Photo by Bright Meadow: Flickr.com
When I meet new business owners and they learn of my vocation, it generates a number of questions, particularly about blogging. People are interested in learning more about the art of blogging and are generally anxious about starting one of their own. This page will (hopefully) answer a few questions about blogs, their benefits, and why they are the hottest marketing method out there.
What is a blog?
The term “blog” is a shortened version of “web log.” Just as a captain’s log gives a general view as to the state of his ship, a blog is a short entry of information that a business owner feels would be of interest to site visitors.
What should I write about?
A personal blogger writes about his/her life. It is essentially a diary or journal of life, written to inform and entertain friends and family. A business blog is written in conversational English to entice readers to buy their wares. The business blogger gives readers useful information and essentially brands the company as an expert in its field. Your blog topics could include an upcoming sale, an anecdote, a funny incident that happened at your shop, your thoughts on the product line, etc. The sky’s the limit!
How long is an average blog?
Your grandmother has the right answer to this question. Less is more.
Long posts are less desirable than short posts. Get to the point–> state what’s on your mind, what makes you passionate about your product or service, in two to three paragraphs. If you have more to say, by all means do so. However, research teaches us that people tend to scan web pages rather than reading them. So, I advise short, concise posts that get to the point quickly. If you have a really long post, divide it up into two or three posts linked together.
Do I have the writing skills to maintain a blog?
Most people have the skills to write a readable couple of paragraphs for their business blog. The more you write, the quicker you improve your writing skills. If you are insecure about writing, hire someone to write for you. Give your writer some direction and he/she will have an interesting post for you in no time.
What are the benefits of blogging?
Search engines love fresh content. When you blog, your site goes up in search engine rankings, bringing your site up higher in a search. A higher search engine ranking makes you more visible to prospects, leading to more sales. That’s it, in a nutshell.
Isn’t blogging only for large companies?
No! There are a few notable large companies with effective blogs. The blogs of Southwest Airlines, Stoneyfield Farms, Disney, and Proctor & Gamble are great examples. But blogging is much more effective for smaller companies. A large company may hope to create an intimate atmosphere for communication with customers, but they are frequently unsuccessful. A small to mid-sized company is more successful at listening to each customer and engaging them in a conversation via the “comments” function on blogs and WordPress web pages.
Any more questions?
Feel free to either email me or use the comments area of this page for any questions that you may have. One of the purposes of a blog is to open a dialogue with potential customers. The dialogue will brand you as a customer-oriented business and an expert in your field.
