How To Write Facebook Posts That Get Read

 

Have you ever wondered if people are reading your Facebook posts? Or why they don't respond?

To be honest, I did...

I was beginning to feel like no one was listening to what I had to say. I could almost hear the deafening sound of crickets in the background.

So, I decided to switch it up and do an experiment. What I found out... surprised the heck out of me.

Instead of posting quality content I "thought" my audience wanted... I took a chance and put myself out there with a personal post that included a question.

For the first time in a long time,  I became human and the results blew me away!

The question I posted brought in the most engagement I've seen in a long time. Here's a picture of the post I'm referring to:

Notice how the picture, "Anyone There," resonated with the topic? I did that because pictures help attract audiences on Facebook.

In fact, HubSpot claims a picture will generate more likes than the average post.

Well, it worked. The results blew me away. This post outperformed every other post on my page. Here's a picture of my results:

Now for the embarrassing part... my post had a typo in it! I left out the word "up" in my post. I was mortified!

I wish I could say it was part of the experiment, but the truth is, I made a mistake.

That was my "aha" moment. For years I've been so hung up on making everything perfect, I forgot how to get out of my own way and be human.

I also forgot one of the key components in communication... Listening.

By taking a chance and creating a post that asked a question, I was able to connect with my audience and take a real live pulse.

Was I afraid of looking like an idiot if no one responded? You bet I was!  But am I glad I took the chance? Absolutely!

I never dreamed the results would be as positive as they were.

I truly believe being successful in today's online world means being authentic and transparent.  Sometimes we get in our own way because we're so hung up on achieving perfection, we actually forget how to be authentic and sincere.

From now on, I think I’m going to focus more on being human and less on being perfect. From here on forward, I am going to write to express… not impress. And you know, I’ll let you know, how that goes ;-)

Stay tuned... Next week, I'll share the results of how this post performed or didn't perform.

Please share your experiences or comments with me below and as always… I wish you all the best in all that you do.

Get Real With Your Audience

Get Real With Your Audience - The Results May Surprise You!

I'd like to share something with you...

I had a client approach me a few months back, asking if I could help him increase his membership sales with his local fitness business.

After he told me all about his credentials, I sat back and said, "that's all very impressive, but what's your story?" He looked me with a funny look on his face, not sure where I was heading with all of this and said..."what do you mean?" I repeated myself, "what's your story?  What got you into all of this in the first place?"

I could sense there was something special underneath all the superficial stuff that he wasn't telling me.

He paused, shifted in his chair, took a deep breath and told me about his painful childhood growing up as an overweight kid.

I almost jumped up out of my seat as I shouted...that's it! That's YOUR uniqueness! You need to tell your story! You KNOW how overweight people feel...you've been there! You've walked in their shoes... you worked hard and you decided to do something about it!

I was so excited! His story was so special... it was real...and I knew folks would feel the genuine truth he was speaking and they'd be able to relate to this amazing coach.

My client took a chance and shared his experience with the rest of the world and you know what? It worked! People knew by reading his story that he wasn't some spandex king strutting his stuff around in the gym!

He took a chance... he told the truth... and he increased his sales in the first week of launching this letter!

If he could do this with his business...you can do it too! Be honest...be human and be real!
Take a look and let me know what you think.


Get Fit, Get Healthy, Get Your Life Back!

Gellert Strength and Conditioning
(807) 708-1325
www.Gellertsc.com

So many of us have invested in fad diets that just don't work. You know the ones… the gross tasting shakes that come with big promises, small results and unpleasant smelling side effects! You take the weight off but then it piles on once you go back to eating like a human being again!

Then you decide… okay… enough… time to get serious and go the fitness route!

You buy a membership at the local gym, but feel intimidated the moment you walk through the doors by all the muscle bound guys strutting back and forth with their arms outstretched, throwing around weights and grunting like they're in labour!

Couch Potato Syndrome

All you can think of is getting yourself and your baggy sweats back home to the loving, waiting arms of your couch!

I've worked with a lot of clients, and almost all of them have a similar story like yours:
   
    You're tired of spending money on stuff that doesn't work.
    You're starving yourself with diets that don't work
    You stopped going to the gym because you got burned out
    You threw yourself into a fitness program but quit because of an injury
    You got frustrated because you just didn't know where to start

I know how you feel, I've been there!

Growing up,  I was a chunky kid who never got noticed. I was invisible to all the good looking kids & I absolutely hated playing sports in school. Do you know how much it sucks being an overweight kid who's bad at playing sports?

It was a vicious cycle. Because I was overweight and sucked at playing sports, I played video games. I'd spend hours parked on my butt playing games that I was actually good at! It was like an escape. No one freaked out at me because I couldn't make a stupid ball pass through a stupid hoop! I was a star in the safety of my own living room.

The only problem was, the other thing that I loved just as much as playing those addicting video games, were the tasty snacks that I devoured while I was busy destroying my opponents. The pounds just started to pile on.

Destructive Eating Cycle

The more weight I gained, the more unhappy I felt …the more unhappy I felt… the more I ate. I was in that destructive cycle of being unhappy with myself but only finding comfort in the food that I ate. I swear I started to beep when I backed up!

I put on an extra 30lbs by the time I reached tenth grade. I remember feeling uncomfortable "ALL" the time. I hated looking in the mirror because I hated who I saw staring back at me. I wore baggy sweats just so people couldn't see what I really looked like. It sucked!

The Major Turning Point In My Life!

My life altering moment happened when I was 16...

I went with my family to a water park and saw this really pretty girl. She was just standing there with all of her friends. I remember I was getting out of the water and I glanced over and saw her pointing and laughing at me! I heard her say to her friends, "LOOK AT THAT KID'S BOOBS!" I was crushed! I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me!

I don't remember what that girl looked like. If I saw her today I wouldn't recognize her… however… I do remember THAT WAS THE DAY that I drew the line in the sand! That was the day I decided… ENOUGH! I'm gonna lose this weight and GET RIPPED IF IT KILLS ME!

When I got back home I started getting to work on building the new me. The only problem was, I had no idea where to start or how to start building that "new me."

I convinced my mom to buy me a Muscle and Fitness magazine and I consumed every word like it was my last Twinkie!

I read all this stuff about bench pressing, high protein, supplements… the list went on and on and on. I was completely overwhelmed!

Hitting The Wall!

I didn't make much progress during the first few years… probably because I had no idea what I was doing! I joined a gym and I just mimicked what I saw other guys doing.

A funny thing happened, I lost weight but then I got skinny as hell. My butt didn't even keep up my jeans! I went from one extreme to the other. I was paranoid about everything I put into my mouth and I was working like a madman trying to keep the pounds off!

Eventually I built my body-weight back up. I thought I was eating well.. I thought I was doing the right stuff with my weight-lifting, but then I hit the wall. I stopped making progress.

After 8 months of going to the gym 6 times a week and eating 7 meals a day…I FINALLY BURNED OUT!
Like everyone else…I stopped going to the gym.

After taking some down time from my fitness regime, I decided to give it another shot and I signed up at a shiny new health club because that was what everyone else did.  I quickly discovered that the shiny new gym had an atmosphere that was as appealing as 3 day old salmon left out on the counter! The atmosphere was awful and the lack of motivation and actual fitness info was even worse!

I got tired of guessing my way through fitness and I threw myself into learning everything that I could about proper training, fitness and eating habits.

There Was No Looking Back!!

I enrolled in The Fitness and Health Promotion program at the St. Lawrence College in Kingston and obtained my CSEP-CPT certification (Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology Certified Personal Trainer.)

The experience was a positive one. I learned about dynamic warm-ups, high intensity cardio, proper training regimes, power-lifting, and proper core training…  I was hooked! The "weight" was over!

Losing Weight Doesn't Have To Be Difficult!

When I came home, I decided to put an effective program together and opened my own gym. I wanted to teach other people how to safely and effectively get control of their weight so that they could live their lives with confidence. Here are some kind words from one of my clients:

I’ve been working out (with Karl) at Gellert Strength and Conditioning for over a year and in one word the most valuable thing that I’ve gained in that year is CONFIDENCE.  Confidence to walk in to any gym and have an amazing workout, confidence in my strength to get the job done and confidence that I look great with toned muscles, improved posture and enhanced awareness of my body. At Gellert Strength and Conditioning they adapted to my personal level of fitness in a comfortable environment all along providing a steady motivation to push myself to do more and perform better. 
Jami Fioritto

A Specific Plan For Your Specific Body Type
                   
Because everyone is different, I assess where you are now so that I can develop a customized plan that will get you to where you want to be. All of my plans include an initial assessment and an individual program designed specifically for you.

ONE TRIAL $90 - LESS THAN $8 PER SESSION

Our one month trial program (up to 12 sessions FOR $90) works out to be less than $8 a session and includes an initial assessment and custom program designed specifically for you!

Once you try my program and start to see your body transforming into the body you've always wanted… I'm positive you'll be hooked!

One-on-One Support Team

I'll be here to support you every step of the way. You don't just pay a user fee when you enrol in my facility, you get personal one on one instruction so that you can achieve your personal goals and avoid injury.

My gym isn't filled with jocks in spandex, it's filled with real people just like you… People who aren't happy with who are they now, but know that the person they want to become is within reach!

My name is Karl Gellert. I'm a nerd with muscles who owns and operates Gellert Strength and Conditioning.  I'm dedicated to helping people like you achieve your goals safely and effectively with a proven and safe system that actually works.

We're not just a gym, we're a support group. We've all been there. We know your pain, we know your story and we know how to help you reach your goals.

Let's Get Started Today!

Give me a call or feel free to drop by. I'm here to help you get fit, get healthy and get your life back!

Gellert Strength and Conditioning (www.Gellertsc.com )
(807) 708-1325


WOW!

No Hype... No BS... Just The Truth! Now There's A Concept! Would you be able to do this with your business? Let me know and leave a comment for me below.

Online Marketing Tricks Of Successful Retailers

 

  Online Marketing Tricks Of Successful Retailers

Imagine how frustrated you'd be if you were a business owner who made custom slippers for dogs and 50% of your orders were returned because Fido's dewclaws got in the way of the velcro strap?

"Happy Customer"

• You'd have the hassle of dealing with an unhappy client 

• You'd have to refund the order 

• You'd have to refund the postage fee 

• Fido would probably be stressed out!

If you had a product video demonstration uploaded to your site, viewers could see how the slippers were placed onto Fido's paws, and they'd recognize the fact that the velcro system on the slipper would get in the way of their pup's dewclaw.

Successful business owners realize online video is one of the most affordable and effective methods of engaging clients... and they also understand it's a very powerful SEO tool that Google loves!

Video helps tell "your" story and it "shows" people how you can help them.

Here are some great ways you can use video on your website! 

 

• Video In Email: Encourage your clients to take action with new services you offer (increase click through rates) 

• Create a Product Demonstration Video: Let your clients physically see what they're ordering to help reduce return rates. A visitor who watches a product video is 85% more likely to make a purchase. (Internet Retailer, Apr 2010)

•  Client Testimonials: Nothing else builds credibility faster than word of mouth. Your online visitors will be able to see and hear how satisfied your clients are.

• Website Landing Page/ Home Page Video: Reach out and grab the attention of your potential clients with a 30-60 second intro explaining some of your services. This helps viewers understand what it is you offer by taping into your unique services and the person behind the company.

The Biggest Reason Of All To Use Video....
With proper optimization, video can increase a front page Google result up to 53x. (Forrester, Jan 2010) We'll talk about that a little more in our up-coming video series.

Conclusion

If you're not making videos for your website, you're missing out on great opportunities that your competition is already using.

Contact us for more information!

 Check Out Our Home Page Video Explaining SEO

How To Use Videos On Your Website To Increase Traffic

Welcome To Our FREE Online Video Series On How To Use Video On Your Website

Click Play Below To Find Out Why You Should Be Using Video On Your Website & How It Can Help You!

Are You Feeling Trapped?

Are You Feeling Trapped?

So many of us have been, or are still trapped in jobs or careers that we absolutely despise - jobs that make us feel inadequate, not wanted or just plain stupid. Some of us have dreams that aren't given the chance to grow because we let our friends or family members squash them before they even have a chance to begin.

Growing up, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a veterinarian…that was until my parents, being the loving parents that they are, informed me that I wasn't "smart" enough. Bye bye dreams…hello reality.

Luckily for me, my love of words and music propelled me towards the direction of becoming a professional staff writer with Hyland Hills Music in Nashville, and the FOX Network in LA. I loved getting out of bed every morning because it meant I would spend my entire day writing and creating files with an amazingly creative and talented team that absolutely rocked! All was well until our entire branch was acquired by another company and our creative team was let go without notice.

I was faced with the dilemma of having to find a job that would allow me to tap into my creative side, but would also allow me to earn a pay-check.  Not an easy task in our industrial based world.

The good news is…The world is changing. Our world is no longer the industrial based world it once was. Robots and computers have replaced large assembly lines filled with people just going through the motions and wishing they were doing something else with their lives.

The internet "Connection Revolution" has completely reinvented the way we conduct business. You might be thinking…So how can this be a good thing? How can the downfall of the industrial world, and people losing their jobs be a good thing?

It's a good thing because creative folks like you and I can tap into the "Connection Revolution" and push past the negative nay-sayers so that we can achieve our dreams on a worldwide platform!

Your intuition already knows what you're supposed to be doing in life. Silence the doubt around you and follow your heart! You're not going to be able to hear the direction that your intuition is supplying you with if you don't silence the craziness around you and take a good deep look inside.

Once I stopped being desperate, grasping at every little opportunity, and I actually slowed my process down so that I could hear the direction that my soul was providing me with, things started to fall into place at an alarming pace!

Now I can honestly say that I truly feel fulfilled. I feel fulfilled because not only am I able to be creative and do what I love to do … Write… I'm also helping other business owners achieve their dreams by creating words and content that helps them achieve "their" dreams. It's a win win situation that I'm truly grateful for with all my heart and soul!

If I could find my place in this crazy world, so can you! Silence the doubt around you and find something that truly makes you feel fulfilled and happy. When you're happy, people around you are happy and the world becomes a better place!

Take the time to watch this inspiring video "The Icarus Deception" and let me know what you think. I promise it'll be worth every minute of your time!

How Do I Know If My Web Copy Sucks?

by shelley jacobson from killercopy4u

Some people are able to write quality content for their site that demands attention and gets the job done, but not everyone falls into that category.
If you’re wondering if your copy really does suck, here’s the number one question you need to ask yourself ...are people buying your products or services when they land on your page?
Is your answer to that question a big resounding NO? If it is, here’s a quick list that will help you determine what some of your problem areas might be.

The Copy Suck Test:

Is Your Site Listed On The First Page Of Google?

If your page is not listed on the first page of Google, Yahoo or Bing,  you are missing out on a lot of action and opportunities with your website. Studies have proven that sites not listed on the first page of a major search engine will suffer from a lower click through performance rate. Here is a great article that explains those statistics: QuickSprout

Is Your Content Optimized?

If your website doesn't rank well on Google, your website content probably hasn't been optimized. Search engines find your website when other people type in a word or phrase in the Google query field. If you haven't optimized your website content with keyword enriched copy/content, search engines won't be able to find your site.

Is Your Site Filled With Words Only A Professor Would Understand?

When you create content for your website, make sure that you create user friendly content at a grade 6-8 level. Don't use industry jargon that will confuse your readers and leave them scratching their heads with a puzzled look on their face. The major offenders for this issue tend to be businesses and services that specialize in programming.

 

Spelling Mistakes?

Would you trust an online company or organization and invest in their products or services if you found spelling errors scattered though their web content? I know I wouldn't. Make sure you edit your copy. Don't just rely on spellcheck to do the job for you. Spellcheck doesn't correct grammar mistakes.

Tip: How To Write Great Website Copy With A Proven Document Editing Trick
Here’s a great trick that I picked up along the way!
Read your copy/content backwards. Sounds crazy doesn't it? When you read backwards, you're actually focusing on each individual word instead of scanning through the flow of an entire line. Mistakes are much easier to pick up because they will stand out instead of blending in with the overall flow of your content.

If you're still not sure whether your copy sucks or not, email me and I'll provide you with a free website evaluation. No gimmicks, no tricks…just advice on how to make your copy suck less and perform better. Still have questions... post your comments for me below!

How To Blog Effectively

"Create Blogs That Get Read"

The Biggest Mistakes Bloggers Make! 

How to blog effectively by Shelley Jacobson/KillerCopy4u.com

You've literally got 5 seconds or less to grab someone's attention when they check out your blog that you've painfully created and edited. What can you do to make sure that your article actually gets read? How can you keep their attention and stop them from leaving your site?


We know that killer headlines can help attract busy people and pull them in so that your audience will actually "read" your blog, but that only works if you have quality content that follows directly below that crafty headline. We're all scanners by nature. You'll notice that you are too when you pick up the newspaper or check your emails.  If something doesn't grab your attention and curiosity with a snappy subject line or headline... you're most likely to ignore it and move on.


We also know that chunking up your "quality" content and streamlining your blog is an effective way of keeping your readers engaged. If you write a paragraph that has more than 5 lines, you're content isn't going to be as "readable" and appealing as a paragraph with 5 lines or less. People just don't have the time to invest.


There's an effective trick that I haven't mentioned that can help you keep your readers on your site… and yet… very few of us do it, including myself!


Okay, Enough Rambling, What's The Secret?


How many of you insert a picture with every blog that you create?
Hmmm… that's what I thought.


An image will initially attract your audience to your page, pull them in and guide their eyes naturally down the page after they've looked at the graphic. When we talk about guiding your eyes... what exactly does that mean? Remember when you were just learning how to read in school, you were taught to start reading from the top of the page... from left to right. That's a habit that just feels natural. That's the way we've been taught to read... so why not take advantage of that and place all of your attention grabbing details in the top left hand side of your blogs?


We all need an edge when it comes to competing on the web. These are little tricks that will teach you how to blog in an effective manner that will help you grab the attention of your reader so that your blog actually stands a chance of getting read.


Are you using graphics and photos in your blogs? Do you think that's a technique you're going to start using? I'm curious to hear what your thoughts are.