Today I’m sharing what might be the most EPIC concept I’ve figured out after my all my blogging successes and failures.
It’s a concept I realized after helping so many bloggers create their own strategic lead magnets.
It’s a concept that no one talks about but is CRITICAL to your blogging success.
Is that enough hype for you?
But seriously, it really is a biggie.
So what is this revolutionary idea that will help you turn your blog into a money maker?
It’s the concept of your BUYER’S JOURNEY.
Let me elaborate.
YOUR BUYER’S JOURNEY
There is a TON of advice on everything from setting up a pretty blog, to creating a winning course, to running Facebook ads. But the one thing that can mean success or failure as a blogger is the journey you take your buyer on.
Every reader that lands on your website is a potential buyer, and it’s up to you to take them on a journey that addresses and resolves their problem with your targeted content (free & paid).
Think of it this way, every single piece of content, every post, every video, every email, every offer, everything is potentially part of your potential buyer’s journey.
When you have a strategy this journey is logical, cohesive, and useful.
Unfortunately most bloggers give little thought to this concept and end up with disjointed content, mismatched offers, low value lead magnets, and full blown CHAOS.
And when this happens readers never become buyers, in fact they usually go running the other way. Your genius goes unused and they still have the same problem.
This, my friends, is a tragedy and a half!
I talk a TON about strategy. It’s pretty much my jam.
The reason I focus so much on strategy is that strategy has allowed me to succeed in every major area of my life (not just blogging).
And in case you are curious, I was NOT born privileged. In fact I had a boatload of disadvantages and HUGE obstacles to overcome.
When life handed me buckets of problems I responded with strategy.
Strategy is the reason I was able to turn a failing business into a cash cow at only 26.
Strategy is the reason I was able to take a full year off from work before I bought my restaurant.
Strategy is the reason I’ve been able to raise an amazingly healthy, astonishingly well adjusted, and spectacularly happy little girl…while being a single mom (read no child support, no contact whatsoever, no help).
And strategy is how I finally started making money from blogging.
And all YOU need to make your blog succeed is your unique strategy.
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THE GOAL + JOURNEY = SUCCESS FOR YOU AND YOUR BUYER
This epic strategy has to revolve around something, a goal and a journey. And in blogging that journey is your buyer’s journey.
Their journey is the content you write for them, the emails you send them, the offers you make them.
The goal, to solve their targeted problem while creating income for you. It’s a strategy where everyone is happy.
That means EVERYTHING you create should contribute to their journey, it should flow seamlessly, from blog post, to lead magnet, to landing page, to thank you page, to emails, to paid offer, to ongoing support.
This targeted approach also helps you work more efficiently and see faster progress than the disjointed, “throwing stuff at the wall and something will surely stick”.
When you start with your Buyer in mind you start to think differently, you don’t just write blog posts, you write content that creates a bridge, from their problem to your solution.
You don’t just create lead magnets, you create small targeted solutions in a format your future buyer can handle.
You don’t just slap together a paid product, you create a cohesive series of steps with THEIR solution in mind.
Sometimes that solution is free (as is the case with blog posts and lead magnets), sometimes that solution is a paid offer.
It doesn’t matter if you are teaching crotchet, dog training, or how to get into the best college, each problem has a journey.
While it’s true, some journeys are longer than others (the more complex the problem the longer the journey), there is nonetheless a specific path from their problem to your series of solutions.
And YOU are the torch bearer on that path.
Another bonus is that working around your buyer’s journey helps you stay in your lane so to speak.
It means you avoid time wasting content.
It means you always assess whether this new thing contributes to your buyer’s journey or is just a distraction.
Creating your content around your buyer’s journey means staying focused on targeted solutions and avoiding wasting effort, not chasing shiny objects, and no longer creating confusion.
When I first grasped this concept EVERYTHING about the way I blog and serve bloggers changed…and I started seeing tangible results and so did my clients. It was like a big ol’ sparkly light turned on and I finally “got it”! And best of all I saw a steadily increasing income.
This doesn’t mean you won’t make mistakes, it doesn’t mean the tech won’t fail you, it doesn’t mean you’ll have it all figured out, but you can’t map out success if you don’t know where you are headed.
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I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me!
As always, buckets of hugs!
~Ixchelle
And if you are ready to create a strategic lead magnet then sign-up for the FREE Lead Magnet Challenge, it’s 5 days of actionable info, tips, resources, and an amazing surprise bonus. Plus it’s FREEEEEEEE! Grab your spot now!
WOW! What a lot of great information. Thank you for sharing how to increase my business with my blog by setting goals and putting the buyer in the forefront of my content.
Thanks Fawn! I appreciate that! So glad this was helpful!
Such great advice! Knowing your target or ideal buyer/audience is so key!
Thank so much Raina! Glad you liked the post!
Really useful advice! I am a relatively new blogger and this is super helpful, thank you for sharing! xxxx http://www.thevolcanicveins.com
This was so interesting to read, such a great way to switch your point of view on what you produce
I love this, didn’t know about this strategy but I’m not sure it will apply to my blog.
What words of encouragement to my tired blogger’s soul this morning. Thank you so much for this genius idea. 🙂
I believe it too! Knowing your target audience and delivering them what they want can be really the path to success. Thanks for sharing this. More power to you! xooxo
Sounds like you’re rocking and rolling! Thanks for the advice!
Thank you for this advice! I’ve been wanting to take my blog to the next level.
Thanks for sharing this article. I’m still new to blogging and I sometimes feel lost and don’t know what to do to make my blog earn some money. This information was very useful for me. 🙂
You’re so right! This is a super important concept in marketing that is often overlooked by bloggers. You have to remember that, in the end, we’re all trying to sell something to our readers.
As a blogger, I really appreciate your tips! I have experienced so many of the same things that you have.
I love the advice here – it’s about not trying to be everything to everyone and love what you say about not getting distracted by shiny objects like a magpie!
Great tip! Audience/buyer is always something you should think about when writing a post or anything business related.
This is such great advice. Thank you so much for breaking it down into understandable pieces.
This is a great way of thinking! I have a similar way of thinking and always try to remind myself of this.
Great advice! Knowing your purpose in blogging and how it can cater to your audience are vital!
Great advice! The buyer/reader is the person you’re after so you have to think about them!
This is definitely something that could help you big time! I’m sure a lot of people will be happy about this, so much to learn and so much to benefit from as well.
I love this! It is definitely true since it appeals to us bloggers! Working with the targeted buyer in mind helps you to create valuable content and the stuff..and all that will definitely be helpful to the buyer; and to you in the long run.
Strategy or planning is always key! Yes there are a lucky few who manage to bounce their way to success but building your own path (with escape routes and run offs (: ) keep you focused and heading in the right direction.
Those are some wonderful tips and I will follow them too to monetize my blog for sure. I think planning is the most important thing and we should always strive to give valuable information to the readers. Thanks for sharing!
Glad it was helpful Sayanti!
I love that you are presenting a new way to think about your blog and business overall and I think you are totally right. If the point of all of this is to provide value and earn a living, then the center of that needs to be the people/readers you are trying to give value to! Saving this to Pinterest so I don’t lose it!
Thanks Tasha! So glad it was helpful!
Knowing your audience is key indeed! Without that info our work is lost in space for sure.
Glad you enjoyed the post Kasum!
I am really glad that this worked for you, as a blogger since 2008 the times sure have changed 😉 I will have to look into that for sure. I need more focus now, after 10 years of blogging I have to come up with the times in some ways!
Glad it was helpful Brandy!
Great article, and just what I needed to read! It’s so hard for me to remember that my site isn’t a journal; I should write for my audience, not for me. 🙂
Small steps! I think we’ve all made that mistake 🙂
Thank you for this! So far, I am happy with what’s going on vis a vis the amount of time I can give to the blogging. But if I want my blogging profession to grow some more, I agree with you about strategizing. 😀
Glad it was helpful Sigrid!
I just went to a Disney Social Media Moms conference and they talked about the same thing. Having a clear vision and really focusing on your user’s experience is so incredibly important.
Thanks Amanda! Yes, it’s sooo important! 🙂
Great post! I am really trying to make my blog into a profitable business but there is so much to learn. This post is a big help and I will be signing up for the mini-course!
Thanks Elizabeth! Let me know if I can help in any way! 🙂
Good information. They say the journey is as much as part of the results and I really believe this is true.
Thanks!
Content that creates a bridge from the readers problem to your solution. Genius!
Thanks Alicia!
Well stated! All things I wish I would have known in the beginning of my blogging journey!
Thanks Lashonya! Glad the post was helpful!
Maya, this was epic! Right up there with my fave guru, Pat Flyn. 😉
You have an awesome way of breaking it all down into understandable concepts.
Thank you!
Stephanie
Awww Stephanie, thank you. What a great compliment! I’m blushing! Well I’m so glad it was helpful! Thanks for reading!
I have been researching blogging all day today. I have joined a few Facebook groups and joined Pinterest today. However, out of my whole days experience you were the first person whose blog I was able to read and learn from. I guess what I am trying to say is that your blog is the first blog that I have ever read. Now I want to learn more about my own unique strategy. Thank you!
Thanks so much Greer! This comment made my day! So glad it was helpful!