Do you struggle with your business email?
If you’re like me you’re trying to get things in your email organized all the time.
One thing I wish I could do better was followup and respond on time to everybody. I know I’ve probably left sales on the table at GBW because I would forget about an email I had sent a week or more ago.
And I also find that I can create the wrong expectations if I send email at all times of the day. It seems much better to send email at specific times so the recipients can get used to the time of day when you’re in your inbox.
It looks like FollowUp.cc can help with those issues and with many more. From the reports and testimonials it looks like business owners and others have found ways to be more productive and in less time with this app. The key that I’m seeing is how you can schedule emails and remember emails, which leads to more business relationships.
I’ll have to give it a try.
But for now I’m going to look at the blog strategy FollowUp.cc is using.
Here are my thoughts.
1. Regular Posting
One of the recommendations I have had for other blogs in the Blog Analysis Series is for companies to publish 1-2 posts per week. That leaves you with 4-8 per month and 50-100 in a year. That’s a lot of great content that will keep working for you even if you stop posting in the future (don’t stop posting).
Blogging is a little like compounding interest. It pays off in the long run, but only if you stick with a regular schedule.
FollowUp.cc does a great job with regular posting. Looking back a few months it seems they keep up with about 4-5 posts per month. That will lead to great return over time if they keep up with that schedule.
We usually recommend publishing on the same day(s) each week so readers can get used to the schedule and they can come back to check-in at the same time each week. It’s like tuning in for your favorite TV show. And you know how disappointing it can be when your favorite TV show isn’t on one week.
You don’t want your readers to feel that way.
2. Brief Press Mentions
Here is an example of a brief press mention. FollowUp.cc was mentioned in a list of productivity apps, which I’m sure happens quite often. I’ve seen them mentioned a few times.
But here they link to the list.
Doing this is good for a few reasons.
First, you can show that your brand is popular and useful to readers without really bragging about yourself. You’re saying, “Here is what someone said about us!”
Second, when you link to the post you encourage more bloggers, writers and publishers to write about you. They see that you’re willing to engage with them and to share their list that includes you and that’s a benefit for them.
Third, this also gives you a chance to add your own thoughts to the list. This is something I would recommend. If you’re ever included in a list add your own thoughts to the topic. You could create your own list in response. You could add details that were missed in the original list. Keep is friendly and engaging and it’ll be a great type of post to do each time you’re mentioned.
3. Tips & Tricks
My wife actually started tracking email opens. She loves it. And I need to get on the train with doing it. I’ll probably signup for FollowUp.cc right after finishing this post.
But I’m new to that concept in email and I’m not sure how it could help me. But FollowUp.cc has a post on how to really take advantage of email open tracking.
This is the most basic type of post and one that works well for just about every business blog strategy. You find the questions your target audience has and then provide the answer. That’s what FollowUp.cc has done with this post and others on their blog.
It can be directly about a feature you have, but it can also be about your industry in general. Both types of posts would attract your target audience and earn their trust.
4. How-To Posts
How-to posts are similar to tips and tricks posts, but how-to posts generally take the reader through a step-by-step process on how to do something.
I love this post on how to followup like a pro. The post includes examples. It builds the reader up to why it’s important to followup and to followup well. Then it provides great actionable steps that the reader can follow to make it happen right away.
The more you help your readers and give them actionable steps the more they’ll want to come back. And you’ll earn their trust and their business.
Here’s another one complete with screenshots.
5. User Interviews And Features
There is something about a story or example that makes people interested in reading. It seems weird, but I read this interview about a liquor store owner in New Jersey and I could pull out some lessons for myself and GBW.
As readers, we’re able to read stories and interviews and adapt the commentary to our own lives. I think that’s why interviews or user feature stories like this just about always do well with blog readers. They can hear real life accounts that are similar to theirs, but even if it’s not exactly their story they can pull out lessons and take action.
This is a great idea for a post by FollowUp.cc.
Final Thought
There is a lot to like about the FollowUp.cc blog strategy. They post regularly and they try many different blog post types. They also make company announcements and do a number of other things not mentioned here in this analysis. Check out their blog. It’s a great example of how blogging can be like compounding interest for your business.