What Can UPS Teach You About Blogging?
Today we’re waiting on a package to arrive via UPS.
My kids have had their eyes peeled on the living room window throughout most of the day, anxiously watching for the big brown truck that holds their ThinkGeek box full of sonic screwdrivers, plush microbes, mini r/c robots, and other interesting loot.
Seeing how excited they are, how they can’t wait for that truck to pull in…
Isn’t that how we want our readers to feel about our blogs? Just waiting for us to show up with whatever we’re delivering that day?
So what lessons can we learn from the UPS Delivery Man?
1) Be Trackable
When a package is shipped UPS, we can login to their website and see where it was last scanned and when it’s scheduled for delivery. We can also get email alerts each time there’s an update on the tracking. They provide the info whichever way we want it.
Are you trackable? Do you give your blog readers an easy way to stay updated with your new content? Are you giving them choices like subscribe by email or subscribe by RSS reader?
You might also want to let your readers track you with:
- NetworkedBlogs (add your blog and fans can follow you there)
- AllTop (very cool alternative to an RSS reader)
- Twitter (tweet your latest posts)
- Facebook (share your latest posts on your fan page)
2) Be Reliable
If I get an email alert that says my package is out for delivery, it’ll get here today. The UPS truck comes through this part of town in the early afternoon each day. If I’ve got a package, that’s when it will be here.
Do your readers know when to expect new content on your blog? Get in a habit of blogging consistently. Make your schedule work for you–once a week, three times a week, daily… whatever works as long you’re consistent.
3) Deliver Great Stuff
UPS has never brought me anything I didn’t want. I tell them what to bring me and they bring it. Simple, right?
How can you do the same for your readers? Get inside their heads. Put yourself in their shoes.
Not sure what your readers want? Just ask! Or listen. Listen to them on Facebook, on Twitter, on forums, and in the comments on blogs (your blog and other blogs in your niche). They’ll tell you what they want to know more about.
I need to stay conscious of who I’m writing for and ask myself every time I go to hit the “Publish” button, “Will this be of value to my readers?”
Bonus Tip to Remember
The delivery man gets to be part of the excitement even if what’s in the package isn’t actually from UPS. We want what’s inside the box. We don’t care that UPS didn’t put that together for us, we appreciate that they delivered it and we love them for it.
Be like the delivery man. Find something awesome and share it. You’ll be remembered and appreciated for delivering it to your readers.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a caffeine molecule t-shirt driving around somewhere in this rain that I’m going to go watch out my window for it.
Photo Credit: lisafx/StockFresh
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This is really great content Michelle. I am the UPS man.
Hope you’re having a great day
Your friend across the pond
David
Thanks, David, hope you had a great day, too!
Michelle- This is one of my favorite posts you have written! Clear, concise, and easy to relate to! I look forward to your posts like I do the mail or UPS man! Thank you!
Thank you, Riki – I appreciate that. :)
Hi Michelle,
Perfect ;)
Luv the analogy, especially the note about setting up trackability. Make it easy for people to see what you have to offer. Set us RSS feeds. Set up social icons, so people can know and trust you. Simple make it easy for you to deliver, and your readers to receive. Some new bloggers forget about this, costing them many readers. I know I did for a while ;)
Value, value, value. Keep bringing it. In a neat, clean package. If we receive a damaged package, we are disappointed(it was probably me, as I worked unloading UPS rigs for a summer….no wait, that was back in ’95 ;), so make your blog neat and clean too. Get rid of the clutter. Deliver your content in a focused, orderly manner, so readers can access it, digest it, and use it to their benefit.
Thanks for sharing!
Ryan
I did too, Ryan. And what a huge difference in readership it made once I took time to set up those easy delivery option for readers.
Excellent point about keeping things clean/uncluttered.
Michelle,
I love the analogy of better blogging and the UPS man. All three points are great but the first and third are my favorites. Being trackable does show your position as a leader online as well as connector. It fosters that know like and trust factor. Especially when they see you quality content and smiling profile picture all over the place.
Also knowing what your readers want and need is a huge leveraging factor in delivery good content. Pulse your audience periodically with questions and surveys and they will tell you exactly what they want.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
Ken, you’re so right! Every time I reach out and ask what readers want, I end up with enough content ideas to last a couple of months. :)
Another great insight from you Michelle. Sometimes, a lot of bloggers just gets you to the wrong side of the road. That is why they are not successful with it. Thanks for guidelines like this Michelle. It’s really worth to read.
Hi Kevin, I’m glad this was helpful for you. Sometimes the basics are what count.
I think that being reliable is the best step we can make. Only then the other factors should be considered. Without having credibility, there is no way to a better blogging to be achieved.
Thanks for the insights, Michelle.
Reliability in delivering new blog posts is important for sure–without that, we don’t have anything to let our readers subscribe to. :)