Why blog? What’s the point? For a small business owner, blogging can be time consuming and often overwhelming.
Let me ask you a question…
How do your potential customers find you online when they don’t know it’s your business they’re looking for?
While your website is just the start of getting found online, blogging is the next step. Your business blog is simply an extension of your website. Each post you publish adds to your website.
When you provide information that people are looking for on your blog, that’s when the magic starts to happen.
Business blogging:
Helps you get found in search- Gives you content to share across your social platforms
- Builds trust
- Answers questions and shows your expertise
- Generates email opt-ins
- Encourages connection and communication
- Do it well and often enough, blogging brings you customers
Helps you get found in searchLook at My Local Business Online.
This site is a blog.
It’s far from perfect! I don’t use enough calls to action or link enough to what I am actually selling, my headlines often leave a lot to be desired, my services page is in dire need of a sort out and refresh…
I could go on! It’s very easy to be self-critical.
And yet, it works.
Perfection is not required
I sit here answering questions, giving my opinions or sometimes just sharing my thoughts. One day I’ll get to actually changing my pages over too.
People find me and read.
Of course, not everyone will like what they read or my tone. That’s ok – if they don’t like me on my blog, we certainly wouldn’t have a good business relationship.
Sometimes people comment and share. Sometimes they opt in to my email list and have me nattering to them by email too. And yes, sometimes they pick up the phone and call me or email me to ask for a quote.
I can confidently say that without my blog, I wouldn’t have a business!
As a small business owner, you have so much information about your business that people want to know – in your head or filed away in boxes and cupboards . Isn’t it time you made that all info work for you?
I see many small businesses start blogging and then give up. Often it’s because they lack focus and strategy, so their blog posts aren’t working for them.
More regularly these days, I see local blog posts written only for search engines because it’s relatively easy to rank. While ranking is nice, posts that don’t speak to human readers won’t get results. Google bot doesn’t have a wallet or credit card, it won’t sign up to your mailing list and if it turns up at your premises then it’s an imposter!
Don’t get me wrong, a few blog posts aren’t going to sky-rocket your sales overnight. The evidence continues to mount up – business blogging gets more leads and customers online.
Don’t just take my word for it – this graph is from Hubspot’s State of Inbound Marketing 2012 Report
The first step is getting started and I can help you with that:
- Installing WordPress
- Coaching/training
- Or even taking your information and writing your posts
Simply get in touch and we can chat about your requirements, and if we’re a good fit to work together.
Over to you…
Do you blog? What benefits do you see to your business?
Why Blog? 7 Reasons Why I Think Business Blogging Is the Bee’s Knees by Jan Kearney
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- Two things you should not neglect if you want to rank in the local search pack
- How to power past your competitors and dominate your area
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Jan, you’ve sold me on your services and expertise through your blog and other kind, helpful and knowledgeable correspondences. I’m with you on the importance of a blog these days. People do tend to give up too early – or fail to get the right support team in place to secure success. Short-term cost saving mentalities often result in log-term failures.
The Horse Sense and Cents blog has a loyal following after five years with readers who seek out our unusual in inexpensive products (like you, we need to get better about telling visitors they’re there). Even when there’s a long lag in posts, people still visit and purchase.
I get the writing/marketing/sales/public speaking blog doesn’t have enough longevity yet to produce clients from loyal fans – but that doesn’t mean it makes sense to quit. You’re so right about suggesting blogging as a good marketing strategy. I say, figure two years. The neat thing about holding out this long is you suddenly start getting referrals from people you forgot you met – and purchases you never imagined. It’s fun.
Hi Nanette, thank you so much for your wonderful comment.
You’re right, blogging takes time to gain momentum. It works really well for local businesses though – but consistancy and strategy is needed. For a wider audience, yes it can take longer – especially if there is little other promotion done except posting. My best post on MLBO was written 18 months ago – no it isn’t shared or commented on much, but it sits there and does it’s job. Blogging works like that – it gets better with age!
Great post, I agree since started to regular blog in early Dec, Ihave noticed increas in lead & opt ins 😉
Regular blogging is the key to having a successful blog!plus its FUN !
Hi Audrey – thanks for popping in! I’m pleased blogging is starting to work for you already 🙂 keep blogging!
Jan, I love your tone and your comment that perfection is not required is a good reminder that we should just go ahead and do it. Too often I think about a topic to blog about but I spend too much time trying to make it perfect. So I’m going for a more relaxed approach now. Thanks!
Hi Sue – thankfully, perfection isn’t needed – I’d never get my blog posts up! Even with a business blog, it’s OK to be you and write how you speak. In fact, I have found that works far better than a polished look!
Thanks for popping in and your comment 🙂 keep blogging!
This is a good post that makes me understand who much a blogg can change your buisness. I don´t have a buisness right now but if I get some in the future I know where to turn to help me:-)
Hi Jessica, blogging is a fantastic way to expand your reach whether you’re running a business or not. BTW I love how you have your blog both in English and is it Dutch? Swedish? What a great way to make your blog reader friendly for a wider audience! It’s on wordpress.com though so unfortunately I can’t comment there – I managed to get my WP account suspended!
‘Perfection is not required.’
A great tip for anyone unsure about blogging (for business or for any reason).
Here’s reason number 8 for business blogging: when you get comments or feedback on your blog posts, you’re getting insight into what your customers are thinking about and are interested in. That insight is very useful for learning what they want, how you can provide it and how you can market to them.
Great point, Tracey! For business owners, comments sometimes are slow. I know personally I get more email questions than I do in my blog comments – but they serve the same purpose – you learn what people need from you.
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated!
Great post Jan!
So many businesses in my area still don’t have a website let alone a blog but hopefully the National Broadband Network will change this as they get access to reliable internet.
Love how you gave valuable information then added your call-to-action. Smooth 🙂
Hi Caylie, it’s the same here – so many small businesses still don’t have a website. As for the call to action, I thought I better practice what I preach! lol
Thanks for popping in and your comment – I appreciate it!
I do blog. Normally twice a week of course for the UBC it’s every day. I’m usually burnt out by the end and need the rest before the next round. This business blog is fairly new, I’ve seen my numbers climb with the UBC but haven’t received any customers from the blog yet.
Hi Shawn – customers will happen! Keep blogging, keep communicating and it will come!
Spot on – I couldn’t have written it better myself.
I’m living proof that blogging works. In a month’s time, I have taken a domain without a single lick of traffic and turned it into something that works for me (and my business) without much effort.
Oh sure, you need to pencil in time to write and market, but it’s peanuts compared to the smorsgasbord of relationships you gain through the process.
It’s all about building community and blogging is where it’s at!
Hi Bonnie – you hit the nail on the head! Yes, you need to actually get content up there and share the love around a bit too. Getting started is the hardest part and blogging gets easier with practice 🙂
I have been blogging for a while however not consistently and yet I have found that I have been able to increase my opt ins. I do like your point on not needing to be perfect. This makes it easier for me to blog and focus on improving daily. Thanks! Best Regards, Wendy {ultimate blog challenge}
Hi Wendy, thanks for calling in and your comment. Perfection isn’t required and everyone gets better with practice! Good luck with the blog challenge – you will get plenty of practice this month 🙂
I’m just getting into blogging regularly, but it’s rewarding and I know it can absolutely help business. I find myself looking for blogs on business websites now.
Found you via the blogging challenge.
Blogging is a wonderful marketing strategy. Good luck with the challenge, it will certainly get you into practice!
Good post Jan, Blogging is by far the most important thing that any webmaster can do to improve his search standing, Most of all I agree with your point that it build trust. It matters not if your website isn’t state of the art of doesn’t have enough call to actions, regular and personal blog posts connect with the reader in a way that no flash animation, call to actions or other gizmos can.
Hi Steve – Happy New Year 🙂 From experience, the less “state of the art” a website is, the better it works! Blogging is a fantastic way to connect to customers, to peers and prospects. No Gizmos required!