Entrepreneur and best-selling author, Dave Kerpen once wrote that “Writing a blog is an excellent way to become a better writer, drive leads for a business and express oneself.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m positive that since I started my own blog 5 years ago, I’ve become a better writer. And I have gotten new clients from my blog because they told me that the information I shared was valuable to them.
If you haven’t started a blog yet, or you’re not consistently blogging, here are a few tips to make the process easier.
Write from the Heart – Many small business owners don’t blog because they feel they’re not good writers. Yet these same people will go to a networking meeting and happily talk about their products or services when asked. Write as if you’re talking with a good friend. Don’t obsess over grammar or spelling. If you have time, proofread your work. But if you don’t, publish the article anyway. You can always go back later and tweak it to your heart’s content.
The Power of One – Focus on one topic per blog article. If you have too many ideas in your post, it will just confuse the reader. And it will take you that much longer to get the article written. If you have a lot to say on a certain subject, you can always break the article up into a series. This is a great way to get your readers coming back to your blog again. Bonus tip: Include a link to the previous article and next article in the series.
They Ask, You Answer – Not sure what to write about? Answer your customers’ questions! Focus your articles on these three criteria: costs, problems and comparisons. People want to know how much your products or services cost, so why not tell them? You don’t have to be specific necessarily, but you can at least give a range. Don’t be afraid to address any problems with your product or service either. The more honest you are, the more inclined people will be to trust you. Another great tactic is to compare your product/service with a competitor. Your customer is doing this research online anyway. Wouldn’t it be better if they read your article first?
Variety is the Spice of Life – Liven up your blog with pictures and/or videos. Images are more visually interesting for the reader and will keep them engrossed in your copy. Plus, if you include a Pin it button for Pinterest, it will encourage your reader to share your content on their Pinterest account.
Know Your Call to Action – If you’re writing a blog to promote your business, don’t forget to include a call to action at the end of each article. Here are a few suggestions:
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