How to Use Your Blog for Stock Answers

November 24, 2009 · Comments

There are lots of things you have to answer more than once as a business (or even as an individual). In the book Trust Agents, Julien and I write about “putting it on paper,” which means using the web to leverage the “answer once, share often” kinds of advice and information that people might need from you. I do this more and more often.

Here are a few examples of “stock” answers I share with people often:

  • What do you do? – http://bit.ly/cbbio
  • Where can I learn more about your speaking? – http://chrisbrogan.com/connect
  • How do you follow 108,000 people? – http://www.chrisbrogan.com/how-to-manage-twitter/
  • Where can I buy Trust Agents? – http://bit.ly/buy-ta
  • How do I start listening? – http://www.chrisbrogan.com/grow-bigger-ears-in-10-minutes/
  • Do you ever sleep? – http://www.chrisbrogan.com/no-i-dont-sleep/

You can do this yourself. There are probably tons of things people ask you repeatedly. What would your stock answers be?

Photo credit mescon

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  • ahockley
    I often tell people that if they're giving out the same answer via email more than once, they should be blogging it.

    After a couple very successful WordCamp Portland events, I've had a bunch of people wanting to pick my brain about event planning and organization. I'm in the midst of recording a bunch of short videos (a few minutes each) that hit on the common questions/answers for several areas of the event planning (facilities, food, registration, speakers, etc).
  • heathermasson
    There are always thing that people ask us repeatedly. And if those questions haven't been answered, then it's just one more idea to write down in a notebook of upcoming posts.

    As you've said before Chris, you never run out of things to write about, but having some "stock" answers ready... is really like an FAQ about you.
  • So this is totally obvious but I had never thought about before -- some of these should be pages (like speaking, contact me) but obviously, everything can't be a page (futzes w/ navigation, various other reasons).

    Um, but why not make it a blog post? Duh, ElizabethPW.

    So I will be doing one on "how do you get so much done?" (a question I get *every day* on social media or in person)
  • Yes, there are those questions we get asked over and over again. Putting answers to these in areas of interest as well as individual posts sound like great places to me.

    I get of the same emails each day for the same questions. I make note of them and point them in the right direction or prepare a new post for them. Not all things can be in front of you all the time, but they can be easily accessible.
  • I recently started a google document entitled "ShareSheet" that has tabs for various types of things worth sharing (blogs, products, books, songs, restaurants, etc.). Anytime I come across something "shareworthy/remarkable" I copy a bit.ly or is.gd link into the spreadsheet for easy access. Not sure how it will scale once I've got thousands of items in there, but I bet the Google searching will work for a good while.
  • tip: You should put this post in the sidebar as a FAQ link.
  • Chris - It was interesting that this topic came up during our conversation on the show today. I have used my own blog in a similar manner - it beats re-answering the same thing dozens of times. Thanks again for your time today - good stuff!
  • neo
    hmm..one to think of..
  • Great point. I look back at my blog and realize I don't answer some of the most basic questions, like "how do you work with me."

    Man, Chris you always add to my TODO list!
  • robewanow
    Great idea!! I plan to use it in my own blog perhaps as my year end wrap up post.
  • Q: How much Turkey will Brogan eat on Thanksgiving.

    A: ???
  • Great tips,, Having a FAQ section on your site works great. Taking the most asked questions and just putting it all in one section.

    This also works for sales pages, answer the questions that your customer will be thinking as he reads and you will convert more sales.
  • Chris I just wanted to say this another post that reaffirms my belief that you remain one of the most "human" bloggers et al I've had the happy chance to communicate with. Your approach to this realm is so simple and forthright. Thanks for helping us who read your work to cut through the "high school" popularity contest that can come out in social media, it's always so refreshing to come here and read your blog. Finally, I know that every word you write and all the work you do can take time away from family so thanks for "not sleeping."
  • That is really a nice by which we can get the Stock Answers. I had invested hug money in stocks and that blog had really helped in taking the decisions related to the Stock.
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