How to Market Your Current Business Online With a Blog

Are you a busy entrepreneur who wants to spend less time marketing your goods and services, and much more time cashing checks? Why not use blogging as an inexpensive way to drive customers to your door? No matter what type of industry you are in, customers look online for contacts. This article will show you how to get started increasing your cash flow by using blogging to increase your search engine ranking.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Internet
• Email
• 5 Minutes a Day

1. Obtain a blog account. Many sites will let you get started blogging for free. Use a search engine such as Google or Yahoo! to find an account.

2. Familiarize yourself with how the blog service works. Most services follow the same basic premise: Set up an account, customize your blog's appearance, and start blogging.

3. Set aside five minutes each day to create a blog entry. Keep your entries brief and focussed on offering a tip or suggestion to potential customers. Entering your daily blog entry will be easier than sending an email.

4. Promote your blog to your customers, contacts, friends and family. Add a clickable link on your email to direct people to your blog. Encourage people to link to your blog to drive traffic. Answer questions related to your industry in forums or message boards, and include a link to your blog!

5. Update your blog frequently. Although the subject matter of your blog might be primarily business oriented, be sure to have fun with your site. Do you have customers who frequently ask to see pictures of your vintage car or new grand baby? Post the pictures on your blog, to get people visiting your site. They'll remember your business identity, and probably pass on the link to friends needing your services.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, the point of the blog is to get potential clients to contact you. Make your contact information easy for people to find.
• Are you currently equipped to service only local customers? Be sure to state your service area clearly. Otherwise, you could find your New York plumbing business getting work requests from New Zealand!
• Promote your blog address everywhere you can. Your blog can be your inexpensive, dynamic web site if you update frequently and get the word out.
• Read the terms of service from your blog provider regarding business blogging. Most providers welcome business oriented blogs as long as the content is interesting.
• Keep updating your blog. If you stop posting, clients will stop clicking, and your search engine rankings will fall.