Blogs are changing the way we do business
Either you’ve never heard of blogging, or you’re sick of hearing about it. Either way, they are here to stay and they are changing the way we do business. Blogs offer businesses a cheap and convenient way to increase awareness of their company, open the lines of communication with their clients and increase their search engine rankings simply by posting new content. Let’s examine these three points separately.
Business owners can increase their credibility by having a blog
Let’s say that you are business coach. Your client list includes small businesses, large corporations and non-profit organizations. You might meet with clients once a month and help them with their marketing plan, their exit strategy or attracting new customers. I’m positive that topics of conversation come up over and over again. How to gain from leveraging, how to network effectively, what to include in your business plan, etc… Keeping a blog would allow you, as a business coach to post articles on these topics.
Now you’re probably wondering, if I post them for free, how will I make any money? Having a blog, makes you an expert, i.e. increases your credibility. If marketed properly, people will know to go to your blog for useful information. Once they know you’re the expert, they are bound to hire you and refer you to everyone they know.
Blogs are the perfect tool for communicating with clients
A recent article in Business Week magazine revealed how the Vice-Chairman of General Motors launched his own blog, FastLane. No sooner was the blog live than car enthusiasts and bloggers flooded him with questions, suggestions and complaints. By listening to their comments, GM is bound to gain valuable insight and all of this for FREE.
Blogs increase your search engine rankings
Once you’ve created a buzz and posted good advice on your weblog, others are bound to link to it. The more links you have pointing to your site, the better your search engine rankings.
A weblog is not just for Christmas
Maybe not the same as a puppy, but if you do start a blog, make sure that you know how much time you will need to invest. Writing a great article every 6 months or simply ranting about your next door neighbour won’t make you a superstar. However, if you are serious about taking the time to discuss business with your clients and the online community, it can be a great way to market yourself. Take a look at blogger.com and get blogging today!