Bongos.
I heard bongos on the train to NYC yesterday, as we commuted in for another house sit.
You can watch the performance here:
After spending a few moments bongo-ing, one of the performers walked around with his cap. He asked for money. Not in a desperate way. Not in a fearful way. Just a clear cut, natural, casual, relaxed call to action he added to the end of each quick train performance.
No awkwardness. No clumsiness. No fear. I saw him making a clear, direct, simple call to action, which he tacked on to each quick, short, entertaining drumming session.
I instantly thought of how hoards of struggling, failing bloggers hesitate to add a call to action to their blog posts, for fear of:
- sounding too “sales-y”
- failing to grow their business anyway, aka, wasting their time
- turning off readers
Toss in 1,001 other reasons. I likely clung to ’em, many years ago.
But the current day version of me naturally, seamlessly and casually adds a premium call to action to the end of every post. I do my cyber performance. I render helpful service through a blog post. For free. So I link to one of my eBooks, courses, audio books or coaching services page to make a clear, simple call to action.
My blogging business grew exponentially the moment I was *all in* on making a clear cut call to action at the end of each post.
I did not feel uncomfortable, awkward, embarrassed or ashamed to make the call. I felt no need to explain why I made the call. I just helped people for freemium through the post then made a call to action for the premium.
Video
I filmed a video in NYC this morning explaining the lesson I learned from these clear bongo players on the subway. Watch as I explain:
Boldness.
Clarity.
Courage.
These are a few thoughts which came to mind when I saw the bongo guys drumming away. But I felt an even greater pull to blog about the experience when one of the guys walked around with his empty cap to accept donations for their performance.
Nothing forced about it. Nothing desperate. Nothing manipulative. I have been part of street performances – as a guest – where the performers used pressure and desperation and slickness to manipulate money out of folks. These guys did something different.
Perform.
Ask for money in a clear, confident and relaxed way. No fear there.
As you wrap up your blog posts do you feel any:
- fear
- heaviness
- apprehension
- nervousness
- anxiety
- worry
- hopelessness
when it comes time to add your call to action at the end of the blog post? Especially when the call involves some premium product or service?
I have no problem making calls to action on my blog, both at the post’s end and within another portion of the post. Peep my latest blog post:
14 Tips To Develop Blogging Confidence
See how I made the clear cut call to action to buy my blogging course or to hire me, at the end of the blog post? I offered my readers free information through the blog post and automatically offered them premium information at the end of the post.
I do not ask for money like the subway performers. Different gig. But I make a similar, cash flow boosting call to action at the post end and also tossed in a call to action to buy my mindset blogging eBook earlier in the post.
Your Turn
Are you being as clear as the subway drummers when it comes to adding a call to action to hire you or buy your stuff at the end of each post?