Blogging plays a major role in generating new business.
As I write these words business bloggers around the world are busy creating amazing content.
Some of these people are in coffee shops, others are in bed or sitting at a kitchen table, but they all have a common goal – to generate income for their clients or for their themselves.
And search engines love it.
They gobble up the new content each and every second of the day.
Regular blog updates help with search rankings
A regularly updated blog is more likely to get traffic than one which is updated once every three months.
It’s easy to neglect a blog. The reality of blogging is that it is slow, laborious and time consuming. It’s the main reason why people start a blog then quickly put it on the back-burner. They have other things to do. The small business owner has money to make, the stay-at-home mom has children to look after.
Whatever the reason, blogs, by the bucketload, are neglected.
And that’s sad.
Why? Because you, the small business owner, could be missing out on traffic that could ultimately lead to a sale.
The power of the internet
The internet really is the most powerful marketing tool available. It’s the first place people turn to when researching ANYTHING, including the services you offer.
And if they can’t find you, they will use somebody they can find; a competitor.
Business blogging at all levels
Running a business blog enables you to engage with your clients, and more interaction usually leads to more sales.
However, the mistake a lot of business owners make is they they blog about their business, as opposed to their industry or niche, which is the wrong thing to do. People don’t want to know about nights-out or office re-designs, they want to tap into your expertise and pick up on your opinion.
A business blog offers potential customers a great insight into the nature of your company. They get to know you without speaking directly to you, as your company blog extends the personality of your business.
It’s a digital first impression. A digital salesman.
A scruffy or disorganised blog gives the perception of a scruffy and disorganised business. On the other hand, a blog that is regularly updated, pleasant to look at and full of insightful and useful information gives quite a different, and altogether more positive impression.
Place these two imaginary business blogs side-by-side and which business do you think most people are likely to contact first?
Business blog revamp
If you’ve tried business blogging and the pages you created are still online, there is a possibility that they could actually have a negative effect on your business. Poor grammar, out of date information, staid design – if your blog is guilty of any of these, and your potential customers come across them as they research your company, they could go somewhere else instead.
Large deals lost because of spelling mistakes or a lack of updates.
It’s quite scary isn’t it? But, it’s also true. Think about your own surfing habits.
If you have a business blog and you don’t have the time or inclination to update it, try outsourcing its management. It may become your top salesperson.
Picture – buddawiggi
About Stephen Duckworth
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