They’ve read your blog post, now what?

searchrovrdemo on August 31, 2024

What are the “next steps” we should be encouraging the users to take after they read a post?
If so, does that vary by post?

This question can impact some design and functionality but more importantly it could impact your business’s bottom line.

They’ve read the content, found it of value, now what? Do we want them to…

  • Leave a comment
  • Share on Social Media
  • Email the author
  • Go check out a product or product category
  • Sign up for an email blast
  • Join a Social community (e.g. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook)
  • Trade their email for a free download
  • Visit another related site
  • Become a contributor

The answer(s) to what you want a user to do after reading your content are going to be different for everyone.  BUT whatever the case, this is a very very important question to wrestle with.

A great blog post doesn’t just inform—it guides the reader toward what to do next. Without a clear next step, even the most engaging content can become a dead end. Whether it’s prompting readers to explore related articles, download a resource, sign up for a newsletter, or take action on your product or service, a well-placed call to action keeps the momentum going.

Every blog post should have a purpose beyond just being read—think of it as the start of a conversation, not the end. By giving readers a logical next step, you turn passive readers into engaged users and, ultimately, into loyal customers.

Blogging without having a “next step” lined up for a user is a wasted opportunity.

 

The Purpose of a Website or: Why Your Site Might Fail

searchrovrdemo on February 16, 2011

Fair warning, this is a philosophical post.

It’s also a very important post that could have consequences if you have not also philosophized about your site’s purpose. 🙂

When we chat with new clients to get to know them, their business and what the web project entails, we are often struck by how many have not asked themselves,

“Why do I have a website?!?!?”

This seems like a stupidly simple question but it is not.

Often this question has very different answers depending on the business and their industry.

It could be…

  • As an online brochure
  • To allow customers to interface with them online
  • Showcase products
  • Highlight expertise

…And a myriad of other possibilities. But in the end, the reason for a website is probably not dissimilar to the purpose of a business (from Peter Drucker)…

To find and keep customers

If we apply that to a business’s web presence then your web efforts need to help you find and keep customers. Or from an Inbound Marketing perspective, help your customers find you!

Ask yourself:

  • Is my site findable to my audience?
  • Am I able to monitor site traffic from that audience?
  • What is the goal I have for that audience? (the conversion question) [hint: could be sending you a message, picking up the phone, subscribing…]

The answers to these questions will guide what your site looks like, what functionality it needs to have, and what tools like blogging and social media you really need.  Don’t get online just because it is fashionable. Have a purpose and a goal for it to help your business.

Ancient Chinese Web Proverb: “If you have no goals, results, or plan for your site…they are sure to be answered”.