It used to be that you purchased a domain and slapped up a simple website with a picture and your contact info.
Simple.
All it was, was a digital business card.
Today however, the consumer wants and expects more.
They want to read what others are saying about you on the web. They want to read and see first-hand that you know what you’re talking about. And they’re making their decisions based on what they can find about you on the web.
The Benefits of Starting a Blog:
- Blogs allow you to share timely and relevant information about your industry (your local real estate market if you’re an Agent),
- Blogs allow you to showcase your knowledge and expertise about your business (think How To’s and other educational type posts),
- Blogs allow you to connect with readers via comments and email to get feedback and capture new business,
- Blogs make it easy for you to share your knowledge – just remember, Google loves great content and people share great content,
In short, today’s consumer is more digitally connected than you might think and they’re making decisions based on what they find and read about you on the web (whether you like it or not).
You can either help shape what they find (for the better), or you can just sit there twiddling your thumbs. Personally, I choose content that’s discoverable by Google and easily shareable by others.
How do you do that? Here’s a few steps…
What would you add? What other tips do you have for making a blog successful?
@annedreshfield Thanks Anne!
@Ribeezie Sure thing! Great post.
I was recently helping out a good family friend who was asking me about putting his company (professional coaching and training for top executives) online. He was talking about just a page for contact information, and a blurb about the company and what they do. I was confused — he was already doing well, so it seemed like he didn’t need a website just to bring in customers. I suggested putting more work in than just a contact page, such as a blog, but immediately had to take that thought back. My family friend was hired so he could share the information used to coach executives into being better speakers, thinkers, etc. Unless he was very careful, having a blog would be giving away free information. In the end, we decided not to go that route, but it’s an interesting divide between who could really benefit from a blog and who might not.
@annedreshfield You know Anne, you bring up a really good point. A blog isn’t always appropriate for every one (or every business). In this case, it sounds like it isn’t.
Really, the first step is identifying your personal/professional goals. Then, and only then, can you effectively ask yourself, what platform will help me achieve that?
As a personal example, I knew that I wanted to set up a Professional Speaking page for myself to hi-light my work as a speaker. I ended up creating a whole new site: http://www.ricardobueno.info I love to blog, but did I really want to start a whole new blog there? Not really. I’m sharing my slides there, but that’s about it.
I’ve seen too many business websites with too little info. The more you provide, to allow people to get to know you, the better. After all, that’s how familiarity and trust is built and that’s a big factor in weighing someone’s decision to work with you.
Anyway, thanks for the comment, great point you brought up!
@Livefyre Thanks fellas!
Hello from CoWorking! Great tips! I think if a business doesn’t have some sort of web presence, they’re leaving money on the table.
@joannegrecoAgreed, big time! But also, I’ve heard people ask if they should forgo a website and get a Facebook Business Page instead… Also a mistake in my opinion.
If you’re running a business, you should establish a presence on a site that you own and control.