The following article by Bea Vanni, was originally published by The Well Fed Writer. Disclosure: Bea Vanni is a member of our Blogging and Beyond Mentor program. She does give The Blog Squad credit for contributing to her blogging success, but we did not lobby for inclusion in her article! We're reprinting this article to give you a perspective about business blogging other than our own. Enjoy!
GOT A BLOG? ADD ONE AND YOUR BIZ COULD SOAR!
Got a blog? Just like milk builds good bones, blogs build good business. As solo professionals, we know information helps us cut through the struggle of marketing our business. Knowledge solves our challenges and also those of our clients. As writers we live or die by the written word, and if a potential client hears the human voice behind our passion, they're more likely to trust us. A blog can create that connection and trust if you share your unique perspectives and teach useful techniques to fix problems.
Did you notice that you aren't in the business of doing that thing you do, but more in the business of marketing it? Does it make it you crazy? Well, a business blog drives more traffic quicker than a website and elicits demand for your services because you show how much you care by sharing what you know. That's what happened to me.
When I began blogging in early 2006, I didn't know how to build my business with a blog. I only knew I wanted to share my expertise and began writing on living and working in Turkey. I didn't have a strategy or a niche, but on the way to the blogosphere, I got discovered. All of a sudden people wanted me for my expertise: Speaking engagements, interviews, and writing projects increased two-fold.
Today, I know a lot more about how a blog conveys credibility and expert status owed to the Blog Squad (www.blogsquad.biz), experts on building a blog for business. They taught me tricks and tools most don't know about and set my blog on the fast track to double my traffic and knowability overnight.
A professional business blog offers repeat opportunities for you to hook up with your ideal prospects and allow them to sample you, your know-how and your commitment. A blog's not for everybody, though, so be sure you're on the right track before you begin. It takes diligence, time and a fount of ideas to ensure success.
If you decide to blog for business, plan a strategy first and target a niche, then write tips and tricks in ample quantities aimed at what your readers want to know. To create a business blog, always use a pro's blogging platform, like TypePad (www.typepad.com). No need for techie skills, no wait for your webmaster to post updates, or a windfall of money to pay a publicist.
Be patient because it may take a few months of writing before you begin to see results in your knowability. Foremost, tack up a subscription box from Feedblitz (www.feedblitz.com) for your readers to subscribe to your posts, and track your blog stats with Site Meter (www.sitemeter.com). Both tools are FREE!
Once you post regularly, both the blog search engines and your readers will put you in their blog funnel and visit more frequently. Take it from me; build your online presence with a business blog and watch how it can transform your professional image and credibility.
About the Author
Bea Vanni specializes in the design, development and delivery of high-quality writing, editing and business solutions for consultants and SMEs who want to gain more visibility for their work and attract more clients. Check out Bea's blog at http://www.remarkablesolutionsblog.com.
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