i consulted with a 51-year old business owner today who confessed that he struggles a bit with the notion and habit of blogging, twittering and the like. i think a ton of folks in his generation are in the same boat. while not a conclusive list, i rattled off a few key reasons why he should make a better effort to maintain a regular blog on his business website. we’re meeting soon to discuss the types of content to write, who will write and the schedule that’s reasonable to maintain. click on for the list.
1. improved communications
because you’re writing more often on subjects that matter to you and your business, you become more aware of the core concepts, services and language of your business. you’ll find yourself communicating values, benefiots and the like more easily. that elevator speech is now a breeze. you think about public speaking opportunities that could open doors for your business.
2. stronger brand experience
your prospects and customers both come to understand what makes you tick and why you’re special. in a competitive marketplace, a blog gives business ambassadors a finite voice that helps them to stand out and connect. remember that it’s not the what (services, your people, where you do business) that’s the most interesting – it’s the how (speed of delivery, vision, efficiency, etc) that speaks the big volumes and makes the real progress for your business.
3. more leads, better leads
keeping a regular blog means your website’s content is fresher than those who put up a website and largely leave it alone. that means your website is a more relevant resource and tool for consumer on google, yahoo, msn and other search engines – folks searching for specific services, products and information to meet their needs. because you’re becoming more relevant, google like you more. in addition to improve google rankings, blog entries from your website that rank through google provide more meaningful answers to the inquiries people are hoping to fulfill when they enter a google search.
4. easier sales
through a blog, a business takes on a personality and becomes more palpable, colorful – meaningful to a consumer. things like opinions, visions, ideas and opportunities are sticky in that people tend to cling to what’s said and have a resulting feeling about them. where there is resonance, a sale is already being advanced. you haven’t even spoken to this person yet and they like you or feel they know you. beyond this, blogs offer a deeper level of discourse than service lists, professional biographies, portfolios, etc. they soften the ground by starting the conversation that you’ll then continue to a close over the phone or in person.
