What is a blog?

A blog is the short form for a "Web Log". A web log is nothing but a daily log written by a blogger. This is like a personal journal, where you write about some unforgettable or important events that occurred on a given day.

 I remember my daughter writing a diary daily and many friends journaling. But now it is rather a full blown website, which is updated regularly.

 A blog is indeed a very powerful way to get inside the mind of your web guest. Although a blog is technically a platform for publishing content, blogging enables an interaction between your business and the guest on a mass scale. Many established Organizations are taking advantage of blogging and is using this as an effective blog marketing tool.

 Why do small business owners blog for their business?

Often small business owners think they will start a blog because they’ve heard it will help them achieve better search engine placement. Or they’ve heard blogs are free and you can start a blog instead of paying a web designer to build your business a website. Or someone they trust has told them, “You gotta start a blog.” This might be why you look closely at blogging, but it isn’t the true reason why business people should blog.

The real reason a business owner should publish a blog is –

You want to become known as an authority in your market, or in your field. You want to become known as “the expert for [fill in the blank].” If you are the expert in your field or market, clients will seek you out. Clients will find you and hire you because you’re the one everyone recommends. Everything else is a side benefit. That brings me to the next thought.

What do you blog about?

Before you post anything on your blog, answer these two questions:

• What can I write about that in actuality helps potential customers?
• Will this post help establish me as an expert in my field?

If you were only going to remember one thing as a small business owner this is the most important thing you need to remember. Stay focused. And answer the two questions above.

 
Ideas for Blog Topics for the business owner

·         Make a list of the regular questions people have about your area of expertise. Then write about it.

·         Did a customer come to you with a problem recently? Is it possible to turn their problem into a story about how the problem was resolved?

·         How did you become an expert? Tell your story behind starting your business?

·         What recent news has affected your industry? What is your opinion on how this news changes things or what should potential customers pay attention to?

·         Create a checklist for what potential customers should know before hiring someone in your field of expertise..

·         Create a common list of mistakes people make when trying to tackle the problem your business solves.

·         Write about a frequent practice in your industry that you believe is wide of the mark. Tell people why you think it’s incorrect and what you believe is the correct practice. (You should refrain from finger pointing and simply highlight the practice you disagree with.)

·         Write case studies or papers about your current customers.

·         Write about the reasons in favor of and disadvantages of not using a professional or an expert to solve their problem.

·         Write a story about someone chose not to use a service like yours and how that impacted them.