6 ways a blog will help your business
Just about every blogger will probably tell you that yes, you should start a blog, regardless of what exactly you plan to do with it. And every blogger will probably have a different reason for why you should start.
I'm one of those bloggers who encourages my friends to blog, especially if they have a small business or organization they own or help operate. My goal isn't to create more work for them, but to help them use the unique appeal of a blog to reach their audience.
Here are my top six reasons for why you should keep a blog for your business or organization. A blog will help you...
1. connect with your audience. Blogs are a perfect way to connect with your audience on a personal level while sharing more than you could on social media. Write as though you're talking to a friend and your clients will feel like they're getting to know you on a personal level. This--backed by delivering what you promise--will help build trust.
2. communicate with your followers. Blogs aren't just a one-way street for you to talk to your audience, they're also a way for your audience to talk back. Use the "comments" section of your blog posts to interact with readers. Don't just read the comments and delete the ones you don't like; communicate with readers by commenting back to them. Your audience will appreciate having a place to dialogue with you.
3. show your audience what you're doing. Use your blog to tell stories and show photos of your projects, offerings, and even personal activities. Everyone loves the feeling of getting behind-the-scenes info or personal details and your followers will love to see what you're up to.
4. attract the blog-loving crowd. (And use Pinterest to do this!) People love to read and follow blogs, especially when a blog offers them something they're looking for. Where applicable, include posts that offer tips, inspiration, or step-by-step how-tos, accompanied by a photo or graphic. (Also make sure to add key word tags to make your blog more visible on search engines.) Share these posts on Pinterest by pinning your image and including a brief description of the post.
5. direct followers to the places you frequent. When people discover you by your blog, they won't necessarily know about your website, Facebook page, or other social networking sites you frequent. Use your blog as a collection place, a hub where your followers can find you on the sites you use. Make sure to keep this information well-organized and in a visible location, like on your blog's home page so people can see it before they click away.
6. give your audience a reason to come back. Depending on the type of business or organization you represent, you may update your website infrequently. (However, it is a good idea to keep your website fresh with regular updates, more on this later!) A blog, however, can and should be updated as frequently as possible. (Think multiple times per week, or even daily when possible.) Frequent updates give your readers a reason to keep coming back to your blog. With frequent posting, you'll show your readers that you are dedicated to providing regular updates and your readers will want to come back to discover what's new. This translates into more hits for you.
Want more tips on blogging or help with setting up or re-designing your blog? I would love to help with that; just contact me via email!
I'm one of those bloggers who encourages my friends to blog, especially if they have a small business or organization they own or help operate. My goal isn't to create more work for them, but to help them use the unique appeal of a blog to reach their audience.
Here are my top six reasons for why you should keep a blog for your business or organization. A blog will help you...
1. connect with your audience. Blogs are a perfect way to connect with your audience on a personal level while sharing more than you could on social media. Write as though you're talking to a friend and your clients will feel like they're getting to know you on a personal level. This--backed by delivering what you promise--will help build trust.
2. communicate with your followers. Blogs aren't just a one-way street for you to talk to your audience, they're also a way for your audience to talk back. Use the "comments" section of your blog posts to interact with readers. Don't just read the comments and delete the ones you don't like; communicate with readers by commenting back to them. Your audience will appreciate having a place to dialogue with you.
3. show your audience what you're doing. Use your blog to tell stories and show photos of your projects, offerings, and even personal activities. Everyone loves the feeling of getting behind-the-scenes info or personal details and your followers will love to see what you're up to.
4. attract the blog-loving crowd. (And use Pinterest to do this!) People love to read and follow blogs, especially when a blog offers them something they're looking for. Where applicable, include posts that offer tips, inspiration, or step-by-step how-tos, accompanied by a photo or graphic. (Also make sure to add key word tags to make your blog more visible on search engines.) Share these posts on Pinterest by pinning your image and including a brief description of the post.
5. direct followers to the places you frequent. When people discover you by your blog, they won't necessarily know about your website, Facebook page, or other social networking sites you frequent. Use your blog as a collection place, a hub where your followers can find you on the sites you use. Make sure to keep this information well-organized and in a visible location, like on your blog's home page so people can see it before they click away.
6. give your audience a reason to come back. Depending on the type of business or organization you represent, you may update your website infrequently. (However, it is a good idea to keep your website fresh with regular updates, more on this later!) A blog, however, can and should be updated as frequently as possible. (Think multiple times per week, or even daily when possible.) Frequent updates give your readers a reason to keep coming back to your blog. With frequent posting, you'll show your readers that you are dedicated to providing regular updates and your readers will want to come back to discover what's new. This translates into more hits for you.
Want more tips on blogging or help with setting up or re-designing your blog? I would love to help with that; just contact me via email!
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