This is a guest post written by Frank McKinley. He is a published author, helps engage readers, sell their ideas, and build their tribes.
You’ve spent hours, days, or even weeks setting up your website. It’s beautiful. It’s uncluttered. It’s full of all sorts of neat stuff.You sit back, satisfied with your effort, and wait for the crowds. Besides, if you build it, they will come, right?
What If They Don’t Come?
I’m not going to tell you SEO isn’t important.
It is.
But it’s not everything.
You can invite your friends, your family, and your co-workers to visit your site.
Some of them will come.
They may even look around.
But will they come back?
They will if you do these five things.
Help your website visitor see the future she wants.
Everybody has dreams.
- What if you make your website about what your target visitor wants?
- What if you make yourself a footnote – at least at first?
- What would happen if the first picture on your homepage was of a satisfied customer?
People don’t care what you want. They care about themselves morning, noon, and night. Remember that and you’ll always deliver engaging content.
Ease her fears about following her dreams.
When you try something new, it’s scary.
- What if I fail?
- What if I mess it up so bad even my friends and family won’t talk to me anymore?
- What if I put in hundreds of hours of my best effort and nothing happens?
Sure, it’s possible.
That’s where you come in. You tell her it’s okay to be afraid, but it’s not okay to give up.
Then you’ll do this.
Give her the information she’s missing.
Have you ever felt you’d do better if you only knew the right things to do?
If you did, you’d make fewer mistakes. You’d take more calculated risks. And you’d be more confident you can make your dream come true.
Be a hero. Help someone do what she thought was impossible. Share the secrets of your own success so she can win.
Next, make it personal.
Join the conversation going on in her head.
Do you know what your website visitor is thinking?
It’s not hard to find out.
- Read what she reads.
- Visit the sites she visits.
- Join the forums she’s in.
A little research will help you build rapport, have great conversations, and scratch where she itches.
Help her overcome her challenges.
Everything worth having is worth fighting for.
When I built my website, I must have changed my theme 30 times. I messed with WordPress so much, my website looked like a dump filled with crumbs from every theme I tested.
I reached out for help from one of my writers’ groups.
The person who came to my aid spent two weeks working with me. She stayed up late night after night to make sure my site looked and worked like I wanted it to.
She was my hero.
[bctt tweet=”Be a hero. Help someone do what she thought was impossible. Share the secrets of your own success so she can win.” via=”no”]
Now Do This
If you’re still setting up your website, include a human touch.
When you do, three things will happen.
- You’ll give every visitor a compelling reason to stay, come back, and tell their friends about your site.
- You’ll have a much greater chance to convert visitors into customers.
- You’ll be able to make a living online doing what you love.
If you’ll make your website irresistible, all your dreams of a better future will come true.
Frank this is sensational advice. I always intend to be in my reader’s head when writing for them and designing my blog. I know the journey feels so tough sometimes, so if I can ease their pain and dissolve their fears by putting myself in their shoes, I will keep making more – and deeper – connections.
Absolutely, Ryan. And thank you! Keep doing the great work you’re doing. It matters!
Meg, that’s a smart strategy. I sometimes tell my wife more than she wants to know. The rest of my family now gets the news about my accomplishments. There’s no point in asking them to worry you to death with their well-meaning but critical comments. Just do it, and then share it.
If you’re going to talk about your dreams, you may as well do that with someone who believes in you.
You’re welcome, Meg!
It’s easier to help when you know who you’re helping and you have a purpose in mind.
Alicia, I feel you!
At times I feel like my family does not approve of my choices – fearing I will be a “starving artist”. They have a vision which is not necessarily bad but it differs from mine. So I avoid sharing too much detail with them until I have actually achieved some milestones bringing me closer to my goal.
And one more thing, Alicia. Try not to worry about what your family thinks.
Easier said than done, right? After all, you have to see them at Christmas, summer vacation, weddings and funerals.
What matters is your mission. Stick with and succeed. And if those family members love you, they’ll be proud.
You will, Alicia. In time, the people who care about what you have to say will come. Start by saying something that makes you a little uncomfortable. You can grow from there.
The truth is you grow as a writer by sharing, testing, and seeing what works. You may not always succeed, but if you’re not afraid to speak the truth, it will resonate more with those who matter.
I wish you the best! And I’m glad to talk anytime about writing. Thanks for commenting – and good luck!
Very well said, Frank!
And a lovely article on defining and helping the ideal audience – thank you!
Awesome post! I’m currently experiencing the fear of angering family and friends with my honest truth in what I write. However, I know people are out there that need to hear me. Somehow, I will get my site to thrive.
Hi Alicia, I understand feelings of fear in putting out there writings that may generate possible negative feedback from those closest to you. Congratulations for being courageous enough to share your story! Others will definitely benefit from your honesty! I encourage you to keep writing and helping others with your writing! Your site will grow with you and is thriving already with every post you write!