You’re blogging (or podcasting) because you have knowledge or products that meet a specific need. You post content that helps people solve their specific problem or encourages them to move forward in their specific journey.

    Let’s use a hypothetical character named Tracey as an example. Tracey is a mom of two kids who have numerous intense food allergies. As a result, she’s had to learn how to cook food that 1) kids actually enjoy and 2) won’t make them break out in hives—or worse.

    She turned her expertise and experience into a business by selling allergy-friendly cookbooks and courses to moms who also have kids with allergies. She blogs as a way of expanding her brand’s reach and building a stronger connection with her followers. (And because she’s a smart cookie, she repurposes her content to save time!)

    If Tracey applies Ephesians 4:29 to her blog, she would only write what she believes will build up her audience. And on a professional level, that means only what will help her audience better parent and feed their allergy-ridden kids.

    So that might mean Tracey sharing a deeply personal story of how she had to rush one of her children to the hospital after they accidentally ate peanuts. But it also might mean she doesn’t share about the horrible fight she and her husband had that same night about a different topic.

    When sharing personal information, it’s important to think about your audience and their needs. Ask yourself, “Does sharing this personal experience encourage, inspire or inform my followers in the journey I’m helping them on?” If so, share it!

    And this doesn’t mean every single tiny personal detail you share has to directly correlate to your business. But on a whole, your personal sharing should be about building up your readers, not getting something off your chest or showing off. 

    (I know plenty of people who might disagree with my last point, and that’s totally fine! I’m just sharing what I think works best and honors God and others the most.)

    Get Permission From Others

    Chances are, if you’re sharing personal information about yourself, you inevitably will share personal information about another person. After all, our lives are intertwined with those of our families and friends. 

    And for the most part, this is fine. But it’s important to consider the impact or toll sharing someone else’s personal information could have on them.

    If you’re going to tell a story about a fight you and your husband had and how you resolved it, make sure you talk to him about it first. Ask him if he’s comfortable with you sharing that story. If not, don’t share it.

    If you want to share some advice you gave your best friend when she was going through medical issues, make sure you talk to her first. 

    Sharing your own information is one thing. But don’t assume you have the right to share other people’s.

    It’s better to err on the side of caution here. Some people may not feel comfortable with you talking about them at all to an online audience of total strangers. When in doubt, just ask.

    Write Out Beforehand What You Feel Comfortable Sharing

    Another good idea is to sit down and write out the things you’re not comfortable sharing.

    If you’re married or have kids, do this with them. Ask them what they would feel uncomfortable with your online audience knowing. Ask them what they would like to be off-limits for blogging conversation.

    Social media guru Jasmine Star offers one unique way to figure this out: Ask yourself what you would feel comfortable sharing with a stranger on a plane.

    Your list might include some personal details that could put you or your family at risk if you publicize them. Or it could include medical issues, moral failures or intense debates within your home. Just get a clear picture beforehand of what you feel is off limits.

    Once you have those boundaries clearly defined, write out a list of things that are definitely OK for you to share online. Brainstorm about ways you can work on being more personal with your online audience and build a stronger connection with them.

    Speaking of which, if you need help brainstorming in this area or are struggling to get clarity on what is the appropriate amount of personal detail to share with your audience, connect with me at jennyrosespaudo@gmail.com or message me. I’d love to connect with you!

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