Denise Wakeman Online Business Strategist | Adventure Traveler

Look to the categories on your blog. For each category (like a chapter in a book), write down 5 topics you could address that answers a question of your reader or comments on your industry or shows how to do something. Do that for each category and you'll find you have the prompts for many posts. Feel free to connect if you would like to discuss further. I've been blogging and teaching clients to blog since 2004 so I have a lot to say about this!

It's a competitive market for online programs and takes concerted effort to make a splash and get noticed. Before providing tips since there's little context, here are some questions for you:

1. Do you have a platform/audience already developed who want the courses you've developed?

2. How did you launch the product? Putting a sales page up isn't enough. Your targeted audience needs to be primed to know that the product is coming, what it does for them, when it's being launched and then told it's available.

3. Follow up, follow up, follow up. Without out consistent reminders, your audience moves on because there's someone else promoting their online course.

Building and nurturing your audience is the primary and ongoing activity that will create demand. Your calls to action, urgency and keeping your courses top of mind will help keep sales consistent.

If you'd like to discuss a strategy and specific tactics for your products, feel free to schedule a call. I've been working and marketing on the web for 19 years and have seen a lot of tactics come and go, and it comes down to haveing a solid foundation, an audience for the service/content you're selling and a consistent way to connect with them.

Denise Wakeman

Before you can initiate an active visibility campaign, there are some foundational elements you must have in place. By building the foundation, you have a way to create relationships and encourage people to sign up for your email list as you build your social audience.

Blog – this is a no-brainer. You absolutely must have a piece of digital real estate you own and control. This is where all traffic is directed as you build your audience. This where you post the search-engine friendly content that helps you get found by those searching for the solution you and you book offer.

Email management service – this is also non-negotiable. Without an email list of qualified prospects and customers, you will always struggle to sell your product. The people who give you their email address are telling you they value what you offer and want to hear from you. Do your research and find the best email service that meets your needs and your budget. The most widely used are Aweber, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, InfusionSoft and 1ShoppingCart.

Optin/Landing page – you need a blogsite (#1) and an email service (#2) to set this up. Create a simple page inviting people to get free updates about your product and when it's going to launch, something like a "first to know" list. Offer a gift like a free report in exchange for their email address. This is list building 101.

Where does your ideal reader hangout? Use Quantcast to check out demographics on the sites your audience frequents. Use your Facebook Page Insights to learn more about the demographics of your followers. Use Google Analytics to find out how your blog readers are finding you.

Set up and complete your social profiles. Make sure you are using the social networks your ideal audience is using. If they are on Twitter, you better be using Twitter as well. It should go without saying, but I see this mistake all the time… make sure your social profiles are COMPLETE. Include your headshot, cover image, bio, and links to your site and other social networks. Your social networks are where you will be posting microcontent to entice your readers back to your blog.

Now you're ready to build your audience on social networks with targeted content you create and curate to support the benefits of your product.

It takes consistent, constant publication of content that engages and educates your prospective customers.

If you have questions about creating a strategic social marketing plan for your launch, please schedule a call.

You don't need to quit your introvert state. Embrace it. Manage your time and energy so it works for you. I'm an introvert and find that using the Internet to connect with people makes it a lot easier and more comfortable when I meet them in person. Cuts through the barriers.

Lots of fabulous ideas in this thread. Are you active on any social networks? If so, make sure you're letting your communities know you have a new blog and share your relevant blog posts with them. Are you active in any LinkedIn groups that are related to post-secondary education? If not, find and join 2-3 and participate. Ask and answer questions to get known. Also share your blog posts in your LI status updates. That will bring some visibility too. Do some research on Google+ to find communities discussing your topic. Join and participate.

Remember blogging and building a devoted readership is a marathon, not a sprint. Good luck!

Referring to the comment about using bite-size pieces of content to give your prospect a taste, think about how you can repurpose the content into different formats for various platforms. Does your content lend itself to images? Then post images or create images with quotes from the content to post on Pinterest, Facebook, G+ and Instagram... if that's where you ideal audience hangs out. Prefer video, do 2 minute video tips based on the content with a call to action to get the report. Hope those ideas help!