Did you know there are over 150 million blogs on the internet? And thousands more are being created every day. Blogs are no longer an option for any type of business - this includes services businesses such as lawn care, pest control or beauty salons, restaurants and retail outlets and the local care repair shop. If you don't have a blog there is a good possibility your competitor does and they are what local people are seeing when they search online for your product or service.
People love information. Today's customers want interaction, answers to their questions and updated content. A business blog provides this 24/7. Using a blog delivers value to your customers and shows them that they are valued.
So exactly what is a blog? It is an online journal on topics that you as a business owner are an expert. In most cases, the software used to create a blog is easy to learn. If you are familiar with using a word processor, you can create a blog. You can add your own personality with themes, photos and video. This is a great way to create an online presence and establish you as an expert.
A blog is a great venue to give your target audience and prospects easy access to news and information about your company, products or services. You can share such news items as new product releases, coupons, behind the scenes insider information and much more. Try adding audio and video to make your blog stand out. Think of a blog as an extended newsletter. Much easier to produce and maintain.
One great reason to maintain a blog is that search engines such as Google love blogs because they contain valuable information and are frequently updated. Often blogs will contain links to other websites and information on the same topic which is also valued by the search engines. In general, blogs generate a lot more traffic than websites which also increases search ranking. Google will index a blog almost immediately, as opposed to a website which can take weeks.
In my opinion, the most valuable part of a blog is that it is a relationship building tool. Visitors to your blog can share comments and suggestions with you. This can help you to better understand your potential customers and their wants and needs. Make sure that your customers know about your blog and see it as a great place to get tips and information. Use the side navigation bars to post coupons or specials. However, be sure that your regular posts are packed with good information.
As you can see, blogging needs to be a part of your marketing plan.
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Business Training Team has made it easy to setup and maintain a blog on 30 minutes a day with their 30/30 blog plan. To learn more about this course, visit us at
Small Business Blog Help. For more tips on marketing your business, visit
http://SueWhiteBizHelp.com.
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