Why are you (should you be) blogging?
In a recent post I talked about three main reasons business owners should blog. 1. To establish your reputation as an expert in your area of business. 2. Research; to learn more about your targeted clients and prospective clients. and 3. To build and increase traffic to your website.
Another reason that wasn't part of the post is a blog can 'humanize' your company, give your business a face and a voice where otherwise it would just be a flat website.
During my workshop yesterday, Blogs and Micro-Blogs, we were talking about these points and it became clear to me that these three …and the many other reasons business owners do or should blog are good and important. However THE reason you should blog doesn't have anything to do with your reputation, your website traffic or what you do or don't know.
You Blog to grow your business.
Like any other business decision you make, any other business investment you make you have to ask yourself, "how will this help my business?" A blog, for a blog's sake, won't do squat for your business. If you want your blog to establish your reputation as an expert, help you learn more about your targeted clients and increase traffic to your website – then you have to:
2) Who are your targeted clients and prospects?
3) Once you get all the traffic going to your website —THEN what?? Is your website designed with a clear path for the visitors – your targeted clients and prospects – to take action… so you can grow your business?
There are professional bloggers out there and their blog IS their business. Those bloggers are not my targeted clients and prospects. YOU are.
Your blog is just another tool, albeit a powerful tool, for you to use in building your business.
In my workshop yesterday, I made a prediction: In the next 3-5 years (or sooner) a Blog will be seen as mandatory for a small business' on-line marketing strategy – in the same way a website is seen today. Stay tuned. Let's see if I'm right.
