Business Blogging: Why You Should Start a Business Blog to Promote and Market Your Small Business

A business blog is a great way to expose yourself and your small business. There are a variety of reasons why theyre such a great marketing vehicle. In this article well discuss the top 5 reasons why blogging for business is so valuable and has so much potential.

1. Search Engines Love Blogs!

Ive spent a lot of time promoting both my business website and my blogs. From experience I can tell you that promoting a blog is 10 times easier than promoting a traditional website, and the results have been 10 times more impressive. Why? Search engines just love blogs. Theyre current, their content changes regularly, and theyre relevant. You have an opportunity to use your most important keywords on a regular basis, and the search engines just cant get enough.

There are literally dozens of blog directories where you can list your blog in very specific categories. This means that those using the directory and looking in your category are very likely to have an interest in your blog. All of these links back to your blog from the directories also boost your search engine rankings.

2. Demonstrate Your Expertise

Posting regularly to your blog with insightful comments, observations and lessons show that you know what youre talking about. Doing this regularly over time will prove to your readers that youre an expert. Its far better to demonstrate your expertise than to try and tell people that youre an expert. Your blog will give you this opportunity

3. The Only Investment Needed is Your Time

Blogging is probably the lowest cost form of marketing available. All you need to invest is your time. Of course thats not an investment to be taken lightly. For your blog to be successful you MUST post regularly. Youll want to post at least once a week. 2-3 times per week is a more reasonable goal. I personally post 2 or 3 times each week, and this only takes about an hour of time out of my week. This will probably pale in comparison to the time and money you spend on most of your other marketing efforts.

4. Connect with People on a Personal Level

Most of what you find on a traditional website, brochure, article or other marketing collateral is very impersonal. People are looking to make a personal connection with those they do business with. A blog gives you an incredible opportunity to be you. Its important to share some personal stories, history and opinion on your business blog. It will show your reader that youre a real approachable person. Ive even had people Ive never met start talking to me like theyve known me for years. Later I found out that before we met theyd read my blog.

5. Develop Marketing Materials

One of the most overlooked benefits of blogging is the backlog of quality content youll develop. Successful blogging requires that you post regularly. This means that youll be writing several times each week. Do that for a few months and youll have material for dozens of articles, maybe even a book! Most of the articles I write started as posts on my blog.

Blogging for business provides a great opportunity to expose yourself and your business in a very positive light. Take some time to find a few business blogs in your industry. Youll quickly see how much value the blogger and their business get from this medium. Then decide if starting a business blog is right for you.

Scott Ingram is the founder of NetworkInAustin.com, a networking resource for networkers in Austin, Texas who use networking as a business development and marketing strategy. They offer free blogs to their members and even help their members promote their business blogs. Scott also posts regularly to his own blogs: Business Networking in Austin and Austin Networking Events.

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