According to a recent survey of small business owners, their number one concern by a large majority was getting new business despite a weak economy.
We know that to get new clients, a business must promote. That is the first step. However, this can seem like a catch-22 when money is tight. Blogging provides a viable, long-term solution to promotion woes – and they can be done for free.
Each small business owner has some expertise to offer to the community in the form of a blog. There are potential customers and fans right now searching the internet to find the answers to very specific questions that can best be answered by small business owners dedicated to their craft.
Now that “Google” is a verb, we all daily interact with the internet to find answers to questions that we would have never bothered to ask several years ago – but now it seems that someone, somewhere, is willing to answer even the most minute question.
This is why blogging is a magnificent strategy for the small business owner. While it is certainly not an overnight strategy, it is effective. The people who find your blog about your interests and areas of expertise are going to be a pre-selected group of individuals, intensely interested in what you have to say.
Ted Wight’s St. Louis Real Estate blog is a great example of this strategy done right. On the blog are hundreds of different small articles that display Mr. Wight’s interests and knowledge in different categories. He recently posted an article about a friend’s home in Ladue on his blog – and he had a prospect for the home offer full price for it within 4 days.
Perhaps no small business has been hit harder in recent years than the real estate market. We’ve all heard repeatedly that it’s hard to sell a house, and that sellers are struggling in many cases to get what their house is truly worth. In such cases, a good real estate agent is worth their weight in gold.
What has this blog done right?
- It isn’t written for everyone. But the people who do read it will want the information offered.
- The personality of the blog is consistent. The posts aren’t cookie-cutter.
- The blog is carefully categorized. Readers can find categories of interest easily.
- It has been well-optimized to be found in search engines.
- #2 “real estate blog St. Louis
- #3 “mid-century modern homes St. Louis
- #3 “modern home listings St. Louis”
Today, blogging has become a vital component of small business marketing strategy. It allows the small business owner to demonstrate expertise in her field and accumulate fans. Best of all, blogs are free.
If you are interested in starting a blog for your small business, send me an email at chad@worryfreeconsulting.com today. I will send you an email with step-by-step instructions for starting your own blog – and some additional blogging tips to help you get started.