Things a Blogger has to Contend With

1. Time-consuming. Serious bloggers put in a lot of hours everyday just to be able to keep abreast of the latest in their niche and churn out relevant posts. Updates are usually posted on a daily basis, but it really depends on the nature of the blog. Try to find your own rhythm and stick to it. If you can’t, hire someone competent to write for you.

2. Not every business is blog-friendly. There are some niche markets that are really compatible with blogs, and others that just isn’t the right match (at least not yet). It’s all about Internet demographics and your target audience. Although people over 40 are spending more time online, it’s still the younger people who dominate the scene. There’s also the issue of location, as in some countries Internet penetration isn’t high enough for business blogging to be feasible. Again, there’s a big “YET”.

3. Naysayers. In all the things you do, there will always be critics hounding you (and sometimes it’s yourself). Although blogging has been around for a long while, in terms of technology, its application as a business tool has only been recently explored, and people fear what they do not know. Their comments are best taken with a grain of salt. Use them as a way of making reality checks, but don’t let them become too much of a distraction.

4. Info overload. One thing you have to be wary about when blogging is saying too much. With the pressure and excitement of putting things out there, something might slip by that’s better kept as a company secret. Also, do check all your facts before publishing anything as whatever goes on the blog does not only reflect on the author but the entire company as well. For opinion columns, a disclaimer notice is usually found on the sidebar as a legal precaution.

5. No direct earnings. Business blogging is different from blogging as a business. The former is using blogging as a tool to promote an existing business, while the latter uses blogging to earn revenue (from ads, affiliate marketing, etc) by writing about certain topics like magazines or news sites. Business bloggers, for the most part, don’t really count on their blogs for direct earnings, because the benefits are largely intangible. However, this is not a hard and fast rule as there are many enterprising bloggers out there you can emulate, if you should choose to play it both ways.

Do you have a business that uses a blog? How has your experience been so far?

The Good Stuff

1. Getting Personal. Many businesses already publish newsletters for their clients, but blogging takes client communications to a higher plane. The key is interaction. Blogging is a two-way street, usually in an informal atmosphere. With it, one can create a strong personal relationship with customers, encouraging brand loyalty.

2. Reader-friendly. The basic blog format is clean and simple (unless cluttered up by ads). If you use any of the popular platforms such as Wordpress, there are hundreds of great-looking free templates you can choose from. And, since people are used to blogs by this time, it’s easy for them to digest your content and navigate through your site.

3. Uncomplicated. You don’t have to be a very technical person to start a blog. Most can be set up in a matter of minutes. Enhancements like polls, podcast widgets and other plug-and-play add-ons are also available.

4. Low-cost. Blog setup can range from free, if you use a specialized blog host such as Blogger, to a few hundred dollars, depending on whether you plan to get your own webhost and use a personalized domain name. Of course, the latter will appear more professional.

5. Blog as portfolio. Aside from featuring the latest announcements from your company, your business blog can include articles on the latest trends in your industry, to show people that you are up-to-date and that your products and services reflect that. You can also post in-depth how-tos, reports, or opinion pieces that can build your credibility as an expert.

RSS feeds and backlinks allow almost anyone to view any promotional articles that you publish on your blog. These articles can be about your latest products, the latest market trends, or awards received by your business. Blogs are very helpful, especially if you want to reach a wide audience that’s targetted enough to send some business leads your way.

Blogs are generally favored by search engines

Search engines love 3 things: organized content, regular updates, and a lot of backlinks. When you have a regularly updated blog, it’s easy to maintain these 3 things that search engines are looking for when it comes to website ranking. Having a good website rank is very important to your business, especially since customers tend to find your site first over your competitors.

Blogs strengthen communication with leads and customers.

Blogs provide customers, suppliers, distributors, and business owners with a way to build a strong community. Business owners are given a chance to connect with a wider audience, and to show their know-how and expertise to their customers. When you successfully build a community using your blog, it’s easier for potential customers to trust you with their purchases. Your blog can communicate to your target market that you are knowledgeable and serious when it comes to your market.

While having a blog for your business provides you with an affordable web presence, the best argument for blogging is that you can easily build trust and confidence among new and returning customers. And as your business blog grows in popularity, your small business will be bigger than ever.