Download now or listen on posterous
persona.mp3 (3321 KB)
From a purely SEO standpoint, you could say that having a persona is not 100% relevant to your off page SEO campaign, and is more relevant to marketing. I tend to disagree with this notion slightly. By disagreeing, I look back into the fundamentals of true and raw organic SEO, and remember how backlinks are earned with no form of off page SEO at all. You tell a friend about a website, they end up liking that website, and they share. At least, this is how it was for me in the late 90’s when I created my very first website.
When creating a website, something that I do consider each time is what persona would fit that site concept. Of course, this has to fit in with which ever market I am planning to break into, as each market has its own voice. This persona would obviously be reflected on site where the core of my information would be supplied for the public, but equally as important, through the very medium that I would use as part of my off page SEO campaign in order to spread links, interact with users, and actively encourage more visitors through this cyber word of mouth that we consistently refer to as “Social Media”.
Open Ended Vs Thought Provoking
Before turning a new leaf, I have worked in face to face sales, and one of the best sales tactics that I used on a regular basis was to keep the customer talking. Ask open ended questions. Questions like “What colour do you prefer?”, and “How long are you in town for?”, questions that will never result in a simple yes or no answer. One of the most powerful skills involved in creating a persona is the ability to step it up a notch and ask questions that not only result in answers, but result in a more ‘what if I could do that’ kind of thought. For example, “Where do you plan on installing that cabinet?", and "How do you think that this SEO method will change your web presence”.
This is part of my process of creating a persona. Although, being online lacks in large part the face to face interaction of sales, there is always going to be the excitement when someone who you could potentially look up to responds to your questions, and gives you the right answer. And an answer that makes you feel absolutely great as well!
How Can I Create A Persona?
There are many platforms that will allow you to create a great online persona. Personally, I believe that a blog, and social networking is always a good way to start. Create a blog through a service such as Posterous, WordPress, or TypePad, and also make sure that you have a Facebook and a Twitter. Generally I will tweet my new blog posts to Twitter, and post on Facebook as a status update as well. The blog being a provider of further information in a more relaxed atmosphere, leaving the social networking accounts for further interaction where I can ask those truly thought provoking and compelling questions.
Your persona is not something that should be copied, although this is where a lot of people do start out. What will draw people to your persona is your ability to be unique, and your ability to have your own voice that stands out above others. Through providing the best content, provoking thought with compelling questions, and giving people the right advice through your answers, this will always result in more traffic to your website, more followers through social media that can be further sold, and more trust and respect within your niche.
Posted via email from Ryan T Malone, SEO Enthusiast and Freelancer
Marvelous information, I’ve at lastlearned the bookmark button therefore will be able to compare with no touring!