Heyo Reader,
This is my first email to you from ConvertKit! There's a bit of a learning curve coming from Flodesk but I did it... I think.
Overall, May has been super fruitful:
- Got a good number of road trips in with my family
- Worked at fun libraries and cafes in cities I traveled to
- Hit my highest monthly revenue of the year so far... wahoo!
How did May go for you?
WAVE OF THE WEEK: The power of hands-on experience in articles (especially product reviews!)
Many product reviews are missing a crucial ingredient:
Hands-on experience.
Too often, I see reviews regurgitate specs and features you can find with a quick Google search. But readers want more than that. They want authentic, firsthand insights from writers who've actually tested the products they're reviewing.
When you share your personal experience with a product — how it looks, feels, performs, and holds up in real life — you give readers the in-depth, trustworthy information they crave.
And the benefits of hands-on reviews extend beyond providing value to your audience...
By creating unique, detailed content that people want to read and share, you also boost your SEO.
Engaging, hands-on reviews keep readers on your page longer, reducing bounce rates and increasing dwell time. This positive user engagement tells search engines your content is valuable and relevant — leading to better rankings and more traffic.
So, how can you make hands-on experience the focus of your review process?
- Become an expert about what you're writing about
- Commit to thoroughly testing the products you review so you can share genuine, nuanced insights
- Focus on the details that matter to your audience, like real-world performance and usability
- Include original images to supplement the review, helping people visualize the product in their lives
- Don't be afraid to share your honest opinion, even if it's not always positive
For example, when I reviewed Ring's home security system, I didn't simply list and explain the features. Anyone can find those on its website.
Instead, I installed every device in the kit throughout my home and used them for a week to test their performance:
- Downloaded the mobile app to test the reliability
- Discussed when there were any false alarms (or not)
- Explored self-monitoring and professional monitoring options
- Noted any alert delays when door and window sensors were triggered
- Customized monitoring settings to distinguish human vs. pet detection
- Connected the security system to my Amazon Alexa smart home device
- Contacted customer support to gauge response time and quality of service
- Took pictures of the products and installation process (no editing — what you see is what you get)
Sure, I relied on existing resources to research the security system, fact-check, and fill in gaps.
But by sharing specific details about things like:
- How the system worked in my home
- Hiccups I encountered during the setup
- My favorite (and not-so-favorite) features and why
- Details about my experience receiving customer support
...I gave readers an original, helpful review that doesn't feel basic.
The bottom line?
Test, explore, and share your experiences (the more detailed, the better).
Your readers will appreciate the effort... and you'll become their go-to source.
ICYMI: New by me 🎉
It's been 52+ weeks since I started my newsletter! 🥳
After a year of building my email list with Flodesk, I wrote an honest review about it.
I'm dishing the deets on:
→ What I love (and don't love) about the platform
→ Its cost and the features and services you get
→ How it compares to 3 other major ESPs
→ Why I switched to ConvertKit
→ Who Flodesk is best for
Shoutout to some of my favorite business owners for sharing their insights and experiences to make this review even more valuable:
💌 Blair Sharp, Creator of the "Hey Freelancer!" newsletter
📩 Neil Kollipara, Email Newsletter Writer for online coaches
📮 Flavia Gabriel, Founder of eComm company, The Fabulous Planner
I couldn't have created such a comprehensive guide without them.
If you're thinking about starting a newsletter this year but wonder:
"Is Flodesk worth it in 2024?"
"Which email platform should I go with?"
...my article might help you decide.
WAVEBREAKER: A helpful tip
There's no such thing as "one-size-fits-all" content.
If you want your blogs to connect with your audience, you must cater to how they learn best.
→ Some people love visuals
→ Others prefer to listen
→ Many enjoy reading and writing
→ And some learn by doing
More about this here:
3 WAYS I CAN HELP WHEN YOU'RE READY
1. Free content & insights (for everyone!)
Follow me on LinkedIn and read my newsletters every other Wednesday.
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Need SEO informational articles, how-to guides, product reviews, or comparison blogs? I'll write top-notch content that supports your marketing strategy.
3. 1:1 mentorship (for new solopreneurs)
For 265,* you can book a mentorship call with me where we'll identify your challenges and develop actionable steps for you to tackle them. I'll answer your questions and send a comprehensive overview doc of everything covered after the call.
*Introductory prices are subject to change
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