Five Ways a Blog Can Help Your Business
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A lot of small business owners are jumping on the blogging bandwagon and
there is a very good reason for this. A blog is a very effective tool for your
small business, if used correctly. You're probably wondering if a blog can
really help your business or if it is just another fad. There are several
reasons business owners are blogging about their business. Blogging helps not
only their bottom line, but also their customer relations. Below are the top 5
ways a blog can help your business:
1. Helps potential customers and the media find you- Search engines
love blogs! If you post to your blog with search engines in mind, potential
customers and the media will find you and your content rich information much
easier. But be aware that just because you set up a blog and post a few times
does not mean the search engines will find your blog right away. It does take a
little bit of time to grow your business blog. Just keep posting content related
to your expertise and the press, clients, and search engines will come.
2. Establishes your role as an expert in the field- A blog is a great
tool to set yourself apart from the competition as establishing yourself as the
expert in your industry. By sharing your opinions on industry news or topics
your customers are interesting will automatically generate public speaking
invitations and a general perception of your clients as "the expert". For
consultants and coaches being viewed as "the expert" is essential. This allows
you to raise your rates and never have to worry about where your next client
will come from.
3. Creates a dialogue between you and your customers- A blog is
different from a website, because it creates a dialogue between you and your
blog visitor. As long as you allow comments on your blog, which I highly suggest
you do, your blog sets up a unique dialogue between you and your customers.
Wondering if your next product or service will be a success, just look to your
blog for the answer. If you're already blogging, but haven't received comments
yet try asking questions at the end of your blog posts to get the conversation
going.
4. Another format to constantly reach your customers- With spam
filtering and junk mail settings, sometimes your emails never make it to your
customers. But with a blog and a RSS feed, a geeky term for how your blog is
delivered, your customers can receive your blog content automatically. It's best
to reach your customers in multiple formats whether it's mail, email, blogging,
or public speaking. Blogging just adds another tool to your follow-up methods.
5. Free advertising- Who doesn't want free advertising for their small
business? A blog is a great way to advertise your services and products without
spending a dime. But be careful not to hit them over the head with a hard sales
message. It's best to just give great content and mention a few of your services
or products within the posts.
About the Author
Jennifer Haubein publishes "SiteNotes" a FREE bi-weekly ezine for small
business owners who want a website that actually works. If you're ready to get
insider tips website developers don't want you to know, and start making more
money online, get your FREE tips now at
http://www.BestBizWebsiteSolutions.com/newsletter.html.
