Your Blog Post Has A Single Purpose
Perhaps what creates a lot of conflict and confusion in your mind is the fact that you are an Affiliate Marketer. That means you are using your websites and other online strategies to attract buyers to your website.
When they get to your website you want them to click on some link that you are promoting and buy the product or service so that you can earn a commission from the sale.
Whilst this is all true and your ultimate goal, it should not be the reason for your blog posts.
Move From Seller To Facilitator
The single, most important obective of your blog posts should be to make your visitor's decisions easier. It should not be to sell. That sounds contradictory, right?
Role reverse with me for a moment and think of yourself walking into a store. Would you want the attendant to just walk up to you and start pushing products in your face?
Of course not!
Think of the places where you are most comfortable shopping. I am certain that they are the places where you feel most comfortable. Where people know you and where you are happy to just relax and browse before making a purchase.
In that kind of environment, you would, more often than not, end up buying more than what you went in for.
Your Blog Post Should Facilitate Decisions
A well written blog post educates your visitors and engages them in an exploratory conversation. Visitors to your websites are there because they are looking for information. They want that information to make an informed purchase or to decide on an action to take.
They should view you as an experienced authority and someone who is interested in what is best for them. They should not view you as someone who just wants to make a quick dollar.
Trust is key and how you speak to your visitor establishes trust.
I have just finished reading through all your 101 training. Really like reading your content. There are so many points I have picked up. I have so much to learn from these and I will need to re-read them again.
Thanks for putting in the energy to create such wonderful training. Highly beneficial for me.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Richard
Blog content is more conversational, less feverish in nature, benevolent and friendly with a touch of, 'I-don't-care-if-you-never-buy. I like you too much. Relaxed, the text will often give you special insights that seem to be aimed only for the unique reader consuming them. The base is not narrowed on one product but wider and more apt to take on facets and angles that will appeal to the masses.
Anyway, just my impression. Two very different beasts, mostly different in their delivery and their tone. Sales is sales not matter how you put it.
Content writing and copywriting are two different beasts.
They mainly differ in their intention.
Copywriting is always a form of direct response and therefore marketing/sales focused. For example, sales letters, emails, landing pages, off- and online advertisement, press releases, some social media posts, etc.
The aim is to get the audience to act immediately - to buy, book, subscribe, donate, fill out, click, etc.
You are spot on with your definition of content writing, except for the marketing, sales and copywriting part.
Most web pages fall under this category (home, about, blogs, articles, products/services, but not landing pages or lead magnets).
It might sound academic but the distinction is significant when you create content.
The approach to copywriting is very different from content writing because you aim for a different outcome.
A landing page or special offer newsletter will use a specific structure and distinct wording to get the desired response.
A blog on the other hand, wants to inform, convey value, authority and affirms the relationship with the audience.
However, both writing types might overlap and it is not always clear where one ends and the other begins.
“Copywriting is a direct conversation with the consumer.”
– Shirley Polykoff (wish I thought of that)
Happy writing.
Martin