Blogs are all the rage, especially for small business. Having the ability to interact with customers, gather feedback and understand what customers like and dislike are just some of the benefits of a small business blog. The value is in the content small business owners are providing customers. In turn, owners will learn much about their customers.
Small Business Blog #1 -- Start a Conversation
A small business blog should build a relationship with customers. The way the blog posts are written (light and fun or serious and formal) and the topics covered will help shape a small business' personality and style. Small business owners will need to determine if they will personally write the blog posts or if that work will be outsourced to a freelancer.
Conversations invite feedback from customers, which can be vital for products and services that are offered. Engaging customers is a great way to build loyalty and provide customers with a sense of community.
Small Business Blog #2 -- Become an Authority
Small business owners should be able to provide commentary about newsworthy items relative to their business. Was there a recent news story related to a key product offering? Provide a blog post outlining the small business' view. Giving opinions and comments begins to build a small business owner's authority. Blog posts allow owners to showcase their knowledge and expertise -- a great business builder!
Small Business Blog #3 -- Provide a "How-to"
What better way to showcase a small business owner's knowledge than with a how-to blog post? Be sure to include many photos (a picture is worth a thousand words). Another options is to upload a short video. Customers will appreciate detailed instructions on how to use a product or how to order a service.
Small Business Blog #4 -- Tell a Story
Everyone loves a good story, and including a personal story in a blog gives small business owners and the business a personality. How did the business begin? Offer a great customer service story (what better way to highlight the importance of customers).
Small Business Blog #5 -- Offer a Product or Service Review
A blog post is a great venue to demonstrate why a product or service offering may be superior. While this isn't the time to bash competitors, it is a great way to highlight key differences and benefits.
Small businesses can offer one type of blog or combine all of them to keep blog posts interesting. Creating an editorial calendar can make the frequency and types of blog posts easier to monitor. For example, Mondays may be a product or service review, Wednesdays offer an opinion and Fridays have a how-to blog post. A great tool for creating an editorial calendar is Google Calendar.
To get started with a small business blog for free, check out Wordpress or Blogger. It's that simple!
Allison Jackson - Allison Jackson is a mom of two, a freelance writer and communications professional. With a keen interest in marketing, social media and ...
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